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Meetings

Regular meetings of the Commission are held every two weeks -- a provision which seems to the writer deserving of special commendation, as it insures to the Commissioners a much more intimate knowledge of the many problems with which they must deal. Monthly meetings of organizations, public and private alike, are usually considered quite sufficient and are the customary thing. The State and the blind for whose benefit the Commission exists are to be congratulated upon having a Commission whose members are able and willing to give to their official duties double the time that is usually, expected of the members of such bodies.

Inquiry elicited the information that the meetings are regularly attended by a majority of the Commissioners, and that it is rare that the number (three) necessary for a quorum is not present.

IV. CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF

It is extremely difficult for an outsider with but a limited time at his disposal to secure accurate information upon such questions as the qualifications, division of labor, and relation to each other and to the Commission of a staff of workers. The writer spent three-entire days and portions of two days of his stay in Boston in the central office and among the staff of that office, conferring with nearly all of them and talking quite at length with several. Quite extended conferences were held with the General Superintendent, the Superintendent of Training and Employment for Men, the Superintendent of Training and Employment for Women, the Field Agent for the Prevention of Blindness, the Field Worker who distributes the case work, the Field Worker on Employment, the Accountant, and with three home teachers. These conferences were wholly informal and quite intimate and sympathetic, with the result that the writer feels that he acquired rather intimate and first-hand knowledge of the staff. The following observations are the result of the information thus gained:

Qualifications

The impression made upon an earnest searcher after the truth concerning the qualifications of the staff is that the Commission has been extremely fortunate in the selection of its force. For several years I have followed with intense interest the work of Miss Wright, and a closer and somewhat critical examination of the organization which she has worked out under the general direction of the Commission intensifies the belief that she is by training and experience peculiarly adapted to the position she holds. I have known, too, for some time Mr. Holmes, Miss Rand, Mr. Greene, Mr. Cole, and Miss Lewis. I have always believed that each of these five workers was peculiarly fitted to his particular task, and the more intimate knowledge gained of their general qualifications only served to strengthen this belief.

I spent several hours looking into the operations of the salesroom, the methods in vogue in helping the blind workers in their homes by furnishing them raw materials, supervising and directing their work and marketing their products, and discovered nothing to criticize unfavorably and no changes in method to suggest. Miss Rand and Miss Cummings seem to be working with intelligence, sympathy, and remarkable devotion upon an exceedingly difficult and discouraging problem.

There is great need for opportunities for work for blind people, particularly women, in their homes, but there is scarcely a more difficult problem in the entire range of work for the adult blind. There is great need of the development throughout the entire country of suitable educational methods and opportunities for pupils with impaired vision. Toward the solution of this important problem the Massachusetts

Commission has already made important contributions, and the work of Mr. Greene for the prevention of blindness and for the education of those with defective sight is well and favorably known.

As the problems involved in the work under the supervision of Mr. Holmes, Mr. Cole, and Miss Lewis belong chiefly to other members of the Survey Committee, I concerned myself with them only as they seemed to be a part of the topic assigned to me.

I spent some little time at Woolson House Shop and took dinner with the workers there. Woolson House and the shop connected with it are expensive to maintain; but every one working for and with blind women realizes how exceedingly difficult it is to find remunerative industries for this needy portion of the blind population. Miss Lewis is working sympathetically, conscientiously, and intelligently at a very difficult problem. I am unable to make any constructive criticism here; I can only commend both the shop management and the service rendered by and through Woolson House. I trust the recent efforts made to extend the service of the House along new lines will prove successful.

My visit to the Cambridge Industries was too hurried to warrant any expression of opinion beyond the statement that I was impressed with the air of industry that obtained in the shops and the apparent spirit of contentment among the workmen. This seemed particularly to be true in the broom and willow departments. I could not avoid contrasting the present condition of these men occupied and contented in their work with their condition under any pension system that could be devised.