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Training of Blind Has Much Earnest Support

Legislative Committee on Education Gives Hearing on Report of Special Commission.

The committee on education of the Legislature this morning gave a hearing on the report of the commission appointed last year to investigate the condition of the adult blind in the commonwealth, and the bill drafted by the commission for the establishment of a board for the improvement of the condition of this class of citizens. The hearing was conducted by Dr. Edward M. Hartwell, chairman of the commission.

Commissioner Alpheus H. Hardy said that a large percentage of the blind are beyond the age when they can be benefited by industrial training. The commission had eliminated at once the subject of pensions, as they did not wish to recognize the blind as paupers. They felt the work should be continued by a permanent board. The investigations had shown that while many new openings of endeavor might be discovered, as soon as the adult blind were brought into factories, they would be brought into competition in a field already largely occupied. He thought that to open a factory would result in financial failure.

Miss Agnes Irwin, dean of Radcliffe college and a member of the commission, urged that Massachusetts should make a study of the subject. The commission had learned how ignorant they were of the conditions surrounding the adult blind, and urged a continuance of the work.

The Rev. Edward Cummings of Boston, president of the Massachusetts association for promoting the interests of the adult blind, said that not since the days of Dr. Howe had there been so much to encourage the hopeful adult blind. They want work to help themselves rather than to be paupers. He believed the committee should not hesitate a moment in voting for the small appropriation sought for the continuance of the work.

Dr. Hartwell said that if the blind had been trained industrially in school, they would now be able to care for themselves.

Samuel B. Capen of Boston approved the report of the commission, claiming its moderation to be its strength and that Its wisdom was manifest in that it did not commi the sate o (sic) an expensive policy.