Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/721

This page needs to be proofread.

REVIEWS 705

of the inquiry and to secure biennial investigations, so that the various movements anl tendencies may be closely watched and studied. Bills are now before Congress with this purpose in view, and they deserve the interest of all citizens and legislators.

^_ C. R. H.

The Charity Organization Society of the City of New York.

Twenty-third Annual Report, to September 30, 1905. This report deserves particular attention and study, for it reveals the structure and activities of one of the best equipped and adminis- tered philanthropic agencies in the civilized world. In addition to the accounts of the ordinary life of a charity organization society, we discover the evidences of an immense creative and inventive enterprise which brings philanthropy into touch with all the scien- tific and reformatory efforts of the age; as, "A Study of Case Records," by Miss Brandt; "Purchase and Management of Food by the Poor ;" "Philanthropic Education ;" "Prevention of Tubercu- losis ;" "Tenement-House Reform."

One should mention in this connection the report from the Associated Charities of Boston for 1905, which is always rich in suggestions for friendly visitors, and the Buffalo Reports which describe the union of churches in district work for poor families. In general, the charity organization movement is characterized by fertility of resource and inventiveness.

C. R. H.

L'Office du Travail de 1895 a I 95- Ministere de 1 'Industrie et

du Travail, Royaume de Belgique. Bruxelles, 1905. This admirable volume, edited by the director general of the Department of Labor of Belgium, M. Jean Dubois, was prepared for the Liege Exposition of 1905. It celebrates the tenth anniver- sary of the establishment of the department. The first section is devoted to the analysis of the organization of the office. The larger part of the discussion is given to the work of the office and its re- sults ; statistics of labor ; agencies of conciliation ; factory inspection ; insurance against accidents ; agencies of thrift ; trade unions ; laws regulative of industry. The third section describes the supreme council of labor, the commission on fraternal societies, and the com- mission on accidents. The volume contains statistical diagrams and photographic illustrations of mechanical devices.

C. R. H.