600 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
effected, at Elberfeld, in 1852. We recognize in the reorgan- ization three points of importance : (a) individualization, () the helpers have a voice in the determination of means, etc., (c) decentralization. The first is attained by a division of the entire city into quarters, such that each shall not contain more than four dependents (individuals or heads of families) , and the placing of each quarter under the supervision of a helper. The helper {Armenpfleger} is the chief organ of poor relief; it is his duty to visit the poor of his quarter at regular intervals, to keep himself constantly informed as to their circumstances, and to exert an educational and refining influence over them and their families. He is to be their friend and adviser, and is to insist on discipline and order. Ill-disposed and lazy persons it is their duty to report to the authorities for legal prosecution. The arrangement which gives the helpers the decision as to manner and amount of the aid is this : the quarters are grouped into circuits or districts ; the helpers of a circuit have regular meetings for the purpose of discussing the work, taking coun- sel, and deciding on the amount, the kind, and duration of the assistance to be given. At the head of each such circuit there is a superintendent or inspector (Vorsteher) who presides over and directs the proceedings of the circuit and negotiates between the helpers and the central board. The central admin- istrative board (^Hauptverwaltinig) is composed of a representative of the city administration (Stadtverwaltung] and of members of the city council. It has in charge the general direction of poor relief, the control of the decisions and resolutions of the cir- cuits, the making of general regulations affecting all quarters, the supervision of institutional and hospital relief, etc. Moreover, it is the duty of this central board to search out the causes of poverty, to acquaint itself with the conditions of the poorer classes, to prepare and direct measures of a general nature, to see that the means at disposal are wisely used in short, to attend to everything not directly connected with passing upon the individual case. Their control over the proceedings of the circuit, therefore, does not imply a suspicious scrutinizing of
