New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-05-15

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we sil utterly TO accomplish what is expected OF Us
If we subject ourselves 10 the reproacn OF having
promised largely, but done nothing IN fuihlInent oil
our promises-then, gentlemen, disgrace and scorn
will be our meet portion. But the People are not
unjust; if we succeed even partially, and make II
manifest that want OF complete success has been
owing not TO deficiency OF zeal and integrity, but 10
the magnitude of the work aud our own nexpericnce.
our ielow-ci,izens will not withhold from us the
due reward of their approval and their respect
With these preliminary remarks gentlemen, l
proceed 10 the iuiflmcnt, as NAV be able, OF The
duty assigned 10 NE BY the 18th section OF The Char
ter.
OF the financial condition of the City-its Reve-
nucs Property, Expenditure and Debt have al
present bur very imperfect Information, and am not
prepared TO lay before YOU an Ineligible statement
| shall proceed 10 make myself more accurately and
mnutelv informed upon the subject as soon Us pos
sible and lose no time in placing before you such
suggestions as may present themselves 10 my mind
tending TO the reduction OF debt and expenditure
In the mean time, however, would mention 10 you,as
sources very great expenditure, IN which economy
NAV probably be introduced with eminent advantage,
the provision for the support OF the poor and that tor
cleaning the streets. The Ams-House Department
has occupied of late years, very important and con-
spicuous place in the annual list OF disbursements
and il seems TO that plans mic be devised both
10 reduce the number Of paupers deriving their sup
port from the iaxpaying citizens and TO make them
contribute more largely py their LABOR, 10 lle Cost
Of their own maintenance. If these could be effect
ed, the moral and pecuniary advantages resulting
therefrom would be very great. A recent English
traveller in this country has gone back and reported
10 his countrymen, that when he visited the New
York Aims House, il had two thousand and i've hun
d,ed inmates, of whom FIVE hundred were sble-5odled
men that there separation OF the sexes no
enforcement OF labor, restriction upon readmS-
sion as often as drunkenness laz!ness might
make i, desirable temporary refuge This IN
formation, false though it may be, was widely cir
culated in the English newspapers. To the thou
sands and Tens OF thousands OF miserabiy poor In
England such picture of an American Aims
House must convey almost the idea oil Paradise,
IN contrast with the severe and stringent regulations
OF their own Poor-Law Unions and we cannot Won
der if thousands are induced by these reports 10 de-
sire removal from the wIetchedpess OF their own
country 10 one where wiliul pauperism meets such
encouragement-a removal for which we know thai
their local authorities are willing enough 10 make
provision. in this country, where, as general
rule, the meet reward OF industry is sure, there
should be TO wlful pauperism; and il" able-bodied
men, found by hundreds in our Alms-Houses
nj least there should be ample and strict provision
for making their bodily ability useful to the public
from whom they receive subsistence. Ii is proper
TO bear in mind, however, the necessity of giving
such direction 10 Pauper Labor that il shall not