New-York daily tribune., 1845-12-26
sunnort of the Destitute.

!
thousand human beings within our Ci'y ''f'ii'' nv
have little or no means OF LIVING out .i'e'f n]'
and can get no fair employment iof 'nese - ''-'7
s,,ai, many Of them live by direct oeggafy' oo'aiN
mo cold and broken vctuas from the hotels ea''lg
houses. &c but many more loaihe and struggle
araips, a resort they deem so degrading Some Dor
row dollar now and then of relative or TREND 10
nav rent with. while peck Of potatoes and another
of coal are made 10 go good way toward week
subsistence some get little credit at grocery on
the strength of their former custom and punctuaity
some are trusted by their landlords; very ieT
staryc or freeze in the most nclement weather :;
more steal odd shillings worth OF properly "hefe
they think i, can be done safely. To thus later
course there is a double temptation tor whhe al
honest pauper has hard work to get into the Aims
House at this season tief has first the cnance o
living as he likes ON the fruits of his theving next
the chance of getting clear by the non-appeaFan'e
of the witnesses on his trial. failure OF the e'uence
or flaw in the Indictment Giving idly and colni0r'a
by while under arrest;l lastly, the cef'ain'y y,
food clothing and moderate, wholesome LABOR shoulu
he bappen to be convicted The chances, as between
the thief and the honest pauper, are all IN favor OF
the thief From cursory examination of the quarters
assigned by our City 10 the two classes respectively
we pronounce the thief decidedly preferable on the
score alike of health exercise and comfort.
We have probably wearied our readers with ur
gent demands ofa radical reform IN the treatment OF
Pauperism We insist that our City might treat her
unfortunate children great deal better-rnentally
morally and physicay-at far less expense than she
now incurs for them. We insist that proper Char
liable Establishment for City would require an
estate Of not less than two miles square win aouh
dant water or steam power, workshops cotton ana
wooden factories &c all under the ablcst and most
scientific direction; the soil perfectly cultivated by
the aid of the best machinery and implements, al
fordng employment in some shape 10 every one who
had any capacity or physical ability to LABOR nov"
ever slender Here the vegetables should be grown
the cattle and sheep slauehtere the wheat anu corn
ground aud in part grown, the clothes boots ana
shoes made with the cloth and leather also, for all
whom the City is required 10 care for, whether as
paupers or offenders. Here every one above the
age of infancy should be required 10 perform from
four 10 ten hours labor daily unless absolutely IN
capacita,ed by disease or intrnity And there are
few not prevented by present suffering who would
IL
range of employment
The gross folly of removing our Charitable hstao-
shmcnts 10 any of the little islands surrounding our
City can hardly need demonstration. Islands are
very good locations for prisons; but paupers are not
supposed to have any strong propensity tor running
away from the Aims House Doubtless some who
are now supported in ideness by the City 'couid
run away if set to work in the manner We have pro
posed, but these could be dispensed with wmle
those who remained 10 The end oil the first month
would be grateful for the change OF system and
would fall into its ways with alacrity. There should
be schools for the Young, and lectures on Popular
and Scientific topics connected with the Industry OF
the establishment for ALL beside the practical lessons
of every days employment, so that each person
driven by want TO the Aims House THE sick manned
and decrepit alone excepted could go out into the
world after two or three months or years with two
or three good ways of earning livelihood in which
they had been fully instructed at the Aims House
ALL this we have urged before now, and urged
in vain. We have now n suggestion 10 make which
we think will commend the subject 10 the attention
of our heavy laden taxpayers at least We pro
pose that the support of the P0upers depending on
our City be girea ont by contract for ten gears
10 tie locest bidder subject of course to the con-
tnual supervision of the Aims House Commission
ers. Health Officer and such other officers as the
City should see fit TO appoint to take care that her
destitute children should have good and wholesome
food, lodging, &c and not be obliged 10 work more
than is healthful and proper.
The present taxable cost of maintaining the Poor
of our City is nearly 100000 per annum, and at the
rate it has advanced during the last ten or fifteen
years it will be s5oO,oOO by 1855. This OF Itself
would be heavy tax on the Business and Industry
of our CITY But all are aware that the Aims House
will not hold all who desire and need It's revolving
sbel,er-that the inmates are crowded together IN
heaps. ;iftv in room, without ventilation or any
chance for cleanliness or comfort thousands are
constrained TO give aims 10 the destitute from their
knowledge Of the difficulty and often impossloility
of getting place for them in the Aims House
Rocues and vagabonds know this and take adVan'
tagc of it many go TO the Aims House because they
can live there after fashion, without work more
live useesslv on the charities of the benevolent,
who either believe they cannot get into the Aims
House or cannot see decent looking people COM
PEELED 10 live in such place. The actual cost OF
Pauperism TO our City, in public and private charity
and the conviction and support OF petty offenders
agains, the Rights of Property cannot fall short OF
One Million Dollars per annum, and we think ex-
ceeds that sum.
Now let our City advertise for proposals from re-
sponsble and reputable men who will give unex-
cepuonabe security in the OF 81 GOO, 900 for the
proper iul6lment of their contract, and with such
make contract for the support OF all The Poor
chargeable on her benevoleuce for ten years nj 50
much per anuum. Let the form of contractbe drawn
up and exhibited beforehand by the City stipu!atns
that the contractors shall furnish suitable food cloth
ing medicine and medical attendance for every per
son who may Justly claim Municipal charity, and
send those who have no jus' claim, here 10 the par
ties legally bound to support them. Let due penal
ties be stipulated in the contract for each failure OF
abuse the part of the contractors, as 10 stimu
late them to proper vigilance. Let the City's Com
missioncrs and Physician General have free access
10 every part OF the establishment a, all times, and
let each OF them have special charge and oversight OF
the establishment for a week or month in rotation
hearing every ones complaints, with power to gran,