The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-16
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Olnn80n.

In The House of Commons on the 10th, Mr..
Harvey moved that il u expedeut n standing
committee or unpaid commission BE- appointed, to
consider, suggest, and report from time to time,
preventive and remedial measures to benefit the
social condition of the working classes. and for
removing social and other obstacles to their i'm
provemeat"
IN support Of his motion he referred to par
liamentary reports in proof Of his position, and
quoted statistics to show that there had been
great neglect of the inteec' ual and SANITARY
condition OF the working classes. The new
poor law bad cured some evils, but had not
touched others, and without legislation no be-
lieved they would last for at least two genera
tions. The dwellings Of the poor, both in town
and country, ought to be inspected, though the
mortality in the towns far exceeded that OF the
country. II was found that education, which
ought to be as one in eight OF the population,
was only one in eighteen.
The number OF the criminal population had
increased from 1890. in the beginning OF the
century, to 3O,6O0 in l848, being three times al
fast az the increase of the general population.
The cost of crime was I'll 100000 and upwards
per annum, and the amount Of the poor
rate E5,4OOOOO. He estimated the expense OF
hospitals, dispensaries, and aims houses at the
at E25OO 900; and he set down the loss by in
creased illness, from want of SANITARY regula-
tons, at f2OOO 900. The whole amounted to
ear, 900 for England and Wales only. Add
ing half rs much for Ireland and Scotland, and
it would amount to E4I,250,OO0. There was
the cost of 2l.O0000O gallons OF spirits, con
sumed greatly owing to tbs neglect OF the work
ing classes, which, making every due allowance
for reasonable convviality, he put down at tlO,-
100000, more. Thus they saw that G5l ,OOO,-
600 sterling WAS the amount wasted every year
by there not being responsible board to deal
with this subject, the greater part of which
might easily be rescued from such useless pur
poses.
The remedies were to be found in the reports
Of those committees which he had obtained; in
1887, upon education; in l84O, upon the health
of towns; and in 1851, upon the savings and
investments of the humble and middle classes.
They ought to give fair play to those classes,
and extend to them the means OF acquiring
those moral and religious feelings which were
the foundation Of all social advancement. The
general board of health act was very beneficial
measure, but the regulations were too complex
for general adoption. The third subject was
of great Importance to the humber classes.
They wanted to be able to insure, with por
ton of their wages when high, for the time
when wages were low, and there was at present
no mode bv which that could be done, because
they would not allow capital to flow in pro
per direction, and therefore there were no
means of investing small sums. He believed
that there would be no difficulty in framing a
perfect board. There were many peers in the
upper house, and many persons out OF doors,
who would willingly serve upon it. His firm
belief was that the whole cost Of the commits
sion would be about $4,000, onehalf of which
would be, without doubt, subscribed out of pr-
vate funds.
Die government opposed the motion.