The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-05

,uabbling democracy, i We are to judge from tho /
opinions o tie whig journals. They will have q,
much trouble with their three-legged stool, IS the
dem ocrats with their bakers dozen Of avaiables.
Ard Wall sc Get il not strong enough to carry
through Mr.. Webster. We can't elect him by
Mexican yronuniaB,tNto He has to 90 to the
Philadelphia slsugh,er-house;" and We are pro.
missed that the friends Of Mr.. Clay will remember
him. We expect, however, thst this Webster
meeting will fairly put the bali in mo.isn, and
that it will be followed up hy Fillmore meetings,
and Soott meetings, here and else where, and by
general shaking Of the dry bones of the cid psli-
tcians Of all parties, all over he country IL will
start the ball. but it will finish the Espounder Of
the Constitution. Wall street will wind him up.
The zen Governors OF tho Aimshouss--
Tho Progress OF Extravaganza and Cor
ruptlon.
During the last year an amount not far short OF
the frightful sum of half million Of dollars has
been drawn from the Comptroller for tho expenses
Of the Aim shouse Department; and notwithstand
ing all the ouscry raised about the proagacy and
wasteful expenditure Of the former organic alton,
it was purity and economy itself compared with the
present regime. If the old was bad the new is ten
times worse; and the trite adage, "out of the
frying pan into the fire." has been realized with
vengeance.
Some three years ago the public mind was reused
by the reports Of newspapers and Grand Juries
relative to the extrayngant expenses of the Alms-
house. Grave charges were made against its
maragers-a vast amount OF money was spent for
useless purposes-is was made banquetsing estab-
lishment, for the entertainment Of personal AID
political friends; and the sums distributed among
the poor Of tho city were truly alarming. These
charges were, no doubt to certain extent, true.
By tho dint of agitation and the perseverance
Of "reformer'," VIII, wanted to DO appointed
on the new Board themselves, an act was OBJ
tanned from the Legislature, newly organizing the
department, and taking its control entirely
from the Common Council, and placing it OK
clusively under "Ten Governors''--not elected
by the people, but expressly named in the act.
The powers confer cd upon them were most arbi-
trarJ; but as no fee reward was attached to the
office, the irresponsible char scter Of the regime was
tolerated, asd it was supposed that philanthropic
men, who undertook to serform such important
duties for tho sake Of charity, humanity, and reli
gion would not squander the public money or abuse
the trust reposed in them. They were Invested With
all the powers that were previously gwen to tho
Commissioners o. the Amshouse, the Common
Council, and the Board q Supervisors Moreover,
on application, their authority was greatly enlarged
by the Legislature Of 1850.
In their reports these gentlemen display vast
amount Of ingenuity and special pleading to convince
the Taxpayers that the city wing money by their
management. They find i rather uphill work,
however, with certain Stubborn facts and figures
staring them in the face What are these facts and
figures? In the year 1916, when all the foreign
poor supported By the department., its expense
to the city was 1892 7s9. In 1851, when the dest
tute foreigners were supported by the Commission
ers of Emigration, the penses Of the Almshouse
Department were s465.Oco, or double the former
amount This is certainly curious mode Of saw
ing. In 1913, the salaries Of the officers amount
ed to Isl. 1876; n 1851, to $79,0Ss, This, we
suppose, is another item e saving. Formerly,
he officers were obliged to furnish their own apart
ments but since the complete control Of the insti-
tuition came into the hand Of she Ten Governors,
there has been expended for furniture $l0,576. Is
this, too, saving to the city! 1t appears from the
reports that the item OF I" refreshments was frat
introduced by Commissioner Leonard, in 1877, and
amounted to $i2; in 1851 it amounted to 81, 1928.
This is another remarkable instance Of saving.
But surely, when they have been SO very frugal
and economical in saa es, furniture, and refresh
ments, they could afford to DO very liberal to the
out door poor. Let us see what arithmetic says on
the subject
LOOK ON THIS PICTURE. AND on THIS
In the year ssas4I IN the year 7o2
1S57.... $4,000 16b1.... 70 SOL
1885,. 5470l
From these sums Of none, given respectively to
tie oudoor poor during the last three years of tho
old regime, and the last two of the new, the reader
will see how vastly more generous and charitable
the Ten Governors have been than their predsces-
sors In 1851, there given to the out door poor
So, $40 less than in 1913.
It thus appears that there has been wonderful
savng-but it is all on the wrong side; while there
has been tremendous increase Of expenditure-but
that, too, is on the wrong side. Bounty to the
poor has been crippled. confined, and sadly d.
miHished, while to the officers it has been most
laviehly extended. 1t woud seem, in fact, that the
institution is not designed for the benefit of the
poor, but for the purpose of giving fat salaries to
set OF officials the number Of officers has increased
and the pay has been increased, while the donations
to the out door poor havo decreased, and smaller
number Of destitute objects have been relieved
Such is the retrepchment and reform Of the Ten
Governors. But let Us exhibit shom tabular form,
from the oticlal reports
TOTAL cost Of depart neat in 1851 $4,000
IA lofo.s Z5Z,1Id
Cost less IN 1896. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Sls2270
Total salaries in 1901. 7908s
IN lS4o..... ..,,....,.... U,o50
Tess in 1S43. Observation-Disclosures. S4l752
Total - out door poor in 1913. ........... 5a70t
IN 1901 2366l
Less in 1851 Observation-Disclosures. s27 sac
So much for the philanthropy, economy, and re-
trcnchment Of the Ter Governors. But lot US 20
LITTLE more miautely into details, and compare the
various itemo of expenditure for six years, under
the different administrations Of the city government,
and for the last three years under the Ten Governors
including the curious article Of refreshments -
EYPEHDITunEs ron Six YEARS uSnTR THE ADaIgIsrRA.
TIor OF Titr CRY GovKRvmsNT.
Dss. Aqrre. Uetgocrdfic. UhiP.