New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-11-27

"What shall be done for the desperately needyf"
is the paramount question Of the hour. Poor as
nearly all just now feel themselves, there are many
VINO would give if they were sure that their eonsr-
buttons would not be misapplied There ought to be
[, Council composed of one delegate from each as,o-
citation seeking to meliorste the condition of the
unfortunate holding meetings at least once in each
week to devise the ways and means Of making each
dollar contributed 60 as far as possible. Individual
vigilance and discrimination can do little toward
guarding against the hordes of idle Migrants and
impostors who in such times mako their harvest
from the benevolencs Of the tender hearted and
creduous. The multiplicity of charitable organiza-
lions is highly favorable to the designs Of these
vssabOnds, and perfect understanding and concert
between them would doubtless lead to the detection
Of many an unworthy beneficiary.
We fear every attempt to make work for the
needy 10 our City does as much harm as good BY
inducing hundreds to feck hther on the chance of
finding employment. A good many prefer to hive
miserably in city rather than comfortably 10 the
country. Nothing will deter these from iocklns in
on the slightest pretext for hope that they may
be employed here. Let rigid inquiry be made in
each Instance, and work given to no one who has
come hither to swell the volume of want and misery
in crisis like this.
1t is absurd to think of keeping up the prices OF
labor this Winter TO the standard of last Summer.
Labor is not worth nearly so much now per hour
or per day IS it recently Was and it should be
priced accordingly. Instead Of blindy resisting 70
ductions of wages in all cases, the aoorer' ought :"
be first 10 recognize the altered state OF things and
conform their demands thereto. Ten dollars VIII
buy more Of nearly everything but labor than 1t
would six months ago; and why not OF iabor Is
we'll There ought to be general reduction Of
wages, and efforts by the unemployed to ind work
BY Offering their services at rates which would
tempt landowners ard others to grade, and exca-
vate, ard build, this Winter, where they would
otherwise be prompted, by the scarcity Of money,
asd the dull prospects for renting new houses, TO
await more prosperous season. Merchants and
ing themselves oyerstoeked with goods and in press
ing need of money reduce the prices Of their fabrics
even 10 the extent Of selling them at retail below
their cost in Europe at wholesale: why should
labor alone be held at prices unaffected by n'h
necessity
The Ohio Farmer ssys:
"Tbere il no time TO be lost in making provision
against the certain coming OF the crisis. What shall
be done, them Some will be for putting the vhoe
question selfshy asde with no concern for either the
shts or suerngs Of the unfortuI ate. Some suggest
the raising of funds fer the purchase OF large stocks
of provisions at low prices, to be distributed among
the poor, gratis or at cost.
il useless to discuss the FIRST proposition, Few
will abide by it, bat the second, we fear, he's 100
mapv advocates Our objections TO it are, first that
II make. no distinction between the honest and DIS
bopest poor, thus offering reward for thrftessness
and deception. Secondly, il tends to bring to our cry
luge number Of Migrants and mendicants II not
worse. 10 be fed from our bounty thus multiplying
the poor il the city when support is most expensive
And diminishing their number in the country and VIII
,ces where their wants and deserts are beet known
ard can be best cared for. Thirdly, il IL calculated 70
debase the independence and industry OF the aoorng
portion Of the community. We have lev suSses-
iiors on this subject.
"Fupt let as much work as possibly csn De 'ui
ui.hed even at half pay. This will at once aiaw
line betwe en- the honest and dishonest poor Seccody
let all vsgrsncy be discouraged by utterly leIuhg
hello 10 street beggars. This will draw sno,ner INC
between the worthy and Unworthy: Inrdly, unss
bv nphic priyeso ChaLty, w theto