The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-10
THE STATE CHARITIES.

N~~s~~~~~-~~~~~~~->~~~~~~~-
Report Of the senate Committee on Peer
houses, Werkheuses, Jails and Penlten-
Understanding COnditi0n OF Some Of
Our County H0uses-mlsolios and Mall
treatment OF the De stitute and Insane
The beneficent Workings Of Other Instr
buttons.
Mr. SrxNcEx from the Select Committee, consisting or
Messrs Spencer Bradford and Leo appointed by resou
ton or the last session. 10 VISIT during the OF the
Legislature, all charitable institutions supported
sisted by tho State, and ell city and county poor and
warehouses; and jaDs and to examine into their coudi
tiou, made volumnous report this morning. The Gol-
loving statements are Cleaned from the report
The committee have devoted nearly i've months to tho
examination OF the institutions OF the safe, and those sup
ported or assisted by il.
rooRHoUsrs, ALxsHoUsxs AND KINDRED CHARITIES
There fifty five aimshOuses and poorhousss in
this State. exclusive OF those In New YORK and Kings
counties.
Average number Of inmates for the year. according to
the testimony taken by the committee, 64ac.
Actual nu mber OF inmates ut tho time when the
which we're iorssu born and %st.
Number OF deaths In my five poorhouscs during the
year was ITO 80 great mortality - tns the commit
tee remark, should arrest the public attention.
Number Of iuI atice confined In the poor houses, ex
cepliDg those In New York and Kings counties was sSI
received during the past year. and $50 are reported IS
beng In cells and chains During the year 80 improved
and 40 recovered. All were paupers except ~. Tho
why those twenty should be confined in poor.
house. only be accounted for By the inadequate pro-
vision now made by the State for accommodating the in
the committee state that at least two unac ssylums
o ss EN-
reported 10 the last Legislature having that end In vtev
In these poorhouses the committee also found 273
idiots rs deaf mutes and II blind persons OF the
Der reported - idiots many simply demented. and
arc suitable subjects for the iunsuc asylums.
The average weekly support Of tho inmates ia eighty
= Of the poorbouses generally the committee say
They may generally be described badly construct.
ed, III arranged, Ill warmed, and Ill ventilated. The
crowded with inmates and the air particular
~ In the sleeping apartments n very noxious and, TO
many "a forty i've inmates occupy single dormitory,
with low ceilings, and sleeping boxes arranged In three
tiers, one above another. Good health IL incompatible
The want Of suitable hospital accommodations Is 20
verey felt in most Of the poorhouses the physician ID
poorly paid. In the inmates sicken and die
without any medical attendance whatever. In
almshouse averaging ls7 inmates there thirty six
In regard to the co minging Of sexes, the committee
say ..,..,
neglected. Is either impossible, when possible IL 10
tsregarded. Many Of the births occurring during the
year doubtless the offspring Of Illicit connections
During the last year the whole number of births
2S2. The ndscrminate association OF the gene
rally allowed strongly favors this assumption. BY day
Ia often sufficient safeguard against proms
teroourse by night In case tho only pretence Of
separation consisted the crcu instance Of
dormtory; and police regulation, requiring to
reach il by fight and the other by another. appear
ed 10 be deemed sufficient preventure Of all subsequent
In two counties the committee found that the poor
houfes supplied by contract the contractor bong
allowed 70 profit by oil the labor which he could EFFORT from
the paupers In both the contractor superaten
of the poor and in he also keeper of
the poerhouse In the keeper received his compen
ration from the contractors and in this the food sup
piled not only insufficient In quantity, but consisted
partly of tainted msst and nsh The inmates were con
sequeuty almost starved. They were also deprived OF
suiciency OF fuel and bedding and suffered severely
from oola $50 gross and inhuman ". the conduct Of
the contractor for this poorhouse thst female in
mates (unatics) frozen In their coils Tor rather
.hees during INC last winter and are now crpples for
me."
The committee 20 10 say that "the treatment OF la.
natcs and idiots In these houses 10 frequently abusive
cd abodes, onsn wholly unprovided with bedding In
most cases female lunatcs had none but male attendants
Instances werc testified 10 the whipping OF male and 10
male idiots and unAtcs and OF combining the latter In
loAthsome cells and binding them with chains la
county where eleven lunaucs confined In
chains OF whom females In several or these
the patients volent but may be proper
10 say that the severity and nhu many OF their treat
ment wa proesbly owing 70 the apprehension and g,
Of the keepers rather than 10 any Intentional
bsr.hness or any upkidness Of disposition.
In some poor houses the committee found unatics,
hob male and female In cells In state OF nudity The
intoleraby offensive, Uttered with the long.
accumulated duh OF the occupants, and with straw re-
mingled With ne iiS adhered 70 The persons inmate:
and formed the only covering they had"
The committee recommend Tho establishment OF work.
housee either 70 be connected with poor houses dis
nct 70 which able bodied paupers should
be sent, net TO dimnish paupersm, 10 dninish the
burthen OF IL And also more Systematic distribution Of
In many instances the committee learned that the poor
houses not visited by the super vsors for than
In the Wyoming county poovhouse the com icc found
old soldier who served under General Warrington,
AZ wuA In, k~~Is N
has already, received pension, which viii make him
comfortable the residue OF his lie.
treatment and education Of the children 10 the poor
houses OF which there 1 800, and recommend
their removal to orphan asy um, or that some other
liable provision DO made for this largo number Of
The committee express surprise and regret that indivi
duss who usually take great intorcst 10 human suffering
wherever Ia brought 70 their notice. and who i've in
immediate neghborh BOD OF poorhou manifest
little interest In the condition Of this most unfortunate
Glars OF paupers.
ORPHAN AsYLuxs Hovx TIE yRusDss..
We can fully appreciate the feelings OF the committee
when they say;"t N agreeable 10 turn from tho con-
federation OF The poor and their mismsnasement
TO the examination OF the orphan asyums 10 which the
tee visited them all whether II be that the principal
charge OF these Ia oouhded 10 females, on whacver be
the cause, n certain bat with loss comparative expen
dture Of the puollc moneys an incompnshly greater
smoa ant Of comfort cleanliness, kind treatment, health
and good education secured 10 the inmates than hap
There arc twenty six orph,n nylnms' Including .oye.
raj that called "Homes of tho Fnendisss,n which
very hsAy commended by ,he committee IN their re-
port- Number CT children, 2sl6, OF whom 22t are Of
forcgn psreniage The state annually appropraies 70
uIelr support SIS oco.
IuNIuC AsYruxs.
The committee say OF the four lunaic ssy ums-two OF
which receive their support In part from the Satethsi
"they are 40 well and efficiently mspaset possible
with the conveniencics at tho OF $40 supcrinen
dents and managers and In conformity 10 the existing
provisions OF law. The committee urge upon the atcn
ION a the Legislature the removal OF insane convicts
from the ssylur that provision be made
them elsewhere They regard the practice Of transfer.
ring 'nssne convcts conycts assumed 10 be from
the prisons TO the unan a. mpontc, inl
aud unjust
whole number OF nna.ics In the asylams In Laos
which with the number In the poor houses Ia 1884
STAFF IDIOT lsYIuMs.
The state idiot Asylum, located the city Of syrs
euse, received the pupils fro the temporary buildings
which had been used the city Of Albany In August
1865 Tbe entire cost Of buildings and farm attached Is
not over $4,000. The accommodations ample Tor lb0
pupils, and lo4 under instruction. The annual
expenses are and last s7 $50 IS recev
cd from paying pupils.
In consequence Of the failure Of the appropriation bill