Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-01-04

1t thus appears that the whole number of
persons rendered infirm and dependent by de
fective or diseased organization is 6,04O that Of
this number 3,040 are in conditions requiring
provision for them in public or private institu-
tions that SAT are actually in the State Asy-
lums, leaving 2, 1913 unprovided for, except so
far a. they may find re ief in County Infirmaries
or private families; that the average number
constantly in the Asyums through the last
year was s34; that the total cost to the State
of their maintenance during the year was
SIPS, ,4l0; that the cost OF each inmate for the
year was Sl54; that to provide for those need
ing, but not now receiving, the benefits Of the
Asylums, at the same rate, would require an
annual additional expenditure of 1897, ,722,
making an aggregate annual outlay OF S466, 1872;
and that these estimates are exclusive of inter-
est, about $50, 600, on the capital, about $780,
600, invested in the existing Asylums, and
Of the yearly cost of permanent improve
ments, which was last year about $4,000
and of the capital yet to be invested in new
sites and structures, and of the interest upon
that
No one desires more earnestly than l that the
General Assembly may fully discharge the OBJ
legations assumed in the Constitution by the
whole people, to the children of sorrow The
duty OF fulfilling them is clear, and the benefits
VI us pSElUIuduCb GNluCHl. 1ue SOCIAL CO0Ql-
ton of no people can be what it should be,
while a class of guiltless and helpless victims
of physical or mental disorder remains unre-
lieved. Nor is the duty of relief less impera-
lively dictated by considerations of economy
than by considerations of philanthropy. The
dependent infrm must be sustained by society
in some form The only choice is between
modes. And how much better that mode
which raises so many of them from depths of
helplessness and wretchedness, and makes
them Relf-suPportlng and even useful mem
bers of the community, than that other mode
which wastes resources in fitful and inadequate
relief, drops its wretched objects in their
sorest need, and inficts upon society the
moral and social evils necessarily resulting
from the presence of such class neglected in
its midst.
The statements have submitted are design
ed to set clearly before you the nature and mag
nitude of the evil, for which you are called upon
to provide a remedy. They will, perhaps, CON
vince you of the necessity of restoring the pol
icy adopted at the opening, and pursued for
twelve years in the administration of the Asy-
lums, of requiring that the cost of maintenance
in them be betrayed by the parents or guardians
of the inmates, in cases where the cireumstan-
ces of the parties fully justify it. They will,
think, also satisfy you of the expediency of en-
couragement, by law, to the establishment OF
private Infrmaries and Asylums, in which
there is reason to believe many will be main
tained by their own means or by relatives and
friends, and that others, needing help from the
State, can, in many cases, be provided for at
much less than the present cost. They will
also it may be hoped, recommend to all en-
trusted with the administration of these Institu-
tions, the duties of economy in expenditure aad
vigilancein oversight.
Many individuals of the classes partially pro.
vided for in the State Asylums, are inmates of
the County Infmaries This fact imparts ad-
ditional force to the general considerations
which suggest further legislation for the regu-
lsti0n of these Institutions. l regret that the
Commissioner appointed under the act of your
predecessors to examine the reports required
| by it, and prepare bill for the better endow-
ment, regulation and management of Infrma-
ries, has as yet been unable to fulfil the duty
imposed by his appointment. trust, however,
| that the preparation of proper bill, and the
necessary legislative action upon it will not be
long delayed.
Another important element, entering into
/ every adequate estimate of social condition, is
less ntierous the nsnper class is
is vet large enough1o require thoughtful con.
sderation. The number of poor, well or Ill
provided for, either temporarily or permanent
". in Infirmaries, Houses of Refuge, or other
Institutions, is estimated at 800; and the num-
Der of the same class receiving outdoor relief
at u 600. making the total number of poor sup
ported wholly or partially by the public during
the wear, IA, 500 Estimating the population o.
the State to be 100000, tho proportion o
paupers is one in I62. The proportion OF th'
same class in England is one IN II, III NC"
I ,f ~ W.
, York. according to the census OF loouJ II wa
80 n 30. IN Massachusetts, one in 65. For th'
prevention of its increase in Ohio, we must rel.
/ | on the aid of Education, upon the influence o
! Religion, and upon equal laws, securing TO Ia
: Dor its lust share of production. There is n,
, reason to expect, however, that the poor wi
; ever cease out of the land Hereafter, as here
5 tofore. it will be the duty of States and IN
! viduals to open wide the hand to the needy
: LET rs hone that our own State, so honorabl
= DISTINGUISHED for her Institutions of Renevo
: lence' will never fail in the just performance
: it.
: To ascertain the entire number of the dePeT
o dent classes, it will be proper to add to th
o number of the insane and otherwise natural
# in6rm. 6.O4O, and to the number of pauPer
: IA 500, the average number daily in continemeI
# under charge or sentence for crime, estimate
# at II. 400, making the whole number OF person
1t to be maintained wholly, or IN part IRON Puol
e revenues or by private aid, 81 ,24O, .,
t. This aggregate includes all the Insane, u
le Idiotic, the Deaf and Dumb, the Blind, the
re door and outdoor paupers, and the mPrSone
re The whole mass may become at any time VIII
er much the larger portion is at all times, char
le unon the State. 1t is what may be justly CALI
n the infirm element of society. Itsproportion
Sc tine whole constitutes an important indication
nj the moral and industrial condition of a State
E. That PROPORTION in Ohio is as one to 70; IN Ma
o. ssehusetts as one to Al; in New York as one
K 20
nd Under the general name of Crime, as an e.
tie ment of social condition, may be comprehend
r. all action, associated OF individual, which, v
IT, lating moral obligation, inficts injury on p
ed sons or society What have to submit to y
he relating 10 crime in our own State, will, howe
is er. be confined to the proportion of often:
. AGAINST positive laws to the total population a
es, TO their retarding and disturbing influences
of the otherwise healthful and regular progress
ost society. The number of indictments for er
during the past year was about 3,6OOi the nu
,se Der of police arrests for crimes against
be State not prosecuted by indictment, was abb
rst 2 2OO. the number of arrests for offenses aga
ars police ordinances 1856; making the number
rst arrests for crimes and offenses of lower gr;
Der II,4s6 The convictions carried into judgm'
Of upon Indictment, were 1900. The murders
in- ring the year were So and the suicides 65. I
her proportion of crimes and offeuses to the po
his iation was one in 20s; the proportion of off
its ders being of course being somewhat less.
- proportions of murders was one to 10000; t
35, of suicides one to sc, 923
ex- The infreduency of convictions as compa
du- with indictments will doubtless attract your
7er- teption. 1t indicates defective administrat
,or- of criminal Justice, to be remedied not III
In, BY legislation as by increased vigilance
on, fimness on the part Of those to whom that
e Il