Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-01-08

nm
tion There we're IN the Asylum last year lVVi
there were admitted or re.sdmiited during ,he
year %; the whole number under It's lhslruetloh
I'm IN lis close was los. The average numoer
IN d,nv attendance was "a. The expenses ex-
cluding $4,000 for permanent improvements
were sl3 3s7 %, showing 40 average outiay ior
ea,h inmate Of near l4Z
It thus appears that the whole number
of nersons rendered nfrm aud dependent
Inv defective aud diseased organization is
6OlO. thut of these 3,040 are in conditions
recurring provision for them in public or
priyate Institutions; that SAT are actually
in the State AsylumS, leaving 2 ) 93 unpro-
vided for, except so far as they may 6nd
relief in County mnrmaries or private fam
lilies; that the average number constantly
in the AsylumS through the last year was
S34; that the total cost to the State OF
their maintenance during the year was
$l5S,4l0; that the cost of each inmate for
the year was 1854; that 70 provide for
those needing, but not now receiving, the
benefits Of the Asylum, at the same rate
would REQUIRE an annual additional expen-
diture of 1881, ,T22, making an aggregate
annual outlay Of $466, l32; and that these
estimates are exclusive Of interest; about
$50, 900, on the capital, abont 5000, 900,
invested in the existing Asylums, and Of
the yearly cost Of permanent improvements,
which was last year about $4,000; aud OF
the capital yet to be invested in new sites
aud structures, of the interest upon that.
No one desires more earnestly than |
that the General Assembly may fully dis
charge the obligations assumed ia the Con
stitution by the whole people, to the chill
| dren of sorrow. The duty of fulfilling
them is clear, and the benefits Of its per
formance evident. The social condition of
no people cnn be what it should be, while
a class of guiltless aud helpless victims OF
physical or mental disorder remains nnre-
iieved. Nor is the duty of relief less i'm
peratively dictated by considerations Of
economy, than by considerations Of philan-
thropy. The dependent iDlrm must be
sustained by society in some form. The
only choice is between modes. And how
much better that mode which raised SO ma
ny Of them from depths of helplessness a
wretchedness, and makes them self-support-
ing and even useful members Of the COM
munity, than that other mede which wastes
resources in ftful and inadequate relief,
drops its wretched objects in their sorest
need, and infcts upon society the moral &
social evils necessarily resulting from the
presence of such class neglected in its
midst
The statements have submitted are design
cd 10 set clearly before you the nature and mag
niiude of the evil for which yor are called up
on to provide remedy. They will perhaps
convince you OF the necessity OF restoring the
poiiU; adopted 81 the opening, and pursued for
| twelve years III the administration OF the Asy-
! lums, Of requiring that the cost OF maintenance
in them be betrayed by tho parents or gnardI-
ans of the inmates, in cases wner5 the c!rcun'
stances of the parties fully justify H. They
will, think, also satisfy you of the expediency
OF encouragement, by law, TO the establishment
Of private Inirmaries aud Asylums, in which
there is reason to believe many will be maintain
ed by their own means or by relatives, aud
fIiends and that Others, needing help from the
State, can, 10 many cases, be provided Tor nj
much less than at the present cost. They will
also it may be hoped, Recommend to all ELI
trusted with the administration of these Inst
tutiOns, the duties of economy IN expenditure
and vigilance in oversight
Many individuals of the classes partially pro-
yided for in the State Asyums, are inmates OF
the County Infrmares This fact imparts ad-
dtlonal force TO the general considerations
which suggest further legislation for the regu
ation of these Institutions. l regret that the
! Commissioner appointed under the act of youI
predecessors to examine the reports required by
it, and prepare bill for the better endowment
regulation and management of lnhrmaries, ha,
as yet been unable to fulfil the duty imposed by
his appointment. | trust, however, that tine
preparation of proper bill, aud the neccessnry
legislative action upon it will not be long de
layed
Another important element, entering into
every adequate estimate of social condition, i;
that of Pauperism In Ohio the pauper clas;
is less numerous than in many other States
but is yet large enough TO require thoughtlu
consideration. The number Of poor well or il
provided for either temporary or permanent!
in Infrmaries, Houses of Refuge. or other In
stitutiOrs, is estimated at $500 and the NUN
ber of the same class receiving outdoor re-
lief at 1900, making the total number Of poo
supported wholly or partially by the pnbc
l4600. Estimating the population Of thu
State to be 2.400000, the proportion OF pau
pers is one in l62. The proportion Of th'
same class in England, is one ia IL; in New
York, according TO the census Of 1880, one il
so; in Massachusetts one in S. For the pre-
vention OF its increase III OHIO, we must rely
on the aid of Education, upon the influence o
Religion, and upon equal laws securing to labO
its just share of production. There is no rea
son TO expect, however, that the poor will eve
cease out of the land. Hereafter, as hereto
fore, it will be the duty of States and individ
uals to open wide the hand to the needy. lie
us hope that our own State, so honoraby dis
tinguished for her Institutions Of Benevolence
will never fail in the inst performance Of il.
To ascertain the entire number of the depen
dent classes, it will be proper to add to th
humber Of the Insane and otherwise natural,
infrm, 6,04O and to the number Of pauperS
l48OO, the average humber daily in cOufne
ment under charge or sentence for crime, esti
mated at l,400 making the whole nuber o
persons to be maintained wholly, or in par
: from public revenues or by private aid, 32,34O
This aggregate includes all the Insane, th
; ldiotic, the Deaf and Dumb. the Blind the in
= door and outdoor paupers, and the imprisoned
The whole mass may become at any time wha
mueh the larger portion is at all times, charg
upon the State. 1t is what may be justly call
ed the in6rm element of society. It's proper
tiou in Ohio is as one to IS; in Massachusett
) ns one to AZ; 10 New York as one to Is.
Under the general name of Crime, as an ele
ment OF social condition, may be comprehend