Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-08

Inc large prOpOrtlOn OF foreign Dorm patients
found in our hospitals, suggests important con
slderations. The native and foreign born are
not affected in the same way by discipline
The American patient yields more readily to
persuasion, and resists coercion, while the for
eign patient, by education and custom, is more
submissive to the voice of authority. 1t may
be deemed expedient, at sometime hereafter
to separate these classes, so that subordinate
officers and attendants may be selected, who,
by education as by nature, may be best able to
inspire confidence, and enforce that restraint,
which the welfare of this unfortunate class de.
mands.
By statute of 1857 the treasurers of the
several hospitals are authorized to charge the
Commonwealth with the support of patients
not having any known settlement therein, at
"the same rates that they charge for other lu-
natlcs residing therein" instead of the fixed
compensation formerly paid. This change in
the law will not operate favorably, either as
it regards the interests of the Commonwealth,
or the reputation of the hospitals The State
has paid for the construction of buildings and
the support of insane persons, in the aggregate
S9o0,713, and it supports annually from four
to SIX hundred persons. Upon either consid-
eraton,it is entitled to the discrimination which
was formerly made. But the change is liable
to graver objection. If the annual expenses of
the hospitals are to be divided among State
patients, secure of their support, they are re-
heved from the necessity of vigiant exertion,
which is required to maintain the reputation
OF the establishment, so as to attract private
patients from our own or neighboring States ;
that they will gradually fall below the standard
OF excellence hitherto maintained. Whatever
sum is paid from the treasury for the support
OF patients, it should be in my Judgment
fixed compensation, and if it prove inadequate
to the support of the hospitals, let the de-
nett be supplied by direct legislative appropri-
alton.
The reports relating to the State almshouses
exhibit improvement and increased economy
In their management. A still greater reduce
ton in their cost can be made, and very care
full examination in their operations, and of the
principles upon which they are established is
required. The policy we have adopted for
the support of paupers, not having any known
settlement in the Commonwealth, is one of ex-
elusive indoor relief. Our institutions are
modelled apparently upon the present English
pauper system. England has erected and sup
ports six hundred and forty-five of these es-
abllshments-while we have but four-that
were intended originally as a substitute for the
system of outdoor or parish relief The re-
turns OF the past year indicate that it has been
a partial, if it do not prove an entire failure.
Inc grand register shows that up to July l,
1898, one hundred and eleven thousand pau
pers had received relief indoor, while seven
hundred and fourteen thousand had received
outdoor relief according to the system for
merly existing. With twelve metropolitan
warehouses; and six hundred and forty five
union warehouses, to be supported with all
Their officers and machinery, England has still
to furnish relief to siX-sevenths of her paupers
outside, who are unwilling to take refuge in
her warehouses.
a similar result follows our system. We
support outside all our own paupers of native
or toreiRp lbfbEtl, who, oen~ slfnown settlements
with paupers drawn in upon us from every
part of the world under the delusive repre-
sentation of interested parties, to be maintain
ed for indefinite periods, or re-transported by
us to the different parts of the world from
whence they came. We have supported an
average, for the year past of twenty eight
hundred paupers, and have removed to the
places whence they came, three thousand two
hundred and sixty-seven in the same time.
Another consideration has more important
bearing. The lmshouses-crowded with men,
women, and children, many of them helpless
from infancy, infirmity, or age-are composed
of materials so combustible that it would be
difficult in the event of confagration, to avoid
an appalling loss of life. | do not think that
we are prepared to enter upon the construction
of fire-proof buildings in place Of the present
structures; and / am therefore compelled, hes
itatingly, to advise the Legislature to refrain
from further expenditures, except such as may
be necessary for the security of life to enforce
more rigid economy in their management,
and prepare for gradual change of the sys-
tenn. | respectfully ask the attention Of the
Legislature to this subject, and | cheerfully
commend the general conduct of the officers
of the almshouses, and those attached to the
Alien Commission, in the performance of very
difficult duties.
There are few of the State charities that
present more gratifying results than those be-
slowed upon the remnants of Indian tribes that
remain among us. OF those that l have seen
the Marshpees are most numerous, and in the
best condition. Within few years, intemper-
ance and other vices were common among
them, and their public meetings were often
disturbed by riotous proceedings. They are
now much improved. They are temperate
and industrious, regular attendants upon their
church, and commit very few crimes against
persons or property. They have constructed
some of the best roads in their vicinity their
public assemblies are orderly and in the
election of their officers, theft choice falls
upon their best men, with tie same uner-
ring sagacity exhibited by the white race, in
the exercise of the same powers. They have
two schools, which number about thirty pupils
each. 1t is stated by their guardian and their
pastor that they were without crime or dis
turbance, for five years past, except for intoxi-
eating drink sometimes furnished by white
men. would suggest severer penalties against
the sale of spirfuous liquors to them, and
slight addition 10 their school fund, for the pur-
chase OF books, IS an encouragement to pupils
and parents, as we'll as to their teachers who
have been faithful to their trust. transmit to
the Legislature such information [rho a. am" r11
whom are ffamfliESss that retain some of the quail
tiles of the rOyalraces of red men. They are
the only monumnts left of the powerful tribes
from whom we received the land we occupy,
and from who's spoken tongue, Elliot con-
structed a writtn language into which he
translated the Hoy Scriptures, two editions of
which were prited, copies still remaining,
but no living beig left who can reconstruct or
interpret therefor the language then spoken
by the nations.
The increase officers at the State Prison,
consequent upoi recent events, and the de-
pressed conditiorpf trade which has rendered
the labor of COMETS less remunerative, rem
ders an Appropriation requisite for the present
year, but less is Iquired than that of the past
year. The Prise has never constantly sup
ported itself, but IN be made to do so. In
creased vigor andnore careful economy have
been infused intols management. Humanity,
as well as justicelnd policy, demands of the
Legislature cortant regard for the health
and personal comrt of the convicts. 1t is in
dispensablc, amor other things, they should
have sufficient liH and air. There is n por-
ton Of the Prisorin which prisoners are now
confined that is dlcient in this respect. An
appropriation of sen thousand dollars, am