New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-23
orp pUnITC CHARITIES.

cratsO 1t is true that Mr.. Bell 10 extremely anu
ustly obnoxious to Republicans, because OF his IN
ustifable course last Summer with regard to the
appointment of Registers of Elections, and the
most improper language by which, in the Board OF
Supervisors, he upheld that course. But our own
general Iule in politics to let bygones be bygones
and we do not think it well to remember Mr. Bells
past errors Nobody appears to deny that he is
capable: nobody believes he will steal-(in fact,
we know that he has sgnazed himself in the Board
of Supervisors by bis hostility TO stealiDg;) aid In
these days it is difficult to find men willing to take
poets of great responsibility, and moderate lucre,
who possess thcse two eminent qualifications; so
we insist that Mr.. Hsws has made good selection
We know pretty thoroughly all the new Commls-
iioners except Mr.. Bell, and we do not believe our
CITY has ever before had her Public Charities in the
hands of men every way so well qualified to dis
charge the trust ably and faithfully
And, while we admit that the appointment OF Dir.
Bell gives certain plausibity to the clamor which
has been raised, we insist that the real ground OF
objection with most Of the protesters is Mr.. Hawss
refusal to make the Board Republican, and in that
we thoroughly uphold and justify him. This is
Democratic City; the old AlmsH House Board was
interd TO be balanced in politics; and it would
have been wrong for Republican Legislature to
abolish it in order to give Public Charities into
tie control of Republicans. Mr.. Haws has done
Just right in appointing two Democrats; and the
fact that one of them is specially obnoxious to Re-
publicans does not seem to us material, since he
was not appointed to represent nor TO crafty them
\ Al - L. e. hla nm
trustworihy-snce it is kno Tn that he is just the
contrary-we submit that the clamor against bis
appointment is mistaken and must soon die away.
But, Measrs. Commissioners! we have some
words of admontion for you all, which we trust
YOU will hear and heed. We will make them as
brief a; may be.
l. You are chosen TO discharge most important
public trust and are TO be paid fair salaries for your
services. Perhaps your time is worth more to you
than the money; but we insist that you either earn
the $4,000 each per annum or decline receiving it.
You can earn il for the public, and good deal more,
if you try; do not then, take the money aud fancy
you earn it by giving each few hours weekly to
your public duties; for this win not answer You
can save the City at least 100000 per annum if
you really try. We entreat you to try!
III. The new law which you are chosen to carry
Into effect strikes directly at the vital defect of our
Public Charities hitherto--namely, the current idle
ness of those who eat the Cty's bread. You are
clothed with power to remedy tbs-it is yourimper
alive duty to do it! Make every able convict or
pauper do fair days work each secular day, and
you will have thousand less of them to govern and
subsist before midsummer. Now every lazy lOafer,
miserable boat, and worn-out trul looks to the
Aims House as a sure refuge from famine and hard
wOrk-a snug nest wherein to burrow at the public
charge. Change this, we entreat you, so soon as
may be, and make it certain that every pauper or
pententary- bird able TO work shall every day have
days work TO do and shall do il 60 hungry, and
you will earn the gratitude of your fellOw-citzens
and even of the paupers themselves The system
hitherto current has been steadily demoraliziDg
those of theverypoor who have cast away pride, and
making leeches on thepublc Of thousands who might
take care of themselves. We urge you to dispatch
each Of your number in turn on visits to the Aims
House establishments of other Cities bat especially
to that of New-Haven and to James Brewster, its
founder, to gather up and report all that may be
learned with regard to Aims. House economy. But
do not imagine that you can get on without estab-
fishing some branch if not branches of productive
industry in your various establishments We be-
lieve the manufacture of Silk, of Straw Goods, or
of some-perhsps many-other fabrics, is indispen-
sable to the faithful discharge of your trust-that
your great effort should be to educate your subjects
out of pauperism into industrial skl and efficiency
even though their labor should prove Improbable
but that need not be in city which imports so
vastly of the products Of ruder as well of more
exquisite handcraft-it would still immensely re-
duce the burdens of pauperism if you should simply
render it certain that paupers in our City never
to live idly, and should qualify the hitherto varant
and unskilled TO earn an honest living after they
shall have left you.
Gentlemen Of the Commission yours is among
the greatest and the noblest of our public trusts, for
you have larger opportunities for doing good than
any other four men in our City. Begin with clear
understanding that you owe nothing to any party
and cannot serve any, aud at the same time serve
the public as it has right to be served-that you
are not 10 ask how many Democrats or how many
Republicans hold places, but who s the truest and
tttst man TINT can be obtained in each case for the
salary you are authorized to pay, and be sure that,
30 far, all will be well