New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-14
THE COMMISSIONERS OF CHARl.
TIES.


We print this morning the report Of tho
Commissioners Of Charities and Correction
relative to the operations Of our Alms.Housd
Penitentiary, Lunatic Asylum, Hospitals
Nursery, City Prisons. and kindred institution
for tho year 1862. The Commissioners, 10
making this publication, court the closest scru'
tiny into their official conduct. They report
decrease Of inmates in every department under
their charge, save the Lunatic Asylum, and
diminution of Sl29393 IA in their eIpsndi
lures. In view Of the very general enhance
ment in price Of every article consumed, this
is most satisfactory exhibit. There is no
doubt, however, that while the Commissioner
have by proper economy lessened their expenses
they have been relieved from much OF bs
burden which would otherwise have fallen
upon them, by the bountiful contribution OF
the city to the maintenance Of the families Of
volunteers, aud the very liberal OUTLAWS Of pr.
vate benevolence for that purpose.
The policy of creating new channels for the
relief of the necesstous BY tho Common Coua'
ell aud by private agencies IS doubled oy 'os
nH55nIfia .inners They fear it will tens " oreai
down that sturdy feeling Of independence which
is so essential to the repression Of pauperiim.
aud encourage the idle, the vicious, and the
dishonest, to shirk labor, and seek for
support at the public expense. II such ID
creased expenditures for relief are necessary,
they argue that there can DO no better way
dispensing it than through the constituted au'
thorties appointed for that purpose, whose
large experience in this department enables
them to more readily discriminate between the
worthy poor and those who make aims. getinJ
a profession.
1t is source Of qualification to the Board
that they have been enabled to meet the wann
Of the Government by receiving large num-
Der of sick aud wounded soldiers, and PROVE
ing them with better hospital accommodates
aud more skillful medical treatment than were
elsewhere attainable, more especially IN cas-"
of smallpox and malignant tevers, for whca
but few institutions make any special provision
whatever. A good deal has been accompIi'Ass
during tho year in afording suitable employ
ment to the able.bodled people under the ca"
of the Commission, and thus contributing u
some measure to the expense OF their NAME
nance. Their success III this respect leads then
to hope that at no distant day they VIII %
enabled to lishten the burdens Of our t''
PAYERS still more materially.
The report contains some useful suggesnoN'
in reference to the care of lunatics, inebrlsss
and Migrants. We commend to the Ler
stature tho representations of the ColnmE
sioners as to the importance OF providing sou'
better mode of treating Migrants aud disof0"'
ly persons. As the law now stands they 8"
committed for brief terms TO the Work.Hou"
when they are again released only to resu''
within u lew days. to DO again set OF iAfS'
after u short detention. and again arrested ~"
committed; aud they thus vibrate between w
rum shop aud the Work House or Penlten"aiI
till death mcrcitully terminates their mss'sv"
existence. 1t is sought to obtain authority
detain these people, many of whom have pc'.
arrested and committed for the lOOth tiiio' W
period long enough to wean them IRON 'u'"
slayish attachment to idleness and strong dfiO',
and by inurng them to habits OF LABOR
Graduating from their systems tho poison VI -
temperance, to eventually enable them TO Ie'Dl.
to more honorable pursuits. Such leSsla"0'u
demanded by every instinct Of humanity.
would measursby rid society OF it' most "o, o.,
less outcasts, relieve the Police Of moro '1
ono half their lsbors, and ultimately fo'''
many unfortuuste fallen men and womo1
health, industry aud happiness.