The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-01
THE CHARITY AND CRIME or NEW YORK,
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Fourth Annual Report Of tho Commissioner
Of Public Charities and Correction.
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Operations Of Our Penal and Reforma.-
tory Institutions for 1863.
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Eleven Thousand Grogshops int
tho Metropolis.
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Effect Of the War on Pauperism and
the Penitensiary,
&C., &C., sc.


OFFICE COMMISSIONERS PrnIc CHARITIES CoRRRcnoH 4,
No. BOND ST., NEW York, JAM !, 1884.
To THE LEGISLATURE STATE NEW YoRE AND Hup
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COUNTY o. NEW YORK.
Another year has passed away and We are brough8s
again TO review annual labors, and under Ne
quremeuts OF the legislature present report q our
proceedings as Commissioners Public Charities apli
Correction during the year 1858.
The statistics which we present in detail, from our
officers our records win enable those interested to-
inform themselves to the actual condition OF the do
partment and its mode OF government.
kind Providence has watched and protected tho
institutions under charge and we acknowledge with
Thanksgiving the signal evidence OF the goodness Of the
Almighty thus manifested TO all within the control OF hi,
organization.
The constant changes useyarable from large
munity call for active directed Efforts pre,-
abuses well them. There is no hour.
the year free from the nuceasing labor peculiar 70
charitable and corrective establishments period
in which officers this department required
vgianty guard the prisoner aud watch the lunac
tendery the the old and feeble
helpless infancy and and protect the homeless
and the orphan.
The effect OF the upon the department has been,
favorable the reduction the number OF inmates,
as will be by reference figures. This reduce
1t concerned by the enlistment Of men who have here
tofore been driven crime fallen into habits Of In
ebration and folly. In regard TO the female portion, wa1
continues keep up increased supply. Remttances
from the army have not changed the habits and routine
of the revolving nhabit WOrkhouse leland
Hospital and Penitentiary
The great furnisher Of all institutions, al musk
admit the grogshop which makes the Of amosE
every location aud which the foundation OK
efalo hmm wretc snndun
IL duty to consider their agency in, we'll - theiy-
ability 70 remedy the evils they largely create. Eleven.
thousand grogshopsn furnished this Department..
through the Comptroller with 81 o2o their portion Of
the moneys collected by the Excise OonmssopersB
whereas, they taxed accordance with the spirit
Of the law well the letter amount should be-
augmented $3.50 600, than hak 81 the
expended by US last year FOR The support Of ali the puso
| charities or the city
Every days experience adds to our couAds0ss n
| ability TO mark out paths OF economy A Depart
ment containing 30 large population, and embracing
such variety expenditure requires eo1saaal wasch.
luiness and frm and uun,nc,ing udmuishaASoa Oasss
permit the demands OF .ecntess demaRogues 70 hay0R
sway ana this truly noble monument 81 IesrNl pro-,
vision the poor dependent would faii victim
70 that class OF public servants know no eOan1s Va
ing oil in the numbers who lock 70 the Aims Hcussioss
support. Doubtless We account for this reduction
from The city treasury under The head Of sodSeSs Relief
We doubt whether tho ms city RiCber
present such appropriations. either amount or.
manner Of distribution Millions o. dolars> recklessIyr
poured into the pockets OF all sorts Of clamanAs real and
unreal without a murmur. hven the press, which han,
heretofore given timely warning has omitted 70 analyso,
she manner, well The amount Of the extraordinary
poured Of the pockets Of the citizens the
uuaihomaoe receptice OF public servants and acting
volunteers ia the Distribution Tie present 10 DO
period Of lioeraity that knows no boands and pAan-
lhropy demands apparently continual augmentation o.
now associations 10 insst upon people receiving AID
have heretofore felt it duiy 70 meet their own me-
cessities with heatbui and uy labor and enjoy
the luxury that independent have believed
the greatest blessing OF human existence.
l reviewing the points erred
TO omit a reference TO the that yotedR
paid claimants, without any reference whatever TO-
the records OF depai Even late dstin-
guished cpal chief magistrate dsregsrded the
perence OF the only possible OF reliable informa-
ton proper appropriation bestow ,og upon
tue needy and helpless he bounty contributed by the
institutions is not favorable familiarity with their
extent and usefulness We trust however, thai herea.
ter when opportunity oiets, officials charged with
bounty of country STATES or for charitable
appropriate MS VIII WISH records, II not Our nsttu
lions aud our people,
The evidence OF the just discriminating char
acer OF this institution and the necessity OF referring
organization of private charities relieve tho
very cases already provided Tor by us. Instances
not Of the persons drawing "rcliefp from a
dozen different organizations nothing dts
turb the eqUanmty Of convert TO charity like
offer part to aid in exposing the imp There
may be great harm doue Ia the minds Of innocent
well meaning people by ths encouragement OF mposers
we who evil workings OF this
ndscri6anate almsgiving, panied ind that the
bestowai oil charity upou such undeservng creatures
tends 10 harden the hearts ihousancs to the claims OK
really INDECENT necessioGs, true charity
Of its sweetness and purity.
There 10 objection heatbfu competition in mat
ters OF benevoence but beyond much mischief may boz
done, much money squandercd, and many persons de-
stroyed one OF The duties and privileges Of this
department is to extend its helping hand 70 two
institutions which, in their management, beyond
their immediate control The Coiorcd Homo and tho
Colored orphan Asylum rely the fund furnished,
by the CITY, through us, tor their chief support. They
60 on, from year to year. their own way, WITH
out interference, in u spirit OF eonhdenccs
which hardly justihabe 10 referring to their report
we mud no as,oo Whatever made this department am
port We cannot better illustrate tho unwillngness
the part Of managers source OF their
beuelcencc than by recording the services which
dered for the comfort aud protection. well actual
OF the coored orphans rendered houssess and
helpless by the riot OF July which reference
knowledgmept appears Ia tneir report.
These institutions, we believe, managed wAh hdeli-
" and they labor under the disad-
vantage. however, of leaning upon public charity to
great extent yet BY reast Of comparative lien upon
private subscription subject TO the fluctuations OF
private beraty The conduct ~ their charge compares
most favorably with the more privileged claimants for
and protection, ncinng as general rule 10 avod
the privilege public chary and accepting with grati-
efforts made in their behalf they sesm at all
times willing avoid the stamp OF house reputa-
ton, and as far as possible, decline tho ocssoon OF
The expenditures made in behalf consequent up
OF the will be found In tho statement
or our account, which embraces, addition 10 the
amount paid in the appropriations their nsces
stes the additional sum advanced BY tho cspartment
ana provisions which destroyed together wAh their
home, all Of which will doubtless be returned, under tho
tions which are due for actually sustained
throughout the expenditures Of the department We
have been with heavy advance In the values Of AL
most every description or supplies. Clothing fuel and
necessaries OF every description have advanced cost;
medicines ice and all the smaller items which form tho
great bulk Of expenditures have 70 double their
former prices and have only been able 70 keep within
estimates by the incest economy and careful re-
srction 10 the essened numbers. which have been the
result Of the increased demand for labor, growing out
the necessities OF The var for the Union
The tabular exhibit OF all tho institutions, save tho
Lunatc Asylum, give full evidence OF inc yum Of ms
statement.
The Aims House proper shows large dSrusiticu IN
the number OF inmates aud the male occupants Of tho
xrauuls ahod