The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-25
THE POOR OF the CITY.

their COndition-Re.vSrt Tor the TWEEN
ty-socoud Year, Sc.
An association, which had its Origin in New York
some years ago, and which has from year year been
the means Of doing almost ncalculabls amount Of
good among the INDECENT and nameless inhabitants,
who would otherwise have suffered and died Of want and
starvation, has just ISSUED its twenty annual
report II is a handsome pamphlet Of eighty eight
pages, and exhibits very satisfactory stewardship and
healthy condition Of the society
The receipts and disbursements for the past twelve
months have BEEN
DR.-TS payments by order Of the Board. sss
40 balance que treasurer. ............... 4,9b2
Cs.-By balance in treasury ...... sara
ny donations and collections. ..-......... 43,s75
SANITARY AND SOCIAL RxFoRx
Upon the subject OF sanitary and social reform the
report speaks wholesome truths which be
too frequently repeated The following some OF the
principal points In this regard
FsSt-That the preliminary investigation ndispensa-
Die TO intelligent sanitary action In this city, have been
80 u made a. to leave nothing more TO be desired on
SscondTha tho impracticab,ity Of Immediately re-
moving all the causes which injuriously affect public
health and morals, should neither prevent nor delay
enor to the suppression Of such causes ~ are
TAird-That hconsruction OF tenant houses being in
Ss cases better than The uncleany and unhealthy
improve the saubrty Of the city founded solely the
reconstruction or Improvement OF such houses, will
prove abortive.
Eburth-That large part OF the Sickness discomfort
and pre- mature deaths which swell the bills OF mortality
and ~ @ 70 the ahy habits
rather than TO the defective construction Of their
ments and that such habits also prolific Of
the tntemperance, depravty and crime which alarm
iney augment the criminal records Of the city.
Hfh-Iong experience having shown that mere moral
agencies VIII not avail oil themselves TO remove this class
Of social evils legal force sine qua must be
ployed for the protection of the community.
cessary Of the large foreign admixurc in our
city population, and the rapid increase Of the ee
Seuenth-That SO far as such domiciary habits are
detrimental to public health and morals they cognz
able by law; and the local authorities bound to
ganze and carry into effect such system of inspection
and reform as will efectually protect the community
from this class Of evils.
Ei0hA-The preservation OF the public parks from
depreciation by efficient police power illustrates both
the necessity and practcablity OF efecting sautary
domciary and social reform through similar agency
various measures, voluntary and legislative, which
to be employed with increasing effectiveness until the
desired result Is secured.
THE APPLICATION
To make these suggestions practical and useful tho Cor
poraton and the property should perform their
duty II comes legitimatey within the sphere OF the
city government to provide adequate sewerage drainage
clean and welpaved streets supervise and regulate
the construction OF tenement houses enfore domicary
quick % and
benefit OF the aboring classes; regulate the sale Of
strong liquor and OF food-especialy milk, meat and
vegetables-and abate all nuisances 1t comes within
the duties Of landlords propretors to construct
rent only such tenements for dwellings have sufficient
space light and ventilation, with all the facilities for
cleanliness which are essential the health the occu
pants. These remarks should be pondered and acted
upon
poor also receives due attention. and the insuccncy OF
the present accommodations exclude fifty thou
class from participating in our admirable educational sys
tenn This should not be- The doors Of the schoolhouse
should be open to all The best protection against crime
is to build schoohouses Upon the subject Of
IMPORTED FRLoNs
the report says-The Board have learned with regret
that the British government still persists the ship
vous reports Of this Association have referred to this
disgracefu method Of Kidding themselves of 'thieves,
burglars garroters and cutthroats by paying their pas
sage money and transporting them to this country
The fact that they are struggled exported candes-
timely implies on the part OF the English authorities
do, bat ashamed TO avow The miserable subterfuges
resored to do not detrnct from the injury and insult
y IN . us But
country. The ungenerous course pursued in
long known 70 our State authorities, has not
in most been identified with foreign government
nails Lasrly, however, the proceedings OF the London
prison officials have become open and the sils Of
that metropolis, We learn, frequently cleared and
Aid Society" 10 our shores These well known facts
have recently received additional confirmation by the a
davts OF several Of these released criminals who having
been shipped from England by tho official authorities
were arrested IN this city and on their examination
severaily verified each others testimony.
The deterioratng effects Of the ordinary class Of imi
grants on the character OF our population shown by
official statistics, should make the more guarded
cety For tho preceding years. seventy per
OF our city pauPer were OF foreign BIRTH while about sixty
II better class 's were i foreign Dorn The Of
crime exhibit still more revolving result The report Of
the New York Prison Association shows that while thu
cent, the crimes committed by them amount 20 Nifty
per cent In other words more than half the crime
eoS . Se 'GS so or
there are two foreign born criminals TO one
American. This enormous proportion Of imported
finished culprits Of European civilization mpcratively
demands the attention Of national government Such
regulate the mutual Intercourse Of nations Should no
longer be tolerated Congress should pass law pro-
hibns the emigration 70 this country Of any person
agents should be appointed TO examine under oath all
PASSENGERS on this point and that tho law rgidy
enforced EEses N#, II Il
orYIcERs or THE ASSOCIATION.
The following are the officers OF the Association = s
Prcsident-James Brown Vice Prcsdents--Jsmes
Boorman, Horatio Allen, James Lenox, A. r. Wetmore,
John O. Green Treasurer-Robert H. Minturn Cor.
responding Secretary and Agent-Robcrt n. Hartley.
Corresponding socreiary-Joseph b. Collins.
The Commissioners or Publie Charities.
TO THE EDITOR or THE HERALD.
About week ago a communication appeared In one Of
the daily papers respecting medical college which the
Commissioners Of Public Charities reputed to be
erecting the grounds Of Bellevue Hospital at the pub
lie expense, and in expectation that those gentlemen
would be able to refutc the charge thcrc made, have
thus far awaited exposition Of the facts from that
charitable body Thus far they have failed 10 reply
II is we'll known tbat such an institution ~ the
a.f
supervision Of the Commissioners
In innocence rs taxpayers OF an expensvely gov
crned city, had supposed that the common wants
OF life were all that pubic charity expected meet
We are taught by very learned body that food,
warmth and shelter only essentials that this
frnuu nrranacd nrncrnmmA Ia evident