The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-24
THE ROW IN THE BOARD or
GUARDIANS

The new method of appointing members of
the Board of Guardians by the Court is
undoubtedly great improvement upon the
old system; and the present board is COM
posed of body of gentlemen whose integrity
is above suspicion, and who have endeavored
to discharge their duty to the paupers and
the public. Conceding this point at the out
set, we still think that there is matter for
serious reflection in the allegations made so
persistently by one Of the members of the
board, Mr.. Edward Il. Parker. Although
he stands in the unenviable light of the single
juryman who was against eleven stubborn
associates, it does happen sometimes that the
one man is nearer right than his fellows
and there are plausible reasons for believing
that this may be the case in the present in
stance The Almshouse is an important in
stitutiop, and it is no easy task to act with
wisdom, efficiency, and economy in all mat
ters relating to the maintenance of more
than three thousand paupers, one-fourth of
whom are insane and large number sick.
There is wide latitude for discretion, great
many opportunities for ng-doing and for
shortcomings; and if somebody does not de-
vote himself, heart and soul, in spirit of
disinterested and determined philanthropy,
to the arduous task of achieving the best
attainable results, there is constant danger
that the management of such an institution
will fall below the proper standard.
1t is to the credit of the ex-
sting board that no charge al
legine that they have sanctioned any fearful
or gross abuse has been made during the
present controversy; but Mr.. Parker's allega-
tions imply, what is probably not far from the
fact, that, while the routine business is in
the main pretty we'll attended to, there are,
nevertheless, some holes that should be sto oped
up aud some defects in organization that
should be amended. A Board of Guardians
may be very honest and respectable, and still
neglect or misconceive the full scope of its
duties; and the fault of the present board, 80
far as it is faulty, lies in this direction.
MIR. Parker has not been content with a mere
routine discharge OF his duty. Knowing that
truth often lies at the bottom of we'll, he
has tried to dive down deep enough to
reach it. He refused to take at thei,
full face value the statements of all the sub
ordinate officers of the institution, and he
has demanded that little things, as well as
great things, should be done decently and in
order. When beef is contracted for, he in
sists that beef, and not bullock's hearts
should be delivered; and he asks that the
storekeeper should be present to see the beei
weighed, instead of detailing untrustworthy
assistants to discharge this duty. Wher
roofs are to be repaired, he wants to know
why guarantees for their durability cannot b'
exacted. When arbors are made by paupel
labor for the private use of the Steward OIL
his New Jersey farm, he wants t,
know what sort of bill i
presented to that official. Whel
the infants in the institution are habituall
doomed to premature death, he asks whethe
something is not wrong with either the nurse
or the milk When dead men are reporte
on the live list, and live men on the dea
list, he asks that the records should be mad
up correctly. When outstanding bills an
claims of the institution for damages, ston
furnished, etc., are not pressed for payment
he asks the reason why. When filth accu
mulated in the corridors, he insisted that
should be removed. When the necessitie
of an enlargement of the Insane Department
became painfully apparent, he warmly an
strenuously urged an application to Council
for the necessary appropriation, which inall
was obtained. When gangs of able-bodie
men are left lounging listlessly, he attempt
to find employment for them. Whe