The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-01-11

III
been appreciated that ne have simply changed
the system. The former force consisted
ninety-eight day police and only TWO nlga
guards. The present police consists Of abou
forty-six day and over ninety night guards
Whilst we have reduced the pay OF Inc da!
force somewhat, we have not reduced the: e:pal
OF the night guards at all, and yet We nave
economical the department conside anc
have given employment TO greater numoe, ses,
of men. The citizens may Judge Whether oul
police is less efficient than their prede
am we'll convinced that our policy has beer
judcious, besides, it was necessity that We
should economiZe in this department. as ID al
others. No one that has the public good more
at heart than private interests ana persona
1 predictions will fail to appreciate our mo-
lives.
In the Mayors Court 1t has been nly. en-
deavor 10 decide Justly. but kindly and len
iently. This has also been unkindly an1mad'
verted upon, but our citizens must be-
Gin to understand that no one can Judge
q public administration correctly, unless ne
teiligently appreciate the claims, neccesst
ties and capacities Of all the various classes
and conditions of our people. Besides, fall
and reasonable constituency will give time FOL
| the full development Of an administrative
policy, which. If novel and experimental, Is
based upon good faith, and seeks not to at.
tain any private or personal advantage, oul
the harmony and prosperity OF the enllre COM
muniiy.
Tue special police or detective force has
been carefully selected, with view of having
an onerous and unpleasant routine OF duty
performed iD an honest and unobjectionaoe
manner. As far as can learn, we have 80 far
succeeded. No serious complaints have been
made, and any future cause Of complaint Will
| 6aa of,,1ly 6od
| cred efficient service, and are becoming more
active and Intelligent every day. l shall en-
deuyor to encourage them in such we'll doing,
and prevent any misconduct or oppression,
| that our citizens will learn to respect this
hitherto dlsfavored branch Of the public ser
| vice.
vI.-THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
This Is the favorite institution of Charleston,
and well deserves all the pride and affection
which rewards Its services. II now consists OF
eleven steamers and two hook and ladder
companies. manned by over eight hundred e1-
ficient and patriotic white men. and seven
hand engines, manned by eight hundred and
iorty-si1 energetic, public spirited aud orderly
,olored citizens. Much has been said in laVor
OF pay department., but whilst sucn change
might be more economical, IL could scarcely
be more efficient. And 1t would be SORROW
full day that should deprive Charleston OF her
O0lQ QremeQ-LHo ldsI uuh luaG upihvohhuP.-
edly connects her present with the past
"Woodman, spare that treew The expenses
of the department are not unreasonable, and
have every confidence that the officers ana
members, who are all by birth and association
intimately connected with the veal and woe
of the cily, will, in the spirit Of our newly
awakened and indispensably necessary econo-
my, make no demands which might lnduce
greater expenditure than Charleston can al
ford, The annual report of the chief having
been already published, will not be here in
serted.
vu-THE ALMsHousE.
= In l76s the Provincial Assembly passed an
act for building poorhouse and hospital 10
Charleston, The oldest ordinance on record
of the Council of Charleston. February, 1885,
in relation to the poor, recites, section l, as
follows: THAT Immediately alter the passage
OF this ordinance the intendant Of the city, or
any Of the wardens. the commissioners Oh s las
poor, or either Of them, are hereby authorized
and empowered to take up any person or per-
sons that may be found strolIiDg or begging
about the city, there 10 be confined TO taoor u
they are capable thereof" At present our
Almshouse has become an institution, not only
for the keeping and caring for such persons
az are helpless. but for the distribution OF
large charities to such as would be able 10 pro-
vide for themselves If proper employment
could be offered them. IL should be our OBJ
iect to encourage the development OF all KINDS
of industrial pursuits, and II we would employ
oply one half of the vast amount which the
city Is made to spend every year for outdoor
paupers, in making opportunities ior Industry,
more lasting ana more blessed charity would
ensue. By the report Of the Almshouse, twill
appear that we have nearly sixteen hundred
regular outdoor pensioners, and from the loose
and unregistered orders which the keeper sent
me, and which have had to audit myself,
it appears that there were besides i've
hundred and eighty seven transient pension
era. of whom three hundred and siXty-lour
were grown persons and two hundred and
rWctfrysrtircc cvrrts,t-~.-, ~.-,spl-----5-a---!---%~5
of the Institution number seventy-three. !
do not know what to say IN the face OF sucn an
array of poverty. But am determined will
NOT cease 10 strive, until oBr, AlmshouEe has
become an Institution where opportunities
win be multiplied to make every Inmate use
fun. And will also strive 10 encourage man
.ufactorles In our midst, great and small, 10
that employment may be had for old ana
young. to do away win this demoralizlng oe-
seeching Of public aims. And trust IN tnis
doubt that great abuses have been suffered 70
exist, but the new board Of commissioners are
earnestly ipquiring into the matter, and VIII
render more perfect report, after while,
than am now able to make. In this connee-
ton may be permitted to say, that IT might
not be improper that the superintendent of
principal officers Of the city institutlo- should
make requlsip[Qn, based upon the number OF
inmates every ten days, for their supplies,
which the Mayor should approve before pur-
chases should be made.
vIu.-THE oRPHANHoUsE.
In submitting the annual report Of this In
stitutioD. It affords me pleasure 10 say tnat
the commissioners, whilst literally applying
the noblest of charities, are actuated by the de-
sire to accomplish the greatest and most be-
neyolent ends by the most economical means.
/ have deemed It proper to depart, IN this In
stance also, from the usual routine reports,
and the Council will now have more exten.
sive information, which, If 1t be OF no practical
value Just now, may be Of some use hereafter.
1x.-CATHoLIC ORPHANS.
It will appear from the annexed very in-
terestipg letter of the Ri. Rev. Bishop Lynch,
that the blessed charity which the city has
appropriated 10 aid the orphan institution OF
the good Sisters has been well applied. ana l
trust Charleston shall never be unwilling 10
| to renew Ii. am sure 1t will need no argu-
menu of mine 10 induce the Council to do that
| which Is economical, just and right.
X.-THE OLD FOLKS HOME.
This institution was founded in the year
1857 BY an .'ordinRnce to make provision
| for the support Of superannuated and dis.
abled persons Of color" A portion OF the
| old Poorhouse was appropriated to the pur.
| pose. Shortly alter the war the number ol
these benehciaries was largely increased, till
| a few years ago DR.. R9bt. Lsbby suggested
/ - tha