Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-03
PaUPERIsM IN NEW YORK.

In the March number OF the GGtGTy, MI.
Edward Crapsey, well-known writer, and
q careful ststistician, publishes an article
on Pauperism in New York. The state
ments which he makes, backed by a stub
born array of figures, are almost incredible.
According to his calculations, one person
out Of every four in the commercial me-
tropolis was dependent during the year
1870, in whole or in part, on charity. He
gives the following figures in proof Of his as
sertion: The number of paupers supported
by the city during the year was 22,7S2, and
he contends that half the pauperism Of the
city is not matter Of official knowledge.
The public hospitals received 1880 pa
tients. These were self-sustaining whenin
health, but all, with a very few exceptions,
belongs to the class that is constantly doing
uncertain battle with the wolf at the door,
so that if disabled for day they can sub
sist by charity only. Mr.. Crapsey goes on
to say: "Besides these, the hospitals FOR
contagious diseases received during the
wear GIGS, and the Bureau for the Relief Of
Outdoor Sick prescribed for 1850 persons,
who become paupers for the hour by some
sickness for which they could Lot provide
the means Of relief. Grouping now all the
poor for a general view ofthis metropolitan
misery, must add to the list the 1915 per-
manent inmates of the public almshouses,
which brings the total to G6,2S6 persons
dependent during the year upon the public
charities. To these must be added at least
$4,000 succored by the los private chart
ties, making grand total Of l16,2SG hu-
man beings who, in 1870, in this city Of
New York, were the recipients Of eleemos-
ynary aid. This shows the poverty Of the
city complete; but to see its poverty, its
improvidence, and its crime at a glance, add
to the figures given the 40,20J who during
the year applied for work at tie Labor Blu
reau of the Commissioners Of Charity, anS
the II, $40 who became inmates of the va
rious prisons and refOrmat0Ties of the city.
Here we are face TO fac4 with the fact that
$3.50 out of population 942, 292, or on |
" a small fraction less than one-quarter Of |
the whole population of the city, were de-
pendent during the year, in whole or in part, |
upon the other three quarters"
Mr.. Crapsey may possibly have oyer-esti-
mated the number, but even deducting the
4O,2O5 applicants to the labor Bureau Of the
Commissioners of Charities, there remains
the fact that one person in every five in the
city of New York, was dependent on ele-
emosynary aid in the year 1870. This is a
startling exhibit, and shows a degree Of
poverty, crime and misery unparalleled in
any other Christian community. Much has
been said and written about the pauperism
Of European cities. American protection
lists have pointed TO the fact that
London has one pauper in every
twenty-six of its Inhabitants, rs an evil
dence of the ruinous results of a liberal
tariff. Yet all this time, in city only one
fourth as large as London, a degree of
poverty has been in existence which is IN
known in English cities. Another fact is
worth noticing in connection with this sub
jet. While the percentage of pauperiSm is
decreasing year by year in the British me-
tropolis, it is on the increase in the Ameri-
can metropolis, though the ratio Of increase
of population in London, is double that in
New York. Il is true New York has been
badly misgoyerned, that it has been robbed
by Tammany and by Federal officials, till
the city debt amounts to about 500 per
head, but while that undoubtedly has much
to do with the poverty Of such large pro-
portion of its people, it is not the only or
even the principal cause. The city debt
and the systematic robbery carried on by
Customhouse officials, affect property hold
ers, merchants and the wealthy classes prin-
cipally, and through them, in a modified
degree the poorer classes. The GREAT
source Of pauperism in The commercial me-
tropolis exists elsewhere. 1t originates in the
protective policy which taxes tie many to
enrich the few. Previous to the imposition
of the protective tariff, paupelism in New
York was comparatively light. No restric-
tons were placed on trade, and there was
employment for all. Now, however, with
the carrying trade Of the city in foreign
lands, with monopolies built up and main
tanned by the Chinese policy Of tie govern
ment, with imports increasing while exports
decrease in q corresponding ratio, wide
spread misery is nothing more than
is naturally to be expected. The cost Of
living has been enhanced out of all proper
ton TO thep prices paid for labor, while the loss
of foreign trade through the increased cost
of production, has contracted the field of
labor. Thus the poor have been ground
between the wealthy monopolists, that
few manufacturers may pocket larger
profits. j