New-York tribune., 1873-04-12

THE NEED OF STATE AID TO CHARITIES.
To ne Edffor or rae TrtbWhs.
SIR. TIE tribune of this day contains an
article which reflects credit its great reputation
and gives promise thas at least the Press II not our
awCvers and Legislatures is catholic and enlightened
Oh the question OF state and city aid 70 cur charitable
tnzsituuons. This article suggested amendment
which was recently proposed in the Constitutional Con
vepton at Albany by which is sought to forbid gov
ernmeutal ad-whether State, city, town, county-to
charitable institutions confess 20 a feeling Of abso-
luie asOnishment when first read Of this proposed
amendment To bring this question more directly be
fore people and press seek your sd. Your article
on dispensaues displayed facts and figures which have
even astonished me- though an experience of between
ave and six years attending physician and at present
as chief physician OF charitable institution. has given
me much nsgat into the great work which our private
sharlnes are accomplishing, and especially and
markedly sO--the dIspensarles. Taxing the totl
Of the statistics summed ~ yOur article OF yester-
day. and We find that in 1874 the dispensarles
sf this city treated 265,060 patients; 70 these
Bssgn prescriptions were gwen. Now mark how
much aid was given by the public authorities toward
tins good work. and find the pittance Of $4,000 confess
that thus almost makes ashamed of my native city
But even th small Is -rudgnGly given and with
such dincuty obtained from those having jurisdiction
- 60 be- In itself discouragemeDt Ills % fct when
onieers Of charitable institutions well know. We
"a
the community and the commonwealth demand that
public az should be extended institutions Of charity
In making his protest before the constitutional Con-
venton the Hon Erastus Brooks asserted that II was
no possible either the state for private heneVo-
Ienee 70 alone perform the duty Of carng for the poor
and that IN well regulated private charitable insttu-
mons the care and economy Doth better than in aims
hossos and poorhouseS Moreover the poor happier
and better IA these private institutions. =. ..... ~.
In ISL" be- saId The Le-islli IRE gave Sll@s10 20
l1fu pf
40 m ~, ,, = stte -sptol vSIn f5r lI ves,g al the
state has expended both puhe ana private char-
ties amounts but Sl055l3O In tins time the private
charities received from the state Sis3g9'8 FOR
tcutv wears previous all State paid FOR pr
vac ohars.ie- Onesixteenth of MILL aud FOR pullc
-f,urtb of a usi One-flird OF a mill would
pay for all charities for q yers, and oneslxth 9f
mill OF an paid Dv the state for private char
itles We prnp1se a splendid Capitol of marble aud
stone With g-3nd and spacious halls IL is 20 rise from
year rpIrtlesS Of cost Win all the taste and
AM thai ar ana ingenuity eau dev Sc and this
grOas cdce there il ~ assemble senate and Assem-
hy, 70 sit Slate Executives no are forever 10 DO
foflicu 10 give one cent OF money inch Of Land.
particle OF property to any private or incorporated
charity Ia public decency cannot indOrse this act
and pnb1c JUSTICE will condemn L."
Last year TIE Legislature granted not dime 10 any
charity This wear Is proposed "a repeat tins suicidal
polcy How shortsighlsd II l. 1 VIII stop to date
upO1 lu VIII quote from the City INSPECTORS Report of
1s6 wherein, Speaking cf the dispensIT1es ne says;
While they constitute the most important branch Of
orr public sanitary sy,ien they ar raIey mfntoneo
IA connection with that system Their useful ao9rs arr
noiseess as they are ehcleW IA t1sr OT <anztlon
Internal police they are fanltess Ther Importance
a peCuuldry OF view
by fbe statement OF few facts We're the destitute
sick 70 whom they minister 70 be compelled - thrOnS
er city hospitals almshOuses, and the rate OF eA
pSnses OF these institutions % remain as now
oy $40 per CAPITA the amount thrown upon
the cit would be enormous. nuppoal alng tLlt
: fourth OF the number received by the dlspinsates
was thrown upon the cy Institutions and aimshOusts
Al would amount 10 annual expenditure OF quarter
million dollars" We hope that the Legislature now in
session consider these facts and that Gov DIX VIII
DO the same II they al appreciate she vast Import
nee OF question, the large army Of p"or ana the
charitable friends are fuly alive ~ rs importance ne
institutions has crippled many OF them very seriously
To continue In this course means 20 desIo! ana ruin
tied. It 10 throw an eXpcnse OF ten times tht
amount now gwen direct upon the Commonwealth !
ali Is the penny WISE pound sh policy to prevail
Is is the way in winch heavy burdens Of taxation
are % be lightencdf -
Beso- YORK March %. 1878.