New-York tribune., 1874-08-17
time for preparation would granted by the Corpora
ton Counsel.
COST OF THE DEPARTMENTS.

AN IMPORTANT AND SIGNIFICANT REPORT FROM TTTP
COMMISSIONERS OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTION
AN ATTACK ON THE OTHER EXrRAvAGANT DE-
PARTMENTs.
The following interesting report from Mr.
Myer tho Commissioners ofiUharlties and Cor
rection called out by the request Of Controller
for estimates Of the several departments for the
coming fiscal year. II contains hidden and perhaps
unlntenuonal attack the extravaganza OF the other
departments which Will probably call for replies In de
fense:
NEW YORK, Aug Is, 1874.
To he Conmiss)nersO Of Public charities aud Correction
GENTLEMEs TIE various cIty departments are called
upon make up and submit the Board of Apporion-
ment estimate ~ the expenses for the fiscal year TO
come IN order 20 receive the necessary apportonnent
Of funds need not call your attention To the trouble
and difficulties created recently in Tins department by
the reduction of the amount which We asked for III our
last estimate. We pleaded IN vain before the stern tri
bunal OF apporuonment the gentlemen of that august
body knew better our needs and requirements, ana wo
had 10 submit 10 the inevitable with rs good grace a
possible. The principles Of economy and retrencbnen
| which the Board of AppOrtOnmcnt introduced with
such fOrcble euergy had To be accepted, ana
We had To shift the best way we could.
II Is true we carry on the Department with the re-
duced appropriation but we in doing practicing
real economy, shOrtsighted economists. VINO
do not understand the real necessity Of the department
which we are charged 10 adminstratef VIII tue econ
omy which are compelled TO practice prove In the
end 10 have been real saving. eXtravagance and
wastel IL seems to me duty which We owe 10 our
selves and To the people 10 examine carefully the mousse
hold under our cnrge and see what its real needs
what the OF its administration III proportion 20
the number OF people who are enjoying It's Dement'S Ia
giving proper account We become relieved
TO great extent Of the responsibility that rests
upon shoulders II the economy prlcticed
Is but poor shadow. substitute. we'll put
upon the STAGE glitterng IN the distance but sham a
sight a least not responsible for the suffer
ing that ensue the decline and decay that must
subsequently follow. have, with this view, examined
the records Of our Department. OF which the accompl
nying statistical table, are faithful extract We have
something like twenty-five cOrrcctonary and eccmosy
nary institutions under charge, Of which the latter
constitute the large majority OF tue 9799 persons that
80
inmates OF the cOrrecOnary Institutions, nttIe
more than fourth of the whole number the balance
1914 nearly threefOurts OF the entire number were
the wards OF charity, inmates Of the various hospitals
the unaic, insane ana blind asyums, the Amshouse.
and soldiers Retreat, aud the various institutions oi
similar character
Whether the support and maintenance OF this large
populdtion Is .cd the principles Of economy
best ascertaned from the statement winch shows the
average cost per heat within the various institutions
The minimum cost Is reached in the Almshonse with
but 1876 mills per capita, the maximum, that OF the
smallpox Hospital, being 81 IL cents anu mills per
head giving average OF cost TO us per capita OF ~
cents per day of every man. woman, ahd emu uhier
or charge Besides this army of voluntary and rev.
OuOnary dependents upon our bounty. large number
vice counsel and relief the family where husband aud
father is our OF work, or disabled by sick
ness from procuring rament and fool t the
betrayed girl, and the destitute stranger Who Will say
that with exhibit, are wanting in the appl
cation OF the principles OF true econOmyl 1t Is not
however the supply alone which calls for The exercise
of economy. tue machinery requisite for the successful
government and supervision OF the various departments
under our charge requires great and foresight mot
person should be employed whose services could be
dispensed with ami not dollar more should be paid
than is absolutely to obtain the services we
need We must keep in sight the fact that some
of our Institutions require the services OF great
skill and talent; IN fact some positions
at our disposal ought 10 filled only
by men of tne highest scientific accomplishments, and
In fng these the question ought never TO be how
large remuneration ought to be commensurate 20 the
demands made in order 10 secure the best skill and
talent 10 our Institutions. Oar hospitals. lunatic and
other aSylum ought not be looked upon mere shelter
for unfortunate sufferers they are more they are
the best schools which the country affords for the study
of the abnormal and phenomenal conditions to which
the body an mind l. subject No institutions
OF the kind ofr such aTg3 ana varied neld Tor
the practical observer Of the human body and mind
throughout the various phases OF disease and OF necessity
they should bc presided by men VINO combine prac-
teal knowledge with the highest accomplishments OF the
scholar, men combining the qincitlohs ~ hihl
tors anu teachers. oar hospitals and asyunS offer OPP
poriunics ought to draw 20 the Medical Colleges of
the city Of NewGOrk students IRON the whole country
am that neither the city nor the commissioners Of
the partment will lose sight Of these considerations
which are too great To % measured oy the al Oh le
thousand dollars. by whcn the annual budget Woad be
increased. Tnc reduction INA lie by the Boirl OF Appor-
uOnnent compelled us 10 reduce alsD luc II
| of oi those men: IN my opinllh ths
practice of economy il rather an inversion OF OF
sum paid by tins Department for ser
hiJit that cauno be compared with by any public de,
partmcnt throughout the whole country. However, II
we might succeed in keeping up the various departments
under our charge at the present rate ~ VIII Do al lnal
can done have no means 10 make the necessary
repairs keep the various buildings and grounds IN
such condition as they ought to be Kept nether wiz we
able to make such improvements as are suggested by
proyeients ought not to be delayed any longer.
cannot doubt that with knowledge ottne real con
diton OF this department the money required for It's
proper administration will be provided by the Board OF
Apuortonment The administration OF charities IL GER
anly the place which the people Of NewYork wish
t. be sned from desire OF practcine false economy,
| which, III re Atty, will prove the contrary
xed please find the tables of the average amounts
paid per annum. in each OF the City Departments Or
employees before the revised estimates and since; also
the cost per capita OF the inmates of the different ns
tuons already referred TO III this communication, all Of
| which Is respectfully submitted.
MYER STERN, Commissioner.
On motion, the report was accepted ordered on the
minutes and laid the table for further action unani
| mously by the Board The following are the most im
| portant OF the tables referred to:
showing the OF the institutions from
1878 July J. 1874 and month of Jay
1874 as, yearly cost caPa from July 1915 70 jay Si
| Yearly average