The New York herald., 1876-02-25
CHARITY.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STATE CHARITIES

Association at the Masonic Temple last evening was
very brilliant a1aiE The audience had among It's
numbers some OF the most prominent men IN the
city, accompanied by their wives and daughters
There was no attempt at decoration in the Temple IL
simply lighted; the green carpet on the platform
was relieved only by q basket Of choice Hles ana
other flowers the centre table The place was open
before hapast seven and shortly after that hour the
greater part of the seats were occupied. About
quarter to eight Mr.. Joseph IL. Choate
ard friends came in, and there was gen.
eral feeling of DISAPPOINTMENT at the non appearance
OF Mr. Charles o'Conor, who 1t was feared, although
only few steps away, in the Fifth Avenue HOTEL
might not be able to come But this fear dispeed
before eight O'Clock by the appearance at the loot OF
the centre aisle Of Mt OConor, accompanied by Gov
ernor Tilden, Dr.. Austin Flint Jr and Mr. Choate The
great lawyer walked steadily and firmly up the side
ROOM chatting pleasantly with his friends looking
remarkably well for who had recently recovered
from such terrible illness As soon as the audience
fully aware OF his presence greeted him with
round OF hearty applause which repeated when he
appeared on the platform, followed by Governor Til
den Mr.. Potter, Mr.. Choate, Theodore Roosevelt and
others He took the chair and the pro-
ceedings we're opened at once by Mr. How
vte To the chair this evening Mr. 0'Conor-
tapplause)-and am sure it is spleasure shared by
everybody here to among again one who had
done so much good. tApplause.)
CHARLES o'coNoR's SPEECH
After pause Mr.. oConor rose quietly aud, In steady
tones said that the honor Of being selected
by the distinguished lady to whose taste
and line judgment the society was IN
debted for the foundation OF the institution
10 sit in her seat for one evening honor enough
for a citizen of great Commonwealth to boast OF or
desire without tho necessity Of the unncasured eulo-
gum of Mr. Potter pronounced from the kindness Of
his hear. In this assembly, so large and so enight-
ened was some evidence OF the great and useful char
acter the institution has established for itself 1t was
peculiarly Of this great society that while, most
other charitable organizations devote themselves to
form OF faith that happened TO suit the taste OF
those who at the moment were in power, II was this
associations happy ohce TO show that faith Is
pure offspring OF pure heart The members are
happy to permit the State government to have little to
do with faith, but they are willing to leave
ings OF the state administration have been
very marked and distinct, but they have
been from time TO time rectned by benevolent persons
the voluntary principle Mr. O'Conor believed tnat
this great city at least the institutions OF this latter
class would bear a very favorable comparison with
those which are conducted through the action OF the
State But II was reserved for the founders OF this
institution TO organize voluntary charity and to
BRING II into active operation as copart-
ner with the officials OF the state in ad-
mnstering relief TO distress They had thus
divided. it may be said, with that more corporate
thing the State, the merit and the honor of charitable
minstrations And they had thus elevated 1t from
the mere rank Of an official and rewarded duty. They
had elevated il 10 the character of genuine and
warded offspring of the human heart This charity,
from being mere State institution was gradually
becoming a practice and habit among individuals
and, above ALL among the iarer half OF creation
(Applause) For il to the LADIES that the people
chiefly indebted for the foundation of this volun
tary system OF organized charity and II was TO their
perseverance and genuine Efforts together with the aid
of certain beneyoo gentlemenmcasurably bestowed
that the people indebted for It, Most fortunate
1t TOR those ladies' who could by circumstances
ister TO the needy in great community like this The
ladies might well say such an opportunity had not
presented ITSELF 1--WE are not burdened with cares
employ and the duties pertaining TO domestic life.
We have time and leisure and 1t does not conform to
character a women to devote ourselves solely
enjoyment" But they might well dnd something to
show they have capacity for governmental exercises
Nothing more fitting for their spare time than
mnisering TO the needs of sufferers. 1t in this
that woman verified the saying that CHARITY besseth
the gvcr as well as the receiver" Applause
Mr. Howard Potter then read The treasurers Library,
Hospital Outdoor Relief and Children's committees
ports, as well as the following
REPORT OF COMMITTEE on ABLE BODIED PAuPERS
This committee, at It's meeting held IN October last
resolved to investigate the methods, expenses extent
several towns in the county OF Wcstchester, with
view ascertaining how near the same come 70 the
greatest practical efficiency and economy. During the
ten years from 1854 1873 In fifteen OF the twenty
three towns correspondents were found and spent much
Lime ana irouoe IN Betuhs =, tne iacts requeu as n
only five towns were records Kept OF the amount spent
In outdoor relief OF the relieved during the
ten years referred to-a direct violation Of the law The
amounts appropriated for the relief OF the poor by the
supervisors appear in the annual reports of that Board
but the town overseers have left record of the
amount spent the manner or spendlng- Neither IN
Yonkers Cortandt nor Ossining, which towns appro-
priated respectively $l45 in seven years, and
$4,000 and SIS, 600 in eleven years are any
records to be found There are Westchester county
three supefintendents Of the poor, elected by tho
county who So per day woen serving and their
travelling expenses 1t is their duty 10 manage the
Poor House and provide for the county poor. These
last few in number but had increased from six
persons in 1864 10 fifty -four persons in lSs3
They receive from so cents to 81 week in money,
and require the recommendation OF a supervisor in
order TO obtain this relief The County Poor House
neved 1854 $50 resident and $40 transient poor
These numbers increased though not in ike proper
ton until in 1871 there were 5S7 resident and l5s
transient inmates. The next year $50 resident and
OSl transient and the next 624 resident and only $40
transient paupers while in 1874 the number OF transient
had again 600 and the resident poor
were eco The Poor House cost the county for its
maintenance in 1864 $l9 749 &C. and the expenses in
creased almost steadily until In 1878 the cost was
32S 1896 ST. Tho testimony that II has been honestly
and economically managed Full records are kept OF
the persons received, their circumstances &C. and the
Keeper gives as his opinion that fully hvesihs OF
all those admitted have sunk TO that degradation in
consequence OF intemperance Besides these superin
tendents there in Westchcster county thiry-six
OF the poor who elected each year
by their respective towns the decision resting with the
voters whether they will have two Four
teen Of the towns have two, while the remaining
uine have but overseer. The duties of these
officials many the only one apparently performed
by them is that OF supplying relief to the town poor,
under which term included in most OF the towns
all vagrants who apply for aid According TO the
reports of Boards Of Supervisors the amounts ap
proprated for the poor by the towns from 1854 to 1873
inclusive. follows:-lS6f, $ll, IDS; 1865
sIa Oso; 1866 $40 eO2; 1861 $40 sl5; is6s SI2 sO3
1873 $437S, amounting 10 SOL 52T for the ten years
During the last three years no appropriations were
Chester. New Rochelle Pelham, Poundridge,
Rye weslchester, White Plains, Tonkers
Yorktown In several OF the towns the pro-
portion OF transient resident poor is very large
The system OF entertaining tramps is peculiar every
where, but different In different towns In some
The ovrrseers have provided outhouses their
premises where these vagrants herded to-
gether night and fed at the overseers house He
ports the number lodged and fed and receives his pay
making affidavit that the account is correct His
compensation differs widely in the several towns lu
none does there seem to be any check upon him
Il evident that the persons directly interested in
The conduct Of those officials should help to choose
them, that their term OF ONCE be long enough TO
enable them 10 gain some experience, and that their
compensation must not be dependent upon the number
Of paupers and vagrants whom they could collect
nd them.
Mr.. cHoATE's ADDRESS.
Mr.. Joseph H. Choate called upon by the chair
to deliver the annual address Mr. Choate said
that be that the audience would hardly
excuse him II he did attempt 10 express
n 49,. =.