The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-06-01
sPRINGFIELp,s TRIBULATIoNs.

Some people never know when they are
well off, and hence we find Springfield,
Massachusetts,, complainin of the "waste
and extravaganza" which has character
lied the management of the poor affairs of
that city, during the past year. This waste
and eXtrava "a ce is sup posed to be shown
by the fact that he expenditures for tout
" side relef".-tha' Is, in aid of the poor
who are assisted outside of the poor house
during the year, amounted TO $40, COG 46,
or, the population of Springfield being
thirty-one tholsand, an expenditure Of
sixty-one cents per capita of the popula-
ton. Springfield comp lres her expendi-
lures with those of Worcester-aud Worces-
ter, too, thinks that her poor officials have
been guilty of "waste and ravagance"-
where they amounted to only $7,S6174,
being six cen cents per capita of the whole
population.
If this is "wastc and extravaganza,
what were the same ella of expenditures
in Rutland Taking the very lucid report
of the late overseer of the poor, and we
find that he admits the expenditure of ST.
CSC. 10 for outside relief, and that, in addi-
ton TO this, two orders were drawn by the
selectmen for the same class of expenses
one for 1887 "a for care of insane poor,
and one for S342.S7 for care, etc., of small
pox patients-and we have an expenditure
admitted of IS, S66 SO, or trfe over nine
ty cents per capita of the population. So
that Rutland, with a population of only
1884, spent for outside relief over one
thousand dollars more than Worcester with
population of 49,3l7; or, with one fifth
of her population, we exceeded her expen-
ditures some fifteen per cent. All
the same rate of expenditures
with Worcester, our expenses would
have been only 81, 57344, or over seven
thousand dollars lees than they were
while at the same rate with Springfield,
they would have been Sc 1876 AZ, or nearly
three thousand dollars less than they were.
The expenditures of these two cities are
itemized, so that we are informed, how
much was expended for medical attend
ancc, for groceries and provisions, fuel,
clothing, rents, furniture, burial expenses,
ETC., etc., while in Rutland no such infor-
nation is vouchsafed. We find, how
ever, by an examination of the several bills
that there was paid in Rutland for medical
attendance and drug store bills, the small
sum of 81, OIL 40, while in Worcester these
accounts amounted to S1,27927, and IN
Springfield to 81 PA 02-the Rutland bill.
being nearly seven hundred dollars more
than those of either of these cities having
from three to five times as many inhab-
itants.
| One item only of the expenditures, out
side of the farm, is given and that is fol
rent and fuel which Is reported at $1,719..
SO; while in Worcester these same items
amount to 81 ,978. $50 that Worcester
with population of over forty-nine thou
sand expended lees than two hundred and
sixty dollars more than did Rutland with
a population of LEES than ten thousand
Springfield, however, in this item emulateC
Rutland, and expended $6.93S 93, which
her population being thirty-one thousand
is almost in the exact proportion of ours.
We have made these comparisons on the
basis of the figures as presented in the las
published town report, while the actual ex
penditures were some thirty TO fifty pei
cent. higher-and yet Springfield and W or
cester are not happy, and the presen
board, at the former place, think their ex
perience during the past year will enabl,
them ''to administer the department OIL
"new principles" the coming year and
therefore, seek a reelection. 1t was JUS
so up this way, and change of only fifty
two votes would have afforded the oppor
tunity-with what result, heaven only
knows. 1t was a close squeeze, but Rut
land took new departure and the results
already look promising. We trust tina
Springfield will have as good luck, even 1
her cause of complaint is trivial when com
pared with Rutlands experience during tn,
past year.