, 1877-12-02
THE COUNTY CHARITIES.


THE COUNTY CHARITIES,
We print letter this morning from Gen.
JULIUS WHITE, who was the first President OF
the Board of Cook County Commissioners,
in relation to the manner of obtaining, and
the cost OF, supplies for the public charities
of this county. He writes from nn expert
once of several years, and the new County
Board will find that upon this subject they
have much to learn, and that it embraces
wido field for reform in expenditures.
The present practice is to invite proposals
for the supply Of all the county institutions,
including the County Agents Office, for one
year These contracts embrace coal, flour,
bread, groceries, dry goods, clothing, meats,
vegetables, hats, boots and shoes, and medi-
eiues, besides furniture of every description.
In fact, the contracts include everything
that may be needed. Tho prices arc
fixed at the time of letting the contracts.
The county officers make acquisitions
which the contractor fills, and the Board
allows the bills and orders their payment
In this way the cost of maintaining the in
mates OF the Alms-House and Insane Asylum
has risen to m average of nearly IS per
week for each inmate. Even ut this enor-
nous cost there has been a time when the
inmates were robbed Of one-half of the
supplies paid for by the public, and cheated
in the quality of the other half. 1t has been
suggested that the public interests would be
promoted by having what is termed Gen
eral Purchasing Agent, who should purchase
everything needed for the county Wherever
he can purchase on the best terms. Gen.
WHITE, however, thinks that it is best to I'D
here to the contract system, but to provido
tho machinery for q rigid scrutiny Of all
acquisitions, md of the quality and
quantity of all goods delivered. When
the County Board was first organ
ized, in 1871, it was in the hands
of men who really served the public, and all
| the county institutions were put under the
| direction of Commissioner Of Charities,
whose administration was not only success
| full, but SO honest thnt the annual expendi-
lures were largely cut down, and the charity
was liberal and appropriate: The ndvont of
| another class Of men as Commissioners broke
| up this arrangement, and the Office Of County
Agent is now ranked as more profitable than
that Of Secretary Of the Treasury, while the
| other county Offices are sought after for the
profit they afford with the utmost energy
| and zeal.
The County Board which will organize
this week will have to grapple with this sub
| ject, and they will have to treat it heroically.
The present system, which is wasteful, ex-
travagant, costly, and dishonest, is designed
to make places OF profit for friends of men,
bers of the Board, and to enrich the officers
at the expense of the public. We hive no
question that under an honest administra-
ton the expenditures for the Alms-House,
Insane Asylum, and County Agents Office
may be reduced 10 per cent, with an i'm
provement Of the service rendered The
County Hospital also falls within the list of
loose, irresponsible, and, therefore, wasteful
and extravagant, expenditures.
| This subject of public charity is ono Of
the most troublesome features Of govern
ment. The care and support of the insane
poor is an object which appeals to every hu-
name heart. No man objects to paying for
the proper care and support Of these helpless
| beings but it is one Of the misfortunes of
government that to support the insane poor
involves the support of legion OF others,
not insane, who consume the larger portion
of what is e1acted in the namo of charity.
We do not know the exact cost Of maintain
ing the Insane Asylum, but when the annual
expenditure shows IN average cost of $4.5O
per week for each inmate the Inference NAV
be drawn that persons who are not poor or
insane, but dishonest, share literally in the
public charity. The same may be said con
ceruing the support Of the Alms-House and
the County Agents Office.
The difference between poverty and pau
perism is wide and very distinct; poy-
erty may appeal justly for aid without be-
coming pauperism. The administration of
relief at the County Agents Office in this city
is powerful encouragement 10 pauperism,
anda great injustice to the suffering, destitute
poor, who are not paupers in any sense.
The County Agents Office was intended to
cid those temporarily suffering from want,
but it has become not merely an MD but IN
exclusive support of large class who, with
out regard to their means, demand the public
benefactions as a matter Of right In the
| management of this institution fhere is 1arre