New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-24
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
HOW TO CARE FOR THE POOR.

HOW TO CARE FOR THE POOR,
PRESENT CHARITIES WANTING IN ACQUAINTANCE
WITH ZACH OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OPENED FOR
ciPOSrORS-AN EXAMPLE,
To fhe Editor Of The Tribune
Sle: | was interested i'll the articles OF Ut
Holland and Mn. Lowell. I'm THE TRIBUNE re-
Gently and coincide in the main with the views
which they expressed There is no subject SURROUNDED
with more difficulties or rather with difficulties so hard
20 overcome as tins Of how TO help the poor In te
srst Mace even the truly worthy poor are In great
danger Of decentralization by the reception OF aims ana
IL moods wonderful wisdom to minister to them III sueh
WAY that they do lose their sci respect have long
feh and taught that the habit or way OF gvlng 10 'e
poor especially in our cleS was sure TO beget beeo VI
paupos aud thus fasten upon the paupcsm OF o"er
peoples
The distribution OF aims should not he in every ones
hands that Is while every who is able should con-
tribute the appropriation should only be by thoSe "no
have natural peculiartes adapting them TO the Worh'
Who knows how TO help those in need' IN such
q way that they shall not be quite "lh'"s
To continue 70 receive assistance, and rejoice
that they have found a support to lean against
Who knows how administer help, that While ne
allows the recipients to retain their independence "hu'0
respect does not wound anger the needyf All NY o
seryson rcnghens the belief that most OF the p"o
or individual bestowments of money on the poor hu
been better disposed Of they had been thrown INTO inc
fire. .-,.
The simple truth is the whole work OF chaIIly he''
sadly a most thorough reorganization. am l'l H'iu
believing any organization can be had that VIII "o''"e
all the evils now attendant upon TINS most ahl'''"S
business; and yet have the most implicit commence
fiat an feasible that would certainly 40
arav with most of the mschiefs of our present iEaG'
xisel methods In New-York there ever so many
agencies each its own responsibility, Appearing ~
eyerod, sympathy in order to secure The largest pos
siblo amount of contributions, and then without any
possible reference what any other agency may Ne
doing they carry on their work Of distribution lthee"s
only superficial glance 10 that here temptation
10 the poor and the designing practice deceit AL TINS
business should be managed under one comprehensive
examination wholly divorced from al political associa
tons which should include the corporate OF city ohd
tics as well rs the ndepcndeut organizations Lei lls
accumulation he composed Of the best and best known
citizens including ali the various religions beliefs and
somewhat in the proportion OF the various lsthS oi
those to he aided Of there he any manifest uiIItucv
and i'm which the corporate authorities sh3u De dlplu
Iriatey represented This organization ploleIy toli
stltutcd, woId command tGe respect OF Tue
gesluns. advice, or requests auhOrtajlNe' thH oIhi
s,fian snnuld be supported by the CCmmls SiOners OF
Pubic Charities and not by private contributions even
II increased taxation We neccSsary II would Only make
tberYnrUso Of taking care OF the poor uniform.
One of tIe advantages of this arrangement WoulG ne
tLc selection of proper persons TO becgUe me NScFs
aud OF applicants aid, and their train
ir by continuance in their places, un they Shouu pc
come cvpertS The number OF men requisite 70 inns
,Tork by continually comparing notes. working trOm a
common center w1Jld foIlu network alter little that
,pUostors could not well crawl through, ana as h"ild oI
6rtecfIyes would CONSTITUTE kind OF oMniSoiclce over
Tie poor good ana bad, nc police deecue S 90 over
ID.,, WHO g.p professional pCkpoCkCtS ana burglars
Another al vantage would he that me work would nt
thoroughly done auu al Vastly less cOsl tLdh now. ~
,id s+r1 street hC-giuE tud incCssaH, T!u ing o.
Ccor.hrll. where the inmates have the renutsuon d
Ifnp hind and charitable II would place ~ asy iunls
fo The roor those who any reason unable 70 earn
a support. ana must beg OF StarVe.
l. If course. cunttuplat" N this arrangement ONLY
tlose termed by ths authorities the "Oui-ducr poor
have NOTING 70 say OF the corporate chaItnOe HSTh
tons. D. d i'Ai-'OAi'
Bl0oLlga, y. J., Feb. Is, 1877.