Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-03
Outdoor Relief.

was timely, on the general question OF out
door relief. "The poor we have always
with u.s." So that the solution of the ques-
ton is always in order, aud especially so at
the present time, when every habitation is
besieged by persons seeking charity. The
great practical question of the present is,
hoy to meet the exigency that is upon u.s.
There are ten men and ten relief associa-
tions that are ready to bestow relief to a
single man or association that knows how to
be wisely charitable. Hence the great prac-
tical value of the paper alluded to.
Dr. Wayland begins by glancing at the
three ways in which outdoor relief has hith-
erto been mainly administered. These three
ways are, first, with funds raised by taxa
ton and distributed by paid officials; sec
ond, with funds raised by taxation and dis
tributed by municipal board in accordance
with the recommendation of body of un-
paid officials selected from reputable citizens;
and third, with funds raised by voluntary
contributions and distributed by unpaid
agents. The first method he thinks is opened
to the gravest objections, since its direct
and unavoidable tendency is to encourage
the penicious notion that the state is bound
to support all who demand assistance. He
also opposes it on the ground that it tends
to political favoritism, by putting into the
hands of the distributing officer most power
full engine of corruption, and because the
giving under such system must always be-
to some extent, mechanical when it is not
unworthy or dishonest. The second mode
of relief he considers a decided improve
ment on the first and still far from satsfac-
tory. The two principal objections that he
names are, first, that the funds distributed
are to be raised by taxation, thus giving
color to the idea that the state owes living
to its poor; and second, that the visitors are
appointed by the municipal board, who in
their turn are to be elected by one or the other
of the political parties. lie explains this last
objection with the proposition that the dis;
trbution of public funds, in the form of
outdoor relief, should not be entrusted to
body of men dependent for their political
existence upon the popular vote. Reaching
the last mode of relef-with funds raised
by voluntary contribution and distributed
by unpaid agents-Dr. Wayland holds that
the evils inseparable from the other methods
do not show themselves here. He argues,
besides, that, in the nature of things, the
voluntary agent will perform his work better
than the paid official, since the fact that he
volunteers shows that he is impressed with
the importance of the service and conscious
of his duty to the community, and the fact
that he is accepted indicates that he is com
petent trustworthy and unsefish. A paid
official, on the other hand, soon comes to dis
charge his duty in perfunctory if not
careless spirit.
The paper enters into no details, nor pre-
scribes any code of regulations, in accord
ance with which system of outdoor relief
should be carried into execution. 1t sim
ply aims to lay down certain general prin-
ciples. But at the same time, it indicates
some OF the points which should always be
kept in mind by those who undertake to
render outdoor relief under the volunteer
system. 1t is to be borne in mind that the
only correct theory of outdoor relief is to
furnish assistance to families who are not
wholly destitute, and therefore, are not can
didates for the almshouse; that it is to the
last degree desirable to avoid as much as
possible whatever will tend to create or
foster the habit of dependence and, there
fore, diminish self-respect and the DISPOSE
ton to be self-supporting DR.. Wayland
| rightly insists that mere alms-givng is not
charity, but that " just that amount and
kind Of assistance which is best adapted to
the circumstances of the particular appli-
can't" is charity. He also insists that the
cases in which relief is afforded must be
under careful and constant supervision, and
the relief must be withdrawn the very mo-
ment it ceases to be necessary. Other
points upon which DR., Wayland lays par
ticular stress, are that every effort must be
made to preserve unbroken the family status
Of the persons assisted that there should
be some experienced and competent super
vising authority, receiving salary and devot-
ing all his time to the work and that the
area of territory should be so exactly APP
pointed between different charitable organi-
cations as to render it impossible for any
one source.