The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-03

speak for themselves they show that under par.
enormously decreased; and it may be proved that
tins economy has been effected without any harsn-
toward those relieved and without any i0terer
cnca with the operations OF The existing chartabh
organizations, IN tact. tho comfort OF the poor has
been increased aud the efficiency VI tho charities im-
proved.
THg SYSTEM EXPLAINED
The system that has created this wonderful change
Is thus briefly explained. A general law tdrnlcn
ordnung, provides Tor tue aum IN OF tho
poor, by body composed of president, four m.rn-
bers ii the municipal council Of pr ncpaI
CITIZENS These are appointed by the coun.
ell Tor three years, retiring by rotation-onc OF
each class every first and second year, ana tive
OF each class every year. TINS providcs fors
continuity oi experienced administrators even II they
vsiiors and the ecrs both Offices being unpaid
and compulsory. they are selected by the ciuzenI
OF each district and IRE presented to tue Board iof
con fmuton, the best fitted persons for the pur.
pose In iact fitness Tor Office Irrespective OF religion
or politics, is their only qualification. They serve for
three years rd retiring every year, but Deus
capable OF re-eiection; and III this town. with ove
10000 inhabitants there 252 visitors, with scpa
ras disrlcts assigned one and eighteen over
secrs. each having fourteen visitors anu
trcts under his charge These VISITORS meet together
once every fortnight under the presidency OF The
Cvdr5ecr, aud all applications Tor relof must DO madt
TO tue proper visitors. Upon receiving an application
the visitor Is bound 10 make minute personal inquiry
into The circumstances oi the case, anu TINS Inquiry
OF the most searching character II he be satisfied
that claim TO relief under the prescribed conditions
ID established and the case be oil urgent neces-
sity The visitor Is authorized to give relief
At once but only in such way as 10
obviac us far possible the CHI ance OF abuse i'm
posture. All reports OF relief afforded and applica-
lions Tor relief considered ut the tortuightly
meeting, aud each case Is DECIDED by majority Of
votes. Inc rules tor these meetings are most precise
aud complete aud he con tions on which relief may
be granted are laid down In an CONSTRUCTION" drawn
UP by the Central Board. After tho cases come
the ones, 10 DO reheard revised, and each
IRON The ovcrsecr the sum required Tor
the expenditure OF his district for the next
fortnight The proceedings are reduced TO minutes by
one OF the visitors, who acts US secretary and are
considered by the Board at their lortniahtiy meet
IA .ff anh nltttt Inn
vi Lue District Committee AM 10 receive the money!
required Tor the re- lei OF their poor
AT these Board meetings reports are presented from
the several committees appointed TO represent the
town poOrhOuse, hospital and orphunage. These
committees consist OF one member Of tho munioi.
PATTY aud Two citizens who arc elected Tor three
years. retiring each year by rotation. The Board
has complete charge OF The expenditures and receipts,
und proper arrangements are made Tor the control Of
;he money allotted 10 the oversecrs and through them
10 the visitors
''rnE INSTRUCTION
The instruction gives general rules within which
each relief Is restricted
|. Every person VINO Is destitute and unable TO pro-
cure work sh ILL., upon application by himself or by
another ou his benali, DC relieved from the town
tunds except when other persona bound by law to
relieve hi:n possess tue Of doing 30 jr except
when he IL in receipt OF relief from private charity.
2. Any abe-b0dicd person being destitute and unre
leved by private charity may, ny applying per-
sonaIy or through trends for relief, upon proof
that he has tried unsuccessiully TO obtain WORK. Do
entnled TO rcceve temporary relief until such time as
he Can sufficient LIVELIHOOD he being bound IN
the meantime 10 perform such work as may be as
signed ~ hun.
g. Single persons and heads of families whose In
sulices procure Tor themselves the absolute
nccessaries (dds usabWeislica N0thwendge) OF lie
are not 10 DO co dercd as uestituctnat u.s. entitled
10 relief from the public funds. The sum to DO con-
sidored sufficient for procuring the absolute neces-
saros OF lite in respect OF food, clothing, lodging fur
thus:-One dollar Tor head OF family single person.
~ cents Tor wife when with husband, % cents Tor
child OF Is and upward gu cents Tor child OF 10 10 10,
II child OF 10 TO- SO cents for child Of "a
D, "a cents for child under year.
L. Poor relief III case OF persons cal ming less than
the means oil subsistence may be administered AS out
door relief by grants OF money, SUD clothes and
bedding, Indispensable articles OF furniture. free
schooling; surgical medical ind midwifery attendance
medicine, cost OF iuncral IL may be udni
indoor IN the town poOrhouse.
SUPPORTING RELATIONS.
Tho obligation Ol supporting relations IS carefully
enforced by pains and penalties on wider scale than
IN ihis State, thus:-ta) Parents grandparents aud
great grandparents arc bound, capable TO support
their children grandchildren and great grandchildren
(b) corresponding obligation IS thrown upon chill.
dren, grandchildren ana great grandchildren. (c)
Min and wife must support each other IT, Childreu.
in-law, with certain EXCEPTIONS, must support the1
parents-in-aw. (el Parents-in-aw, with similar OK.
ceptons, are required 10 support cbdren-in-law The
sy OF medical relief for the outdoor poor Tor the
manasemens Of the poorhouse, the orphan as; ium
general hospital IS described IN this report, bul
need not 10 reicrrod ~ here.
WHO SHALL he RELIEVED!
The main point III The Elberied system is that Ne
obtain relief uuaer It unless no show hat
ne cannot exist without it. Tho minute SUBDIVISION
OF The city into districts enables tue visitor TO know
the causes OIL Distress Sufficient uid gvca
when tho necessity oil the case Is proved, but only q
sunicency and ior the shortest time possible. A
rogue, vsgaoond or drunkard would be cared Tor by
the police, wnile punishment Is Inflicted on any per-
son who refuses " do the work assigned 10 him Us
suited u MS strength and abilny. In the event
OF any large numUer OF persons requiring relief,
some public work, as tho making or Improvement
OF roads, Is al once undertaken The result Is
that ther. Il ube-Dodied pauper IN EberIeld. The
statistics show concusvciy that The effect OF the sys
tenn has been to dinnsn the poor rates. to lhcrease
seftit he ral civ md man
delaney anu pauperism 10 u minimum Habits Of
lh'iit prudence nave been iostcred and the num-
Der VI contributors 10 dement, Societies and clubs has
largely Increased.
COMPULSORY AND FREE CLUBS.
1t would be desirable to learn eIhng more OF
these Clubs ol which there are TWO casses-coml ul
sorry, to winch employers and operatives bound 10
subscribe IN certain proportions, ana ireo cuos 10
which tue work people Will also contribute. But tna
subject is foreign 10 the system here described
u presenting the above report vi tho Elberied sys-
TEN OF poor relief " your readers IL must not be I'm.
derstood tna am Ia favor OF carryns out the uodus
Operandi 10 the letter, but there certainly must be
something benehcent III system that nus achieved
such great results. have certainly great Iath in the
efficacy vi good visitors ana also the benefit OF
overworKing tnem Win list OF fifty sixty paupers,
us will be found that alis OF ten will
tenton and be reported on more faithfully IL also
advisable for tho societies TO give permanent
ance when they afford relief, as II Is better Tor them
to put twenty or thirty men IN position to their
living than To keep hundred IN the degraded condi
lion OF psupers system oil keeping all able-bodicd
phupers ut work would decrease the list very rapidly
anu make decent citiz,ns OF a good many that Will
othcrwse remain paupers all their nves
shall be glad II tho above shall have the effect OF
arouning some action on the part oil the charitable
socIatous. as they have Wide field before thcn and
the sooner they begin 10 plough the they may
expect to reap the harvest CHARITY.
ALWAYS With YOU.
Tho following contributions have been received at
this oillce:-
n. and T. b., for poor families In Mulberry and
Clinton srccts.... ........:................ 30
Mrs. /. N. b., Tor families In West Twenty fourth
street, East Twenty-third street, Prince street,