The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-21

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: The
substance Of my communication OF the 10th
inst. was 10 the effect that the law obligng the
counties 10 remit their chronic insane 10 the
care OF the State should be carried out more
fully than It Is 10y the imposition OF greater
limitations upon the exemptions Mt present nu-
thorized under the Willard Asylum act The
cost 10 the counties for the maintenance Of their
chronic insane at Willard was. for the year
1871 f2.ss weekly per capita; the ground.
buildings. and equipment having been provided
by tho State Mt the expense TO the general tax
payers Of 81 1883. Sol .9s-near million and
quarter dollars. Surely the counties can have
little renson 10 complain OF this charge OF 1858.
more especially when the chances OF cure arc
number OF their dependents. The city OF New
York. II may be remarked. has paid nearly ono
half OF this large sum OF 81 1873 ,5ul.9 80. without
having derived any direct benefit from IT, ns the
city provides for and maintains its own insane.
Now as 10 some Of the other evils Of county
poorhouses. A poorhouse should b. simply an
almshouse for tho care and custody Of the sick.
the inflrm, the disabled. The ahe-bodied pau
per should be worker, and should be made to
deed, than the voluntary and sclt-supporting
support 81 the dler.
THIS involves the idea Of workhouse system.
and It's introduction into tho counties OF the
state Il attended with many difficulties.
In the llrSt pla -, tho counties should not h9
relieved of any portion OF their well defined OBJ
legation 10 provide for and maintain their va
grant, pauper, and vicious population. as they
are in the case OF the insane Tho utter help
lessness OF this latter class appeals with such
power To human sympathy that all other con
sderatiOns are absorbed in the one OF securing
them protection and care But In many Of the
counties, perhaps most Of them. happily ms yet.
the number OF the able-bOdied paupcrs is not
such MS to Justify the burden Of the expense II
n separate workhouse system. 1t appears TO
the taxpayers TO be cheaper to support them in
idlcness. oven with the prospect Of their becom-
ing permanent dependents
Tho difficulty may be met by plan OF union
warehouses; or district warehouses. established
In sections Of the State comprising two or moro
members as to location, distribution of cost OF
ground. buildings. and maintenance, and as 10
management Permissiye legislation might DO
necessary for this plan. and would bo easily obs
tained. see no practical impeachment 10 its
success other than the incrtness Of th6 county
authorities, and possibly their expectation Of
state aid, in which expectation they are perhaps
led to indulge by what consider unwlso pro-
lects looking in that direction. At all events. II
the counties do not adopt some snch system.
they themselves will be the chief sufferers both
in reputation and purse. The actual system Is
discreditablc 10 their humanity and Intelligence.
! should add that this plan Of union work
houses, or, indeed, any wOrkhouso system,
would include modification of our vagrnncy
laws. particularly In what relates TO tho term Of
commitment EDWARD &. pONNELLY,
Commissioner Of the State Board Of Charities
MANHATTANYILLE Doe lS.