The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-05-12
IN. Y. Tribune.1
Where the Beggars Come From.

INQUIRIES AS TO THE PROPORTION OF
AMERICANS AMONG THEM--NEARLY
ALL FOREIGNERS.
A Iaibune reporter made some in
quiries recently as to the people who
receive aid in this city. Dr. Crosby's
recent statement as to the foreign
birth of beggars prompted the inqui-
ries. The Society for the improve
ment Of the Condition of the Poor
has found almost as many frauds
as worthy cases, the percentage
being 81 of real cases of need,
and 49 of unworthy applicants. Sec
retary Bovine tried for long time to
keep strict report of every persons's
nationality, but they lied so to him,
claiming to be Americans, although
he learned from later inquiries that
they were born in Ireland or some
other foreign country, that he con-
cluded he was doing wrong to give so
much opportunity for lying, and so
discontinued that part Of the report.
He stated that more than nine-tenths
of the people coming under his obser-
walton were foreigners.
The Rev T. j. May, pastor of the
Wilson Industrial School, visits hun
dreds of families weekly on the East
Side, and meets many beggars asking
aims, and among the street beggars
he has never yet found an American.
AS for the charge of lying, those who
had not been in America long enough
to ask plainly for nights lodging,
often claimed to be Americans.
Superintendent Jenkins, of the So
ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children, when asked for his expe-
riences in dealing with imposters,
pointed to a hundred signs which
adorned one wall. These had been
taken from street beggars and in
every case the wearers Of Il am blind
or Il have family of six children"
was a foreigner. So seldom is an
American arrested either for begging
or for cruelty to his children, that
note is made of it, but there are not
more than half dozen such cases in
the 5000 annual arrests.
Superintendent Blake, of the De-
partment of Charities and Correction,
said that while only one-third of the
city population is foreign born, nearly
all the beggars are from that third.
The Bowery Branch of the Young
Mems Cristian Association aided 799
men last year. OF these 351 said they
were Americans, but as no investiga-
ton was made of that claim, the
truth of the statement is somewhat
doubtful. The rest of the men aided
represented twenty-four nationalities.
Stephen Cutler, secretary of the
Prison Association, stated that ma
jority Of men helped there was from
the Elmira Reformatory, born in this
city of Irish parents To obtain help
there young man must first commit
a crime and be sent to Elmira or a
State Prison. The applicants were
sent to him by the agent appointed by
the State, who only selected those
most likely to succeed after serving
out their sentence; and for that reason
he thought the Americans were more
often sent to this society.
Lewis E. jackson, secretary OF the
City Mission, said that the chief aim
of his society being rather to carry
spiritual aid than to furnish the poor
with bread, he had less to do with the
street beggars than most societies had.
He discountenanced mdiscriminate
giving, and thought three-fourths of
the poor were foreigners.
The Rev. DR.. C. S. Robinson, after
a city pastorate of twenty years, gave
his testimony as to the overwhelming
majority of the foreign beggars.