Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-05-03
T,me f0 Halt.

1
Time to Halt. Il
Tho hill to transfer the proceeds OF
.vern licenses in the counties to the
.ountv treasures, which finds favor IN
he Iseislature, is a good measure, but
his should be sufficient diversion OF
tate revenues for the present. Ihe
,roposition to likewise give the counties
,he tax on moneys at interest Will do W
hold over for q season, lest il be 1ouhu
that the state is surrendering a larger
revenue than it can spare. IT the Leg
does not check it's liberallty
in the way Of gifts OF the puolic
funds to other than necessary OF.
iects of expenditure it will have need
of the tax on moneys at interest.
1t is true that a great many grants OF
money are made which ought not to be
made, such as those given to private In
stitutions Of all kinds. Ghe state gives
great deal of money for charitable and
beneficent purposes, but does not spend
it in the right way. There are poor
houses and hospitals in every county
which are established to relieve the dis
tress of those in ill condition in body
and purse. These should be made, one
would think, ample in their resources to
discharge the duty which tho state owes
its people of these classes. Whatever
money it has to spend for charitable in
stitutions and hospital, seemingly
should be expended in making those
established by the state worthy of the
purpose of their creation. Yet there are
private hospitals and institutions OF
charity established in all quarters which
appeal to the state for aid and get
it because of the worthinesS OF their
object. Doubtless they are very good
institutions. Doubtless, too, they are
created because of the insulliciency OF
the county poor.houses and hospitals.
But why should these be insufficient :
Would not the enjoyment of the money
which the state gives to private instltu
tions enable its public institutions to do
the work they are created for and make
the others unnecessary Or does the state
concede that private management OF
beneficent institutions is better than
public management
A state board of public charities is III
existence which is given supervision over
all charitable institutions, public and
private. The very small sum OF six
thousand dollars, we believe, is all that
is given for the support of this s.lperVls-
ing board, although the institutions it
oversees, hundred in number, enjoy hun
dreds of thousands of dollars OF the
states money. There is certainly some
thing wrong in the way the treasury is
depleted by grants to private institutions
o. money for objects which are supposed
to be cared for by our public instiiu'
tons; but if this costly and haphazard
way of dispensing charity is to be con
tinued the state will need all its reven'
ues for all the counties that do not
have private hospitals conducted at pub
lie expense will want them. We vii
call for one at Lancaster, for instanc"
which is entitled to a luxury OF this kind
if any county is, because of its larger {;
tlrn to the revenues of the state.
If the Legislature will pause IN IL
work of lavish expenditure for locai ah'
private institutions, to consider the pei
icy, or lack of policy, upon which i
makes these grants. it cannot fail Il
conclude that it is not spending thi
money In proper way. 1t Is vel
known that these many grants arr
made, Notwithstanding each one by tht
constitution requires two thirds vot'
for its adoption, because the friends o
each measure combine to carry through
the whole batch. The process is KNOW
as log-rolling. The Philadelphia mem
bers say to the Pittsburgh member
sstickle me and I'll tickle you feed III.
lambs and we will feed yours" ; and will
this heavy nucleus of votes enough mor
are gathered in the outlying Counties b,
similar processes, to make the passage
sure of each bill.
1t is done in the name OF huniani,!
but nevertheless wrongly done. Tit
states charity should be equally dis
pensed to all its people through It's owr
institutions and such as are privatel,
established should be remittea for Their
support TO the charitable impulse tina
created them. The Legislature vii
probably have an opportunity TO recon
slider it's action. The bills that hav'
been presented to it are generally with
out the approval endorsed upon them o
the state board of public charities, (which
the law requires to be given, but which
has not been solicited lest it should b,
refused, and thus damage the chances y
the measure. If the attorney general All
vises the governor that this approva
of the board of charities is essentia
under the law, we presume the governor
will veto the bill {; and the generOu:
Legislature may then consider whether
it has not been dispensing charity on a,
altogether wrong principle, and whethe
private institutions of any kind shoult
get the taxpayers money to perform tina
duty which our public institutions ar
created to discharge and should be mad
efficient to execute.
MR.. CHARLES S. WOLFE has beer