New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-09-08

! N'ii''N"'''
movement.
ONT FRUITFUL SOURCE or T1XATIoN
The state Board Of Charities. at a meeting
held in Nav last. passed resolution directing
the attention Of the Commissioners Of Charities
and Correction Of this city to the increasing
cost of government "by reason of the additions
"from abroad to the insane and others supported
Gin this State, and especially to those supported
I'm the institutions of the City of New York"
The passage of the resolution was preceded by
plain statement Of few facts of great inter
est to taxpayers The Board estimated that
each insane person costs to support $3.50 per
annum, in any almshOuse or asylum, nde-
pendent ofthe buildings aud othor equipments
for shelter and of the salaries OF necessary Of
fcials AZ 10 the increase of the numbers OF
those in the asylums. the Board asserted that 1t
was largely to be referred TO the inluX OF scnilc,
dcmented and idiotic persons from abroad.
And ON this point the Board added the prcg-
nant remark that " the nativity tables seemed
"to confirm the opinion becoming very gcner-
" ally expressed that the time had arrived for
making all proper efforts to keep this class OF
alien dependents (haviug no legitimate or
moral claims on lis for supporD from crowd
" ing into our charitable institutions, in place
" of continually providing expensive, enlarged
accommodations for more"
The resolution referred to. with a view OF Sc
curing wholesome practical reform. asked our
Commissioners of Charities and Correction If
the laws of Congress or any other laws SUI
ficicntly provided forrcturning insane or other
wise helpless persons to the ports or countries
whence they came, and if not what addi-
tona laws were needed. At the July meet
ing of the Board report was submit
ted showing that tho passage of tho rcsO-
luton had already been attended with
good effect since IL had at least stimulated
popular protest against paupcrs from Europe
bring allowed without rcmonstranco TO become
lifelong dependents ON our system of public
charities. II was further reported to the samo
meeting that our Commissioners Of Emigration
were declaring ihcir intention " 10 pnt into cf-
feet with proper strngcncyn the enforcement
of the law of Congress providing for the return
in the vessels bringing them Of helpless persons
incapable of sclf-support, or those without any
means of subsistence who would fall immcdi-
atcly upon the public. The report concluded
with the sensible, patriotic observation that
Z" no country abroad would allow us to ship TO
"it our distressed Orhcplcss population, without
immediate resistance and diplomatic, if not
" stronger protests; and our right to reject
"and protest against shipments TO us should
" be asserted, sustained ana enforced, as a vital
"mcasure of clf-protectiOn, by States as well rs
"by Congressional authority"
THE TRIBUNE has frequently called attention
TO this grave matter We return to it now be-
cause Of the conviction that the needed reform
is only to be secured by constant agitation.
The State of New York, in addition to bearing
the heavy expense Of supporting It's own poor,
helpless and inGrm, has paid out millions of
dollars for the caro- and maintenance of those
who had ncithera legal, equitable nor any other
claim upon her bOunty-the helpless and inilrm
of other Stat es andothcr countries. When tho
State Board of Charities was organized this
source of taxation had assumed alarming pro-
portions. The Board has done much To cure
the evil, rs everybody knows who Is familiar
with the character and scope Of the good and
faithful work it has accomplished. But much
remains undone. 1--WE are spcnding,n writes
Commissioner Van Antwerp in recent letter
" in city, county and State taxes combined for
"charity nearly million dollars month, and we
"cannot provide quarters fast enough for the
abnormal increase of paupcrism and disease
The stand lately taken by the Commissioners
of Emigration in the contests with the steam
shin lines. and the decision Of Justice Van
Bruut sustaining them are cheering signs. The
needed reform is in fair way of being ac-
complishcd. 1t only needs that it be pushed
vigorously at all points.