Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-01-27
Che Canfastcr 1ntelliecntcr.
LANCASTER. JANUARY 81, Iss,.
State Smokers

Tothe proposition to divert to the county
treasures the income now going to the
state treasury from liquor licenses, the
objection is made that the state cannot
dispense with this income Of about nine
hundred thousand dollars. Weare advised
that the legislature and the Judiciary each
cost half million dollars and that an
other half million is expended on the de-
partments and in printing. This million
ard a half Of expenditure mustbe conceded
to be necessary, as we must have the legis-
lature, the courts and the departments,
however little good they do us in proper
ton to their cost. 1t is true that all their
work would be better done by better men
for half of the money; but this great
state need not be particularly economical,
nor care to howl about million more or
less of waste. The million and half ex-
travagantly expended for the state govern
ment, the other million and a half ccOno-
mieally expended for the public schools
and the million required for interest and
principal of the public debt, sum up the
necessary expenditures of the state to four
millions of dollars. The states income is
given at six million dollars. The extra
two millions is seized upon Tor the national
guard, soldiers orphan schools and Chari-
ties and these agencies stand ready to
absorb any possible surplus the state may
have, be the millions what they may. The
question is whether the money expended
for these objects is well spent. \ state
guard is, probably, good thing if it is a
guard. Charitable institutions are lauda-
BILE, if they are charitable. Soldiers
orphans schools are well, if there are any
soldiers orphans to educate.
Considering that the war was over twenty
years ago, it seems that the crop of orphan
children should be considered exhausted.
and the s34s, 900 demanded for their care
he saved. Considering further that the
national guard is too feeble to stand on its
legs, il is a iudiciOus conclusion that it is
not worth the $4,000 asked for it. And
considering that the one million two hun
drea thousand dollars given last year tt
charitable institutions, was distributed very
unevenly over the state and was mainly
given to institutions established by
private citizens. and not by the state.
we declare that the munilicence of the
state is wrongfully exercised in behalf of
these institutions; and that the money
which it can afford to give to charity,
should be carefully expended among all
the people of the state in every section of
it. through agencies controlled aud estab-
lished by the state; and that it should not
be given to begging private institutions.
locally established to be state suckers,
We do not think that the philanthropic
and active gentlemen Of DTytown and Oak
Bottom should be encouraged to establish
hospitals to be supported by the state 4:
the state being capable of doing all that
business herself. The overfowing liberality
and virtue of fellow citizens, thus sexercised
at the commonwealth cost, should be
checked
The state has commission of charities.
largely useless now, because of the lack Of
system in the bestowal of the states
charity and the lack of power over
its expenditure by the states authorized
agency. There are few things which are
very clear.
First. There should not be, within the
commonwealth bounds, a single citizen.
unable to support himself, who should not
onthe instant become the charge of thestate
Second. There shonld not be within its
bounds single person, able to support him.
self, who is supported by it.
Third, Public hospitals should be distr!.
buted through the state, located according
to the population, where all citizens of the
state suffering from wounding OF disease,
may receive good surgical and medical at.
tention.
Fourth. There should be adequate asv-
lums for the insane, conveniently located
and every dangerously insane person should
be i'll them.
Fifth. Every such institution of the
state should be under the supervision
and control Of the board Of charities. which
the state now has as an ornamental rather
than a useful commission.
If the twelve hundred thousand dollars
which the state has annually for charity
were well expended, poverty and crime
would abandon its borders; and Senator
Adams whipping post would not be need
ed,