St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-17
PAUPERlSM.
It's Sources, Prevention, Investigation
and Relief Ably Discussed.

HIS Sources, ffeYPnUlOn, lnVeSblgdtiOli
and Relief Ably Discussed.
In the biennial report of Secretary Hart,
of the state board of charities and correc-
tions from an able report on the subject OF
the Sources, prevention, investigation and
relief Of pauperism," as relates to the state
of Minnesota, we make the following alb
stract:
Most of the pauperism of Minnesota is i'm
ported. There can be no doubt that we are
sufferers 10 some extent from the shipment
of paupers from foreign shores. The seaboard
cities now exercise great care to prevent the
| landing of destitute persons in their streets
but they cannot interfere with immigrants
ticketed to western points. Minnesota is also
the recipient of much floating pauperism
| from other states A case is reported where
man was about to become poor house in
! mate In Illinois, having relatives in Meeker
county, Minnesota. His friends in Illinois
sent him to Minnesota. anticipating that he
would become, in due time, county charge,
when his Minnesota relatives might turn an
honest penny by obtaining the contract for
his board. A considerable number Of the
| paupers in our poor houses are nonresident.
In some cases AS many as half; but humanity
III.
PAUPER MIGRATION.
It is astonishing with what ease paupers
travel from one part of the country to another
at public expense. 1t is the general practice
of public authorities to forward uon-resident
paupcrs to their alleged destina alton or the
next town or city.
| Reports made to this Office show nearly
$4,000 expended by counties and cities for
this purpose during the past year, and uu-
| duubtedly much is expended ia the same
way by private parties. The railroad COM
panies furnish tickets at half rates for traus-
porting such persons. Estimating at two
cents q mile, this $4,000 would represent
| 10000 miles of travel, or the transporta-
ton of 1900 paupers one hundred miles
| each.
few instances out of many that might be
cited will illustrate the evil. A woman with
two children, resident in Detroit, concluded
| to join her husband in the British provinces
| AS ne had no means to send for her or to
support her the authorities in Detroit SEM
her to Chicago, the Chicago authorities to
| st. Paul, the st, Paul authorities to st. Vim
cent, whence she doubtless made her way 20
her destination, 800 miles beyond Winnipeg.
| A woman came penniless from Arkansas
to St. Paul, in search of alleged rela-
hves, and spent two or three weeks in
| comfortable quarters. Search in the records
of three counties failed to discover the names
| of the relatives, and she finally concluded 10
! return to Arkansas. A blind man made his
way from Pennsylvania, spent some time in
st. Paul and Saltwater and finally obtain ed
| transportation to Mankato In search of his
brothers. widow. Multitudes are travelling
up and down the country in the same way,
and find little difficulty in travelling any dis
lance. Within our own borders, the same
thing goes on constantly. public officer
in the city of st. Cloud said, ''When a man
comes here sick or injured and says, Il
think, if were in Minneapolis or st. Paul
could get into q hospital, We give him a
ticket at ouce.n
In lie Sueur county paupers are a charge
upon the several towns, not upon the county.
1t is reported that in one town q family was
| about to become town charge, and cause
heavy expense. A citizen proposed to the
supervisors that he would become response
| bic for the family for a year for one hundred
dollars. The bargain was promptly closed,
and the citizen spent fifty dollars in sending
the family to Dakota, pocketing the other fifty
| dollars.
None Of these migratory paupers pay their
own expenses. The public supports them
and pays their fare besides. The system is
wasteful and mischevous, but. It's remedy is
difficult matter, in the absence of any CEN
! trail agency Of investigation, and in the alb
sence Of any uniform legislation by adjoin-
| ing states.
Minnesota is fortunate in having very
little pauperism Of home growth. Tue hardy
| settlers who have developed our prairies
make their own way and train their children
To like habits. Homegrown pauperism has
| its origin, usually, In an ipheritance OF dis
ease, idleness OF vicious tendencies; in acci-
dents, such as sickness, grassboppers, or cy-
| clones, or in misconduct as intem perance,
| RIGHTEOUSNESS or other crime.
Surprising as ii may seem, we find the
| least pauperism In the poorest districts.
| There is 4 distinction between paupcrism
and poverty. Poverty is often a blessing
and never II disgrace; pauperism Is never a
blessing and usually disgrace. He who
| has once held out his hand for private or
| public aims has lost what once lost is hardest
| 10 regain, Independence aud self-reliance
| II Is Of the highest i'm portance TO stimulate
and foster a sturdy spirit of indepe ndence in
the worthy poor, aud the unkindurss Of de
stroying this spirit by thoughtless ams-giv-
ing or reckless distribution OF the public dole
is greater even than the unkindness of neg
Letting the wants OF those vino realty need
assistance.
THE PREVENTION OF PAuPERIsM.
The most important and fruitful proven
tive work is that for children. The results
OF such wise endeavor IN our own state are
seen in the success attending the Reform
school and the school for deaf and blind
children. There were but two or three deaf
mutes among the 900 paupers Ia our poor
houses last wear. Tue Institutions for such
children in our own and other states train
them TO habits Of industry and self-support
instead Of beggsry. OF more than 500 vic
ious children, trained and sent out from tie
State Reform school, only a small fraction,
probably much less than 10 per cent, have
followed vicious courses since discharged.
This Is the best form Of charity. Already
orphans homes are growing up in our state
To do the same good work for orphans aud
homeless children.
The prevention Of adult paupersm Is more
difficult. We must stimulate providence
and encourage industry. The motto has
come TO be adopted By many of the b"st
friends Of the poor. mot aims but friend. I"
To prevent pauperism tits necessary TO dis
courage frauds and professional beggars.
When laborng man, struggling on scanty
wages, gees others, equally abie-bodied, make
a good living by begging from door 10 door,
with some pitiiul tale, It is bard % be content
with his lot. Hence the importance Of rigid
scrutiny and the application Of labor tests to
be able bodied beggars. Many professional
beggars, who are able 10 getau honest living,
make merchandise Of some misfortune and
realize a comfortable income by trading upon
the sympSthies Of the generous. Not only
self projection against imposition, but justice
TO the industrious, self supporting poor, de-
mands that aid should be refused 10 beggars