Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1886-08-28
NO. q.
COST OF CRIME.
The National Debt and the Estima ed vaiue
nf Vice -SInriIInr IIrnre..

OF fNice-Startiing Figures.
No doubt there are many who think
that interest in the care OF the criminal
and the unfortunate is an idle senti-
ment, more creditable to the heart than
! the head of him who feels it, or at
least that this is matter with which
men in ordinary life have no concern.
The growth of spirit Of indifference
to the whole subject is promoted by
our system of local sclf-government
and divided authority II the budgets
for the support of institutions devoted
to the care of these classes could be
consolidated and the actual amount Of
the drain upon the people Of the coun-
try which they involve were known.
! popular interest in them would receive
sudden impulse. II is pitiablc to
think that human nature Is so gross
that financial considerations have more
weight than any other. But inasmuch
as dollars and cents are 4 universal
language, intclligiblc 10 everybody,
we will try To give our readers some
idea of the magnitude of the burden
which the Nation has To carry by reduc-
ing it to money standard,
Four hundred and fifty thousand in
sane, iiiotic deaf, blind, pauper or
criminal inhabitants of the United
States cost, for their annual main
tenancc, probably not less, on an aver
age, than $40 each, directly or in
directly, or let us say $40, 0O0, 600 in the
aggregate. Soventy-iive million dollars
is a per capita tax of Sl.5O on every
man, woman and child in America which
we pay almost without our knowledge
At three per cent. it is the interest ON
~. 800, 600 600. And what IS 81, 800,
900, 000p When the census of lSS0wn
taken the National debt of the United
was ~, ,l20, ,415, $40, The investment in
the debt did not equal the per-
mnncnt investment in misfortune
and crime represented in tho
returns of the defective, depend
ent aud delinquent classes. The total
permanent investment by the railroad
corporations, including construction,
equipment, lands, stocks, bonds, tclc-
graph lines, etc, were -, 1872, 40, So6.
/ Our investment in crime and misfort-
une was about half of that in railroads.
! The amount invested in railroads N
about equivalent to the valuation OF
| the yearly products Of manufacturers,
which was reported mt -, 500, 519, l9l.
! Were onc-half of all the moneys re-
| ceiVed by manufacturers in any single
| wear to be set apart as n special fund
for the care of the criminal and un-
fortunate, and invested AT three per
cent, the whole of the interest re-
eeivcd would be absorbed The value
of farm products is not quite half that
~ manufactured articles; il IL -, 4f1,-
53S, 6jS. Tl-a whole of the farm prod
.llcts of the United States for one year
would not be more than sufficient for
the creation of the fund suggested.
The assessed valuation of the State OF
New York in 1880 was -, 651 $40, 900,
or no greater than the amount OF capi-
tai required for the care of our unfortu-
mates aud criminals. The assessed
value of the six New England States
was -, co., 900. 600 An OF New Eng
land, with her cities, her mills and her
banks, would not he more than enough
to appropriate 10 this special purpose,
if the capitalization of this expenditure
were a necessity.
And vet the men who see these rrla-
tions are dreamcrs, while those who
shut their eyes To them are not Tho
world csteems and applauds him who
shows il how to add To its gains by in-
creased receipts from agriculture or
the mechanic arts, or by diminished
charges for doing the business. But It
has no word of commentator ana
no hand of help for the man who
points ont that further element
must be taken into the caicula-
ton before the balance is struck
between gains and losses, that the
stoppage of the leak occasioned by the
growth of classes cf population VINO
are, To large extent, incapable OF sell
support might prove to be fresh source
of income Such reasoning is too re-
mote and circuitous; it is visionary,
and with that word 1t is Dismissed.
But why should students pore over
tables of figures on every other sub
icct under Heaven and neglect this.
which lies so much nearer to the life
of humanity? Is il nothing. to seek
to improve the efficiency and economy
of necessary but painful serviccP 10
labor for the mitigation OF suileringP
TO asSuagc where we can not cure? and
TO hunt for means of preventing the
spread OF the contagion OF grief? But
truce TO sentiment. What we desire
is to convince hard headed business
men that their financial interests de-
mand that some one shall pay attention
to the question OF the prevalence oil
social evils, their prevention and their
cure. For this special work the very
highest order of intellectual talent aud
moral integrity are essential and should
be secured. The wounds IN the body
polite must be- probed, OF the patient
will die. II is not every ignoramus or
charlatan who can be trusted TO per-
form this service. Wherever you see
a good and competent man willing to
engage in it, keep him at il and en-
courage him by an occasional word OF
appreciation, if you have it to spare.
Above all, sustain whatever promises
10 improve the organization of charit-
able aud correctional work, which is
at present in more or less fragmcn-
tarv state. and be assured that YOU will
find, in 50 doing. a pecuniary reward.
international Record.
The Kansas City Times sent one re-