Telegram-herald., 1891-01-08
FURTHER SUGGESTIONS
onbrsd BY . citissn Who 10 Inter
osted in the Poor Question.
Ne yAssrs Lsgisiatisn That Win Dis
ertninas~ Bss s~a the WeFshy Pear
asa ths Dead Seat


asa xhs Dead Seat
The suggestions Of the Nond~, norn-
ing article IN the TEIEsRAA-HKRAIp.
relative 10 the proper treatment Of the
city's poor and indigent, has been COM
mended by large number Of persons
whose op,onions are worthy Of recognl-
ton. Said gentleman yesterday 20 g
reporter;
.The central point Of that article
most undoubtedly is the point upon
which the committees ought 10 work.
BY tins do not mean 10 intimate that
the problem is . simple one. Far from
it. There is not more difficult ques-
ton confronting US than the proper
care of the poor; because 1t always in
wolves another question quite as dim
cult, and from which il can not be dis
sociated, viz: The driving on OF the
parasites. Before the poor can he fed
decently, it is essential that means be
adopted to guard the open purse of the
city from those who stand by TO snatch
what does not belong to them. What
wise man would take out his pocket
book in the midst of \ gang of thieves
merely to give a beggar six-pence.
when the probability WAS that he would
lose ali his money in the operation.
This, however, Is what this city and all
1 clfiaa ansfanfIy dnsnU
II do not profess TO have made much
of study of this question, but heart
| iIy favor any legislation that will recog-
nize the difference between the worthy
poor and the dead beat class. If one
or more officials are to be employed to
| give their whole time to the distribu-
ton of the poor fund, / think il would
| be an admirable plan TO have them de-
vote their energies to saving people
from poverty rather than trying to save
them IN poverty. The plan OF making
| the poor Office a sort of labor intelil-
gence bureau is good one, for the
| really deserving poor would better ap-
preciate the opportunity to work than
| pauperization. The undeservlng poor
hearing by that. that the poor who will
| not work, are not objects of public
| sideratlon only so far as to find the best
way of keeping their hands out of the
| treasury. Yes, | heartily favor the
| idea of attaching to the poor Office the
added duty of securing work for those
who know not how to procure it Tor
/ themselves"
Alderman Sproul said that he was
predIsposed by early education to favor
,..L ~f hr
He said that this is the plan In practice,
with some few differences of details, IN
the city of Glasgow and other cities of
Scotland. He said that when poor man
applied for help in Scotland, he was
always given a cnance to help himself.
He was offered a place upon some pub
lie work at wages not large enough to
attract large numbers of applicants,
but large enough to be grateful assist
| ance to . man in distress. Under such
system, the lazy and indolent never
annoy the officers of the poor, and the
deserving are never left to starve.
"By the way" said Mr.. Sproul, 81
should think the committees having
this matter III charge would call upon
| the clergy of the city for suggestions.
| Whatever may he said of their practical
wisdom in ordinary matters of the
world. it is probable that no class of
men have had SO much experience in
dealing with the poor rs the clergy.
Their testimony and their experience
would be invaluable to the committee.
| If were on either of the committees
l should move to invite such represent
ative men as DIR. Fair and Father
Pulcher and DR.. Merriam and that class
of men, and ask their views. Surely il
is subject worthy of the best wisdom
We have"
Another gentleman with whom the
| reporter conversed last evening went so
far as to express the opinion that better
relief and more economical administra-
ton would result il the entire poor
fund were to be turned over to the
churches for distribution. The COM
mittees meet at the city hall tonight,
and doubtless they would be glad to
hear the views of any citizens who have
any light to throw upon the subject.