Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-01-10
STARTLING STATEMENTS
I'm the Annual Report of tho Ohio Stat
BOnrd of Charities.


port of the State Board of Charities for
$780, filed with the Governor this after
noon, some interesting, not to say start
ling, information as to the cost of main
tanning the dependent class of the State
is contained. 1t shows that n grand
total of 1854 persons of all ages, sexes,
conditions and colors were either par
TALLY or wholly maintained in State
and county benevolent and punitory in
stitutions at II grand total cost of So, 160,-
471.S4 drawn from public taxation. A
more particular analysis of the above
figures shows the following distribution
as to persons, institutions, and expenses,
including the item of outdoor relief.
In State benevolent institutions
Asylum for insane at Atheus, 1,044 per-
sons, cost $12s, s,2So.S7; asylum for the in
sane at Cleveland, $50 persons, cost
S115, ,S2s.5 So; asylum for insane at Colum-
bus, 1,1S6 persons, cost $3.50, 453 63; in
sane asylum at Dayton, 775 persons,
cost 500, ,6O1.15; asylum for insane at
carthage, 9S1 persons, cost S129, sos. .04;
asylum for insane at Toledo, 1,464 per-
sons, cost S143, 1855. Total in insane
asylums, 6,409 persons, cost SIT, ,9S7.37.
Institution for the deaf and dumb, 452
persons, cost S74, 1921; institution for
the blind, 266 persons, cost $50, $751;
institution for the feeble minded youth,
95S persons, cost S12S, S44.ST; S. and S. o.
home at Xenia, 1,039 persons, cost
S143, ,070. SO; S. and s. home at Sanduslky,
1,O11 persons, cost Ss5, 194.2O total 3,726
persons, cost SiS3, ,212.19
Penal and reformatory institutions -
Ohio penitentiary, 2,439 persons, cost
S24s, 2S1.OO; boys industrial school, 0T5
persons, cost S59, ,G46.49; girls industrial
home, $50 persons, cost S35, ,S25. rs; work
house, Cleveland, S,461 persons, cost
S42, ,267.72; worlShouse, GAINESVILLE, 602
persons, cost $500; house of refuge,
Cleveland, 1873 persons, cost included
with worlShouse; house of refuge, Gin
cinnati, $50 persons, cost S55, ,524. so.
total, s,551 persons, cost $3.50,
County Observation-Disclosures homes,
2,997 persons. cost S2O4, sos. II; ; county in
frmaries, 12, ,694 persons, cost ST15, $50. IA;
county jails, 9,S77 persons, cost $685.
71ss5. Total, 25,O6S persons, cost, ST.
029, ,oS41O.
Out door relief - Eighty-six counties
report total expenditure on this ac-
count of S420,971.70; siXty-six counties
report total number relieved of 40, 594,
an average number of 615 to the county,
or total for the lightweight counties
of 81, 100.
Observation-Disclosures benevolent in
stitutions, insane, 6,409 persons: cost,
S77T, ,0ST,37: other institutions, 12,277
persons, cost $3.50. .32s.67. Total, 1866
persons; cost, S1,7l5, ,416.O4. County in
stitutions, 25,O6S persons; cost, 81 ,029,-
Os4 10: out door relief, 54,120 persons;
cost, S42O, O,971.7O. Making grand total
of 1874 persons; cost, So, 100, ,47l.S4.
On the basis of the last census of the
population of Ohio these facts and fig
ures show that one person in every
thirty-seven in the State is either total
or partial charge on the taxes collected
from the people and that they consume
a sum equal to more than one-half the
whole amount paid into the State treas
ury. With the amount of taxes levied
for city and county purposes the board
makes no comparison.
The board claims that these facts and
figures are startling, touching the very
marrow of the moral, economic ques-
tions bearing on the well being of So
ciety. On material economic grounds
alone, the board claims, they demon
strate the necessity and Importance of
thorough supervision of the public be-
nevolent and reformatory institutions
through the instrumentslity of such a
board or bureau as the Board of State
Charities. The board, however, states
plainly and unequivocally that its work
has hitherto been trammeled and its
usefulness restricted by the neglect of
the Legislature to make proper or by
any means adequate provision for the
important duties imposed upon it by
law. They also say, by distinct impli
cation, that if the board is not hereafter
more literally and cordially supported
by adequate appropriations for this pur.
pose, it would be more decent and manly
to abolish it.
very strong appeal is also made in
the report for elimination of politics
from the administrations of our State
benevolent and reformatory institutions,
and an argument indulged in to show
that mere political intermeddling with
them always rebounds on the party re-
sponsible for it.
An interesting summary of the various
reforms attempted and accomplished or
still urged by the board is embraced in
the report. The abolition of outdoor
relief in large towns and cities and a
radical and complete revision and reform
by the Legislature of our State intirinary
system is urged with great emphasis.
BY the first measure alone the board
claim $3.50 900 could be saved annually in
taxes and the evil tendency of the system
to pauperize the persons it is intended
to benefit is avcrted. The benefit
financially and morally, of the complete
revision and reform of our State in
frmary system generally the board does
not attempt to estimate, but it is easy to
see from the manner in which they dwell
on it that they regard it as of pressing
Importance. The Importance of pro-
viding for the custodial care of adult
idiots is apain urged upon the LeViSla-