The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-01-10
STARTLING STATEMENTS
In the Annual Report Of tho Ohio stat
Board of Charities,

$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 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 grand total cost of $3, 160,-
Tl.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 Athens, 1,044 per-
sons, cost S12S, ,2S0.87; asylum for the in
sane at Cleveland, $50 persons, cost
S115, ,S2s.55; asylum for insane at Colum-
bus, 1,1s6 persons, cost S159, 453.63; In
sane asylum at Dayton, 775 persons,
cost S1OO,6O1.15; asylum for insane at
Carthage, 9S1 persons, cost 1929, 59S04;
asylum for insane at Toledo, 1,464 per-
sons, cost $143, ,ST565. Total in insane
asylums, 6,409 persons, cost $777, ,9S737
Institution for the deaf and dumb, 452
persons, cost s74, 1921; institution for
the blind, 266 persons, cost $50, ,415.35;
institution for the feeble minded youth,
95S persons, cost 1928, ,S44.S7; S. and S. o.
home at Xenia, 1,039 persons, cost
S143,97 Sc; S. and S. home at Sanduslty,
1,011 persons, cost Ss5, 1920; total 3,72G
persons, cost S4S3, ,212. 49,
Penal and reformatory institutions -
Ohio penitentiary, 2,439 persons, cost
Se4s, 231.O0; boys industrial school, 975
persons, cost $50, ,646.49; girls industrial
home, $50 persons, cost $35, S25.7S; work.
house, Cleveland, 3,461 persons, cosU
S42, ,267.72; worlShouse, GAINESVILLE, COZ
persons, cost $500; house of refuge,
Cleveland, 1873 persons, cost included
with workhouse; house of refuge, Gin
cinnati, 5S2 persons, cost S55, ,524.50.
total, 1851 persons, cost $3.50, 1164S
County institutions-Ch Childrens homes,
2,997 persons, cost $204, ,5O5. II; county in
firmaries. 12, ,694 persons, cost S715, ,860.14;
county jails, 9,377 persons, cost S1OS,
1855. Total 25,06S persons, cost, ST.
029, ,0S4.10.
Out door relief - Eighty-six counties
report total expenditure on this ac
count of 1920, ,971.7o; sixty-six counties
report total number relieved of 1884,
an average number of 615 to the county,
or total for the eighty-eight counties
of "a, 120.
Recapitulation-State benevolent in
stitutions, insane, 6,4O9 persons; cost,
S777, 0s7,37; other institutions, 12,277
persons, cost $3.50, ,32S.67. Total, 1866
persons; cost, S1,715, 416.04. County in
stitutions 25,O6S persons; cost, S1,029,-
OS4. 10; out door relief, 4,120 persons;
cost, S42O,971.70. Making grand total
of OF, ,S74 persons; cost, SS, 160, ,471.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
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
a thorough supervision of the public be-
nevolent and reformatOry institutions
through the instrumentality 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,
A 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 OF
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 intirmary
system is urged with great emphasis
by the first measure alone the boarc
claim $3.50, 900 could be saved annually il
taxes and the evil tendency of the system
TO pauperize the persons it is intended
TO benefit is averted. 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 tC
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 adul
idiots is again urged upon the Legisla
ture from standpoint of the monetary
economy of the measure, leaving out o
the question it's moral aspect; that by
the withdrawal of this class from th'
county intrmaries and their segregation
and custody by the State their propaga
ton will be lessened or prevented and {
frightful source of pauperism and Grim,
to great degree stopped.
=----=
SIMPLE BUT PROFITABLE.