The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-26

The contention of the state board
of charities that state aid to local in-
stitutions of mercy is based upon an
erroneous principle is doubtless well
founded. 1t does not seem fair that
the people of Nescopeck, for example,
should by obligatory taxation be
forced to help defray the expenses of
maintaining hospitals in Wilkes
Barre, Pittston, Ashland or Carbon
dale. The first duty of each citizen is
toward his own household; and, in
precisely similar manner the first duty
Of each community is toward the un-
fortuuates within its gates. AS an ul-
innate proposition it should undoubt-
edly be decreed i'm so far as the state
board of charities has jurisdiction in
the premises, that no funds belonging
to the state and derived by general
taxation, shall be voted toward the
establishment of local eleemosynary
institutions until the localities which
desire such institutions shall first have
exhausted every reasonable effort to
establish them themselves. This is
sensible, fair and proper, and carries
out the familiar adage that "Provi-
deuce helps those who first help them
selves.n
But while this is the reform which
should be ultimately approXimated, it
is not one that can be brought about
in day. The precedent of appropri-
atiug state funds for the erection and
maintenance, in whole or in part, Of
hospitals for the accommodation, pri-
marily, of workmen injured in the an
thracite coal mines has been estab-
lished in this commonwealth; and it is
no more than just that the people of
Scranton, who have in years past been
taxed to help maintain such hospitals
for the numerically smaller COM
muuities of Wilkes-Barre, Ashland,
Pittston and Carbondale, should re-
ceive considerate treatment in return,
now that the overcrowding of the USE
ful but limited LaCkawanna hospital
haspresented them, also, with the neces-
sity of providing amplifed hospital ac-
commodations. We are pleased to see
that Colonel II. NJ. Boies, this city's
representative on the state board Of
charities, takes this rational view of the
subject, and is disposed to use his in
huence with the board in behalf of q
proposed appropriation Of state funds
conditional upon the manifestation of
local determination to supplement
the state appropriation with liberal
home subscriptions.
In this connection THE TRIBUNE de-
sires to express renewed confidence
in the availability of its suggestion
that instead Of eXpending money in u
dubious attempt to patch the old hos
pital into a semblance of convenient
dimensions, the better plan would be
to move energetically toward an en-
tirely new hospital, to be located, if
possible, upon an entirely new site.
The forty thousand ScrantonianS who
reside on the West Side, and who rep
resent dominant proportion Of the in
dustrial population of our city, deserve
the convenient presence Of first class
hospital. We suggested the other day
that site at Round Woods would
prove an attractive location. This idea
was advanced without deliberation;
but it has already found appreciative
assent, and with the right kind of en-
ergy at work in the solution of the
problem, there is good reason to hope
that d new miners hospital on that
charming woodland knoll could be
materialized,
In any event, the subject is before
the community, and discussion is in
order.