New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-06
REFORMS IN BROOKLYNS CHIRITIEG
HOW KINGS COUNTY HAS BEEN ROBBED
CHANGES UNDER WAY.

CHANGES UNDER WAY.
As result Of an investigation covering the last
three months. the salient features OF whicn VIII DO
covered in report soon TO be printed, the Board
90 Charities Commissioners OF Kings County. will
soon either run out OF the Flatbush Amshouse be-
tween 40O and 600 able-boded paupers. who are now
kept In iieness at public expense. or put them 10
work making brushes brocms and rag carpets
These paupers offer a startling illustration or the
manner IN which majorities have been manufactured
In Kings County for the Democratic party AS
every OF them possesses constitutional hor9or
Of manual labor 1t is probable that when they 60
from the poorhouse this spring 1t VIII De TOT al
time Every fall just after election, this norde OK
unkempt paupers has made It's way TO the county
house for regular winter quarters. and In the spring
the same horde would GO TO Coney Island or other
nearby resorts for a summer living. Ihey are Tue
kind OF creatures that helped McKane out to his
big maioritles and II has always been easy enough
for them 10 get themselves committed 10 the ahS-
house after Election Day. there TO remain IN aoso-
lutte ideness until spring -,
II the Charities Commissioners can carry out theiT
plans there will be enough labor OF some desc''p
ton for ab;e-bodiei men at the almshouse mere
utter to make loahng a lost art
THE way the county has been ropped py suPi".s
ing these people Is astonishing, said JON" ~
Rurtes of the Board OF Charities commissioners
last night. 1T is a conservative estimate 10 cay
thai there are 100 men In the a.mshouse perfectly
able to work. We have plans drawn for an III
dustrial building OF ample dimensions. and we snail
soon have things fixed that when Justly aoe-
bodied paupcr comes along we shall be reany 10
set him at work and keep him at 1t Tor aoou, 'e"
hours day The women psupers are almost WIN
out exception old and decrerit. and deserve the
kindly treatment accorded them, but 1t Is almost
exactly opposite with the men Kings county
n,uners nre well taken care or When they come
to us they exchange their rags for clean clothes
and new shoes and stockings. they sleep In warmed
rooms and sit down to wholesome meals. Between
meals all winter, and some of them all tie year
round they play checkers for the county. All the
Commissioners have agreed on radical change.
We shall require the ab.e-bod.ei paupers 10 Work
ami pay their way II POSSIBLE ,nr aSns
We shall endeayor 10 make a large huiApe. %
articles that we use. such as rag carpets ma" ani
things like that We believe that the moral eneet
on the inmates will be beneficial besides SAVING
thousands OF dollars 10 the taxpayers Ihere u no
doubt that the prospects OF daily work VIII Keep
many tramps away from the almshouse altogether
"rne report which the commissioners are now Pre-.
pairing with show saving 10 the county for the .ass
nine months rs compared with the previous nne
months Of over 10000 and this IN the face o Of ,gs
fact that the county has taken care OF 800 m os
paupers In the mean time. My colleagues are boh
Democrats. bat We are AZ! Of one mind on the aues,
business basis. and there is great need OF tn.s
There large number q ho:d-oyers' ana pr9 ~.
be reduction In the force OF aborcrs. keepers etc
An Cd solder applied to the board Sns gay re-
axe he was employed In the almshouse. asked
him what he dId, and he said that he cut up the
nurtcs' ' sad that he did all The msat,ciitns q.
were paid regular wages Tor IT. n.s eight com,
panions did not do a stroke Of work from, one one
Suses we c' have Answered darns The last
months and which are rapidly being abolished