New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-21
MR.. CHOATE ON CHARITIES.
ABUSES IN THE CARE OF DEPENDENT
CHILDREN ALLEGED.
HE APPEARS BEFORE THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE
IN FAVOR OF THE APPOINTMENT OF IN
sPECToRs TO HAVE SUPERVISION
OVER ALI. CHILDREN SUP
PORTED BY PUB
Lie MONEY.

OVER ALL CHILDREN sOf-
PORTED BY PUB
Lie MONEY.
Joseph II. Choate appeared before the Board OF
Estimate Yesterday when the appropriation LOT the
Department OF Public Charities considered and
made a strong and eloquent argument IN laVo'
Of placing under lawful inspection the system
which he said detains children as paupers III
charitable institutions whose managers are paiu
for their maintenance until the inmates are grown
and then turns them out without any hthess ioi
citizenship or ability for selfsuppor The natural
result was Mr. Choate said. that the male graduates
OF these institutions find their way TO JAIL whie
the other sex help to fill the disorderly houses.
The first business before the Board was the con-
sideration OF request by President N"ai''
Rhnelander Stewart. of the State Board OF hea''n'
for an appropriation of $4,000 for the appointment
OF five inspectors TO visit all charitable INSTITUTIONS
IN the city and have supervision over all children
supported by the public money.
The request was made in accordance with the
recent amendment to the Constitution proVui"s
that the State Board of Charities shouu nave
charge Of this work The latter body. acting under
authority decided 10 delegate the work to the local
Boards OF Charities in the different counties OF
the State
COMMODORE GERRY's OPPOSITION
Commodore Gerry of the Society for the Proven
ton of Cruelty to Children made long speech III
opposition the request. He SAID tha' "iieie
any abuses existed in the different ihsu'uuo"S
there was ample remedy, and that granting power
TO inspectors at will to order the dismissal VI
child from an institution such as the act co",e"-
mates would work great hardship. He SAID 'hat
the society he represented had the poMtl ~; w 10
vate and bubble institutions. At the present time
his institution was in possession o! saiu n, vas In
ords OF the various children committed ana was vas, III
a much better position TO know whether or no ~
child should be dismissed from an nsu'u"o" ma"
any board of inspectors.
Mr. Choate said in reply: a., :, s,.or ~
Il appear here in a fourfold capacity IN iaVor Oa
err s society," but. unlike Mr.. Gerry, don't be
ve the society is divided into into those %S parts Mho d ioDe
Sccording to statistics. New-York city cares ior
one on oH S out f of 500 and Philadelphia
in 1000 This question came before IHS - de-
moraizing TO the community. 1t is scandal that
New-York should allow such state Oh "iia''s III
comparison with other cities
CHILDREN PAUPERIzED, HE SAYS.
This provision only contempates that In case
where the State pays g. per head for the care OF
child in a private institution il should have Juris-
dicton over the care OF that child and the power
10 cease the payment of the money when II decides
that necessity exists for further ho 81
sale removal of children II is notorious arn Dos in e
that institutions receiving TINS money ate r no Of
hurry 10 dismiss children IN thls otS ao' " hid
the charitable institutions have not place. be c a
in family or sent one o9t 10 from one 70 one
and one-haf millions for this pauperizat9n OF chi
dren
sntee that those inspectors will save the city SWV"
the first yeas of their work; ,,- ,.,u. cum
when the inspectors lind children being sup
ported by the city who have been in an institution
for a long tins and be sent out 10 work OF
pIaced in families they simply report 10 me
controller and further payment OF money IN those
cases is stopped. The institution can continue 10
keep the children If ii wants 10. Mr. Gerry SPEAKS
OF III, work Of our society. Why SIR tnat scclet!
our Society. If you please-s responsible TO no one
but Mr.. Gerry . ,,.. ,ax,,.
Some discussion followed Mr. Choates remarks
ms 10 what body would supervise the work OF me
inspectors and the matter was finally postponed
Tor further action. The Board then took up the
consideration of various items asked ny the bodfd
Of Charities and Correction. = 49,,
They made a small number OF reductions IN the
amounts asked for by the Commissioners OF Charl-
ties The H7 asked for office hire was reduced 10
S5 900 the amount for the outdoor Poor Depart
rent was cut from N27iO 10 $l06N. Commissioner
Faure wanted the Board to authorize the creation
OF the office of Building Inspector at salary OF
5000. but the Board refused ,. o.;oo
The estimate of s2235O for the steamboat service
was cut to $l470. Commissioner Faure also asked
for SCI 600 for Bellevue Hospital The amount al al
lowed this year $500 The above items are
Tor the salary lists Only The latter item was held
over for further consideration. Commss Toner azure
said that Bellevue Hospital was greatly IN need OF d
new chief cook. He said that imperfect COOKING
caused large loss In food IL, . .o,,
.'po YOU intend cut down supplies next year!
asked Controller Fitch.
Yes sir" replied the Commissioner. 49,
Il don't think YOU will replied Cohtroher fitch'
"that's what they all say.
The Board adjourned until Monday.