New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-15
DR. SEAMAN on PUBLIC CHARITIES.
HE SEES GOOD PROSPECTS FOR REFORM IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF CHARITIES AND CoRREc-
TIoN-AN ABLE REPORT TO THE

DEPARTMENT OF CHARITIES AND CoRREC-
TIoN-AN ABLE REPORT TO THE
CITY vIGII.ANT LEAGUE
At meeting OF the City Vgimnt League on Mon
day evening Or. Louis Livingston Seaman chairman
Of the standing Committee on Charities, presented
the following report In regard TO the prospect oi
reform in the Department Of Charities and Correc-
tion Dr. Seaman for many years chief oil
staff of the immense Charity Hospital Of Black
wells Island. He had also occupied with marked
distinction and most important and RESPONSE
bic places on Wards Island and in many public IN
stitutons His experience in regard TO the man
agement Of great public institutions Is most ex-
tensve thorough and complete. He Is remarkably
well qualified to pass judgment on questions per-
tanning to management of public charities OF all
kinds His stuuies OF municipal affairs and all the
problems IN any way connected with charities nave
been most profound and long-continued Hence MS
report Is OF special interest and value IL Is as io-
lows:
DR.. Charles H. parkhurst, President of the City
Viglant League. NewYork city. -
Dear Sir: The prospect OF reform in the Depart
ing The Mayor Of the ely has a, last taken IA
radical step. and two Of the three legs OF me oId
baye been OF is Ss
ne ceased here but two-thrs OF the responsibility
have permeated this department have been shifted
70 other and your chairman believes better, hands;
Before indulging In either suggestions or criticisms
of present conditions 1t may be wei 10 wait uhtii
the recognized Board has had time and opportun-
ity TO demonstrate its ability.
The prospects. too. for the complete dlvorcement
OF the departments OF Charities" and "correction
most gratlfyIng and II If hoped that Assembly,
man Pavey's bill. now pending before the Legisla-
ture. Will become law before the adjournment OF
that body. Your chalrmans Views on TINS subject
be better expressed than In the following
extract from a paper read by him before the Amer
lean Association for the Advancement or science:
at Buffalo. In 1856. The city Ia 10 be congratulated
upon the proposed emancipation.
Flrsi-We note the illogical and most unrghteous
affiliation between crime and poverty. 'Charitscs
AMI Correction forsooth. some diabolic Mala-
prop surrey linked these terms in unequal fellowship
What have criminals TO do with the sick ana poor.
anl why should conditions morally more widely sep
arltci than the poles be literally hanicurei IN inu-
tual ignom!ny? The relation between crime ana pow.
erty is no more essential than between crime ana
wealth II IL not FOR n so-cied modern civilization TO
smrch and befoul a condition In life In Itself nom
voluntary association with the tramp harot. thief
and ASSASSIN. There Is a charity called Tor az the
hands of the municipality which suffers unenduia-
he shame and anfront under this duplex admins
,ratlon OF Charities and Correction" There -
much plfIab,c unfortunate. bl9nelcss poverty nnd-
ing shelter in the hospitals and al the amshouses
Why should IL be thrust nto lntoleraD-e contrast
with a shameful. dssolute pauperiomY Keep NE
absurd term 'paupcr' II Il must be. 10 marx the
latter herd. but leave poverty" and the poor TO
The patent long-.ndurng. suffering and often ne
roI, Victims ~ failures that fall under me wnees
OF success or monopoly. To such true IRE pays
involuntarlly courtesy as TO the raim"d. un-hapey
hcn'eas victims OF the battlefield. Because or TINS
grace.ess confusion and breach OF duty, much that
even municipal charities might undertake ana ac-
complain. ~ now hopccss.y out OF reach