The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-01
FOR REFORM IN CHARITY.
Din. NINTH, THE NEW ooMMISsLoNER,
SLfB MANY ABUSES EIISZ

Ne wsula mave the Charities Department
Supervise the Dispsnsariea asa De Much OF
the work New Dens ~ the Gerry aociety
ana the Charity OrEanisation Seciety.
DR.. Stephen Smith, who succeeded Silas O.
Croft as President of the Charities Department,
intends to effect, or at least to begin, several
reforms in the department before tho expiration
Of his term, on Jan. 1. There are two chief
abuses, he says, which he will attack. Ono Of
those IL the use OF public and private c1a rifles
by persons who are not In need Of such hsip, and
tho other Is tho establishment and extension
of charitable institutions whose main purpose
Is the maintenance Of their founders, officers,
and attendants. AS q member Of tho State
Board of Charities, DR.. Smith has devoted .
good deal of time in the last few yoars, to investi.
eating these subjects.
His inquiry showed the extent to which tho
public now resort TO the free dispensaries. In
1901, when the first dispensary was opened At
Nassau and Beekman streets, and for q great
number Of years thereafter, the percentage Of
persons who resorted to 1t for free treatment
wal but ! per cent Of the population. This
percentage increased gradually until tho early
sixties, when the city was distrioted by mutual
consent among the seven dispensaries thon OK
listing, but 1t did not go much above III per
cent. After that the growth In the number Of
dispensaries, under the various Ruises Of medi-
cal and surgical clinics. church charities. and out
door relief by the HOSPITALS, was 30 rapid that 1t
wss difficult to keep run of them. and their pa
tients increased in much greater proportion
There was often O rivalry between the institu.
tions, and under such stimulation persons who
otherwise would never have thought OF asking
Tor charity became regular applicants. The
uals were treated in the free places in this city,
or more than half of the population.
properly nave been relieved at the institutions
DIR. Smith admits he is not able TO tell. He
says the proportion is much greater than In the
earlier days Of the city, when New York had
1t is no part Of DR.: Smiths expressed pur.
from other charities that large body OF self.sup.
porting persons who in ordinary times need no
help, but whose incomes are insufficient to pro
Smith would have the Charities Department
do, in addition to that which 1T already does, is
tho applicants for help, tabulate this kno wledge
SO that 1t would be available at all times, and
'hS "Ph sSr. S Spe about s6S he? POO tDt eh Slassss' of ono sort
yesterday; Conducted as they are. largely
inside them and among their benehciario !:
The work of Investigating the characters and
but It is not a work that should be left to a PR.
Net ~ luS vi bARs WIN W
be done is right here.
Sooner or later nearly all of the unfortunate
come here. and this Is the place where we should
be prepared to learn all about them. Our rec
ords would then be public property. and at any
information about an applicant could pro-
euro IL.
~ would not interfere with the granting of
first relief at any Of the dispensaries or other In.
situations, but by the time applicants returned
II we had such records al we should have, the
institution could be in possession Of all the
fnCt9 IL needed In plida ira future treatmRDt
of the patient"
DR.. Smith said he thought the dispensary mat
ter would be provided for by the Legislature
which is to meet this winter. A bill, no said,
would probably be passed giving tho State
Board Of Charities authority to prescribe rules
under which patients should be treated FREQ.
II DR.. Smiths ideas should be adopted, the
Department Of Charities would surerseie many
institutions now maintained under private man.
aRement, but with large rights granted by law.
One Of these L. tho Society for the Prevention q
Is right here" DR.. Smith said emphatically.
THE old and the young and all others who arc
not able to maintain themselves should DO taken
care OF wholly by u.s."