New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-22
HOT SHOT FOR THE AHEARs BILL
REPRESENTATIVES, OF CHARITABLE INSTITUTION
OPPOSE 1T BEFORE THE MAYOR--w. \
STEWARDS VIGOROUS SPEECH

REPRESENTATIVES, OF CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS
OPPOSE 1T BEFORE THE MAYoR-w \
STEWARDS VIGOROUS SPEECH.
Representatives OF nearly all the charitable -
situations In the city public and private appeared
before Mayor strong yesterday afternoon 1t
public hearing 10 oppose the Ahearn bill RELAXING
TO charitable and public institutions In New-rork
City. and TO ask him to veto II. The bill proposes
system OF outdoor poor relief. by providing
that children committed to institutions may be
sent back TO their parents and receive 81 week
long the Society for the Prevention OF Cru
city to Children authorizes Il. The bill also pro-
vides that the society shall have the power to 40
thorze the recosnmitment OF children who may
have been discharged from the institution. ana I'M
poses other duties on the Gerry Society.
Elbridge T. Gerry presented a series OF resoIu-
lions adopted by tho society condemDing the bill
He said that while the bill imposed additional du.
ties and gave greater power 70 the society. the
directors did not approve OF It. and he himself ~
garded II with disfavor.
President William Il. Stewart, OF the State Boar0
OF Charities denounced the bill. and read resolu-
tons passed at a meeting OF the Board also de-
nouncing II radically wrong from an economical
standpoint. as opening the door to favoriiism and
TO unheard.of expenditures for the support OF chill
dren. He said. in part:
undesirable persons from gaining settlement with
In her borders. on the contrary, Ike every other
net and its present power OF attracting the un-
fortunate the Inefficient and the shiftess 81 the
world Is creat and growing. Should the bill un.
der consideration become "A law, this power would
be greatly increased for other city would
then possess the ability to attract the paupcI
spirit OF the world that New York would
enjoy No worthy" couple In New-York. Or
sufficiently near reach there, need hesitate 70
marry on the ground that they unable to pro.
vide for a family. the city being bound In advance
by the terms of the bill TO do that for them. Not
withsta ndinC tie natural disinclnation OF parents
to have their children removed from them ana
placed in childrens institutions. the people OF the
city OF New-York expend nearly 100000 yeas
institutions. Remove the fear of separation, as the
bin propoges 10 10 and no foretell 10 what
extent and volume these figures OF expenditure Will
grow. Weak and dispired parents. or whom thero
must be many in New-fork. would lose the incen.
tive struggle for the care OF their children, ~
they struggle now to keep them, for. under the
proposed law the children would not only not %
separated from them but would become dress
Of revenue 10 them.
The bill also opposed by representatives -
the Colored Orphan Asylum. the Catholic Protso'
tory the Hebrew orphan Asylum. the ST vincen{
de Pau! Society. by Mornay Williams. presdent ot
the New-York Juvenile Asylum, as well as py JONI
y. Pine Charities Commissioners John +. Faure. =
w. Hollis, Mrs Leveridge, Mrs. Kate Han. the
Rev Dr. John Z. Devins and others. 49,.
Bernard Downing who represented Senat0y
Ahearn made a vigorous speech In favor OF tho
bill
The Mayor said he would take time TO consfdee
the matter. He asked all who had arguments %
present further 10 send them In before Tomorrow.