The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-25
AT D~ISPENSARIES.
rur STATE hoard or CHARITIES
PROPOSES 4 REMRDE.

II 60 n
r,.,sp,sriea Imposed Upon By Porpona
A. Abundant Meaus who Receive Frnctt-
Iii, Free medical Trestment-Eviis ana
.n,,e. In the Placing Oat or Children.
,,,xv Jan. 24.-The State Board of
r,.ri,les In its annual report, presented 10
49, legislature tonight. says that the abuses Of
Hs,Icol aid at dlspensaries have become so IA
~, cspecially in New York city, that imIne-
s,s,s steps must be taken to stop their further
.,rnerizing tendency. Last year q bill was
r..sed by the Legislature bringing these dispon.
,.,i,s under the supervision Of the board, and
nroriding regulations which would prevent
~ charitable institutions from being
,mno,ed upon by persons with abundant
m,,ns to pay for medical attendance.
Thu bill failed to become a law, owing to certain
,.asonablo objections to some Of Its provisions.
II has been introduced at tho present session of
tbc legislature with those Objectionable feat
mes eliminated. 1t has the support Of the lead
tho medical societies OF New York city, and tho
state Board Of Charities hopes twill commend
itself to all who arc interested In remedying
wrong methods in dispensing medical relief.
ain the borough OF Manhattan the report
savs. there are sixty.six or moro dispensaries,
and from hfty.seven Of these the board has re-
oeiyed reports for the past yoar. These reports
,how l,O43.42s cases treated and 1874, $50
INSCRIPTIONS furnished. an average Of 1906
cases and 29.3T3 prescriptions to each dis
pensary. Making use OF these Same averages
for the nine dispensarics whose reports are not
yet fled, indicates the treatment Of 1.20s,173
cases, and the furnishing of 1885, 37 prescrip-
tions in this single borough during the period
Of one year. These statistics by no means cover
the volume OF medical and surgical relief dis
pensed to outdoor patients in this borough. for
there are many other sources OF assistance of
this nature
Fortunately in no other part Of the State 10
there any such like abuse in dispensing medical
charity. That this is a wrongful state Of affniro
and produces an unfair competition with physi-
clans, who. unlike the dispcnsaries, are not par
TALLY supported by charitable donations, adj
mits OF no question. TIL It it Is also extremely
pauperizing in its tendencies is equally true.
1T is practically agreed among those vcrscd
In the true principles Of philanthropy that
benenccnce is lacking in any form of charitable
assistance which works material injustice TO
the interests of those who do not seek charity,
or which is not SO safeguardo,l as to prevent tho
continued dispensation of relief to those who do
not require aid. Most Of tho dispcnsaries in
Now York city violate both of these principles,
and their managers apparently arc not and
never have been in the temper to come 10 some
mutual understanding whereby better con.
various reasons they have become competitors
for business to such an extent that 1t Is proba.
BILE that nearly one-half Of the inhabitants OF
medical treatment"
The board urges the Legislature to pass a law
%e oprnEoas In Inc p ropors r H%s i az st the nhu ImaSr pros ros
cedures which have resulted from the present
system of placing out children. and declares
that at present the doors are open for the con-
ANIMATION Of many evils by agents who are
responsible to no one for their acts and make
thousands OF dollars annually In this work. A
Eemunerative portion of their labors is TO re-
lieye persons oil abundant means of i~llegitimate
children. and the board says this branch of the
work presents an ample field for remedy.
The board considers that the evils. abuses, and
resulting scandals connected with the present
have much to do with retarding the progress OF
this beneficcnt form of philsnthropic work. 1t
t6e placing out Of children from institutions
Into family homes, but insists that such homes
shall DO decent homes. that suitable records
hood and of parentage shall be respected by
those who are, engaged In q work. landable when
tered into from a purely commercial spirit. -,
This merchandise Of helpless childhood"
hand OF saving parents from the mcritcd shame
OF their own misdoinRs,o or communities from
expense, and on the other hand OF cnriching
tho Golfers Of the debased, should no longer be
permitted"
The board is opposed to Senator Ahcarn's bill
pTOVlulNE tluL IN NCW 1OTk CITY, WntTC u
parent or guardian desires to care for a child
committed TO any charitable institution, such
parent or guardian shall be entitled to receive
the money allowed by law for the maintenance.
care and welfare of such child and paid by the
city 10 the institution to which the child may
have been committed. The board says that the
amount OF pension money which the city Of New
York would be called upon TO pay out under
this net is beyond computation.
Appropriations are for the
maintenance OF state charitable institutions for
the next fiscal year aggrcgating $l,o36.OO0 and
Cor additions and repairs $5l4,905.
The total revenue of the public charities dur,
ing the last fiscal yoar was over 81, 00O, 600 and
14a. p Uf Inc eb PTiyste G aa tbe e HHer 81 SfI ,Se iisceii
year had nearly 10000 inmates and the private
charities $4,000.
During the year $50 alien poor were removed
from institutions in this State to their homes in
other States and countries.
There continues to be an accumulation, Of
evidence strengthening the boards belief that
IN certain parts OF the State, notably in the city
OF New York and vicinity. there has been q
necessity demands. There are over 1000 va
cant beds IN, c%hildren's institutions in New York
clty. On This point the report says:
III one.halft the thought and energy that are
wasted IN making the poor of our great cities
dependent were used to encourage habits OF in
dnstry ana a spirit OF independence, the con-
dition OF The destitute would be materially i'm
proved and that OF the State rendered more
PROSPEROUS and satisfactory. The board con.
ceives it TO he one of its functions to seek to
turn TINS misdireGted energy into moro useful
channcls OF effort"
The board that admission to the
IT,. I 'hHb w 49,
stale nome AZ oxford for dependent Veterans
wives or widows be limited to those married
Prior to hpril, 10, 1853, the close Of tho war
lnrouRn inc hnhl enlistment OF soldiers, in
stead OF prior to 1880, rs at present.
ReRhfdinR the state Soldiers and Sailors
home at Bath the report says that the prevalent
epil existing there is idleness, and this is appar-
en- IN the resort to intoxicating drinks. There
are 2 large number OF saloons on the main thor:
oughtare leading from Bath TO the very gates of
me home. The Legislature should enact a law
prohibiting the sale OF intoxicating liquors
within one mile OF the home. This would re-
suit In the abolition OF the ~cantcen. which Is
inaiGtained at the home by the State.
~ IL recommended that the cell portion of tho
state for Women at BEDFORD, West
chester county. be rcmOdcllcd into rooms such
aslhose in he cottage buildings.
Tue board hopes that measures already under
Gohsicera;ion for tho removal of tho Randall's
island House OF Refuge from its present site to
Que III lie rural districts and distant from any
large clty. ana the transfcrence OF the institu-
lied.
inc board is also Of the opinion that effective
measures should be taken to prevent the feeble
minded. the itiotic, and the epilcptic from giving
INCREASE 10 their Kind.
Inc following recommendations for legisla-
tion are made by the board:
That the adoption Of building plans for State
or other charitable inAtitutiona be maQo subject