The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-09

question as to which Of the two, the street or
the institution. make Of the child the better
citizen"
BUSINESS PRINCIPLES SHOULD APPLY.
Mr.. Color's statement OF the abuses exist
ing ia the practice OF spending the city's
money In aid OF charitable institutions" said
Lemucl L. QuRR OF the Republican County
Committee. rs extremely clear and convinc-
ing. and 1t goes without saying that such
abuses ought to DO corrected II the cty's
money is sustaining private institutions
In any such proportion as he tndi-
Gates. then city supervision ought I'M
questionaby to be established. and II 1t is true
that this expenditure 10 being made unequt-
ably then the inequalities ought to be stopped
and the obviously fair way to stop them is to
pay per capita for the services rendered by the
institutions. Undoubtedly these assignments
OF public money have been made for political
reasons and not for public reasons. They have
been made to catch the support OF the masses
or OF churches interested In the charities. The
whole matter should be reduced to simple
business proposition. and II public money Is
going to be expended at all In tho interest OF
private institutions. which Is a bad policy any
how, and tolerabe only on the theory that the
city cannot do the work for itself then 1t ought
to be spent for a public reason. and in q busi-
nesslko way for unquestloned service rem
dered."
COL MURPHY AGREES WITH coLER.
President Murphy. OF the Board o. Health.
approved the Comptrollers suggestion. IAN
charitable work that ia paid for by the city"
said he. should be attended to by the city.
These private organizations that run to the
city treasury for their support are creatures OF
circumstances and should be wiped out. They
I'LL ia vhN
brighter perhaps than the common run OF mon
and women. They started school or some
thing OF that sort. and when they got tired Of
paying the bills they came down or tho public
treasury. The amount ask ed for at the outset
was small. and one official after another had
his sympathies worked Upon until ne gave his
consent to the appropriation because 1t was
small. and the scheme was novel one. but
after that entering wedge. there was no end to
tho demands upon the treasury from all sorts
OF so-called charitable organizations. A man
may be a failure In his business and wants
money to get along In some other way. His
friends and his church people feel sorry for
him and his wife, and want to help them. Tho
man and the wife start an organization for the
relief OF this. that. or the other thing. They get
the backing and influence Of friends and church
people. and then secure public ap-
preparation for their new enterprise. 1t is
In reality charity for themselves that they get
under pretenoe OF doing good for others. No
organization and no department will be or can
be properly conducted In the interest Of the
public without tho personal supervision OF the
responsible head. The regular presence OF the
chief is absolutely essential TO getting honest
and efficient service from the subordnates
Without the responsible head the subordi-
mates are bound to become lax and to run
IA Al n.
true OF these private organizations. but in very
few OF them are tho subordinates supervised
by the persons actually responsible for their
use OF the money which they get from tho city
The men and women who promote the scheme
as rule let their activity cease with the Sc
curing OF tho appropriation. The rest Is done
by some irresponsible matron or manager II
these private institutions must continue to
exist. they should certainly be inject to rigid
examination by competent public officers and
every cent received by Thorn should be used for
the purpose for which the organizations nomi-
nally exist"
HINT OF WHERE TAMMASY STANDS.
ATammany Assem- blyman who is working
for a reconciliation had lots to say about Coler
and charities. but he declined to be quoted BY
name. "Coler he is a friend OF mine" he said
but for Heavens sake don't say that l said
anything good about him. because it would
ruin me. There is big fight on in the Organ
ization against Coer because OF the Ramapo
Job. and il l should come out in support OF
any OF the Comptroller's notions 1t would be
the end OF me so far as getting another Assem-
bly, nomination is concerned. Neither would
1t do for me to say anything against the Gerry
Society. although 1t 10 nuisance. because
we have to use It in politics. / have
to go over there every once in while
and induce them to give up child.
My failure or success to get the kid
means so many votes more or less As to
Coler he is right In the main. but he goes too
far in wanting to abolish Wholesale the small
charitable organizations The small ones do
more good In the aggregate. each working in
it's own neghborhood. than the big ones that
use up all the money they can got to pay fat
salaries. The ideal way would be for the city
to do all OF its own charitable work and to
divide it up by districts with a competent man
to investigate and report on all cases in each
district and to receive all applications for aid
In that way there would be moro real charity.
at much less cost"
JACOB H. sCHIFF.
Jacob Fl. schifr said: My views. in brief are
that orphan asylums. which have the educa-
ton OF the young In hand should not be cur
talou III thor appropriations. put poHoV0
that hospitals and kindred institutions receive
probably larger city aid than 10 justified"
President John A. Stewart OF the United
States Trust Compan said: so far as have
been able to follow the course OF Mr.. Coler.
think he is entitled to great credit Although
am not one OF his party. l think that whom
public officer does his duty so thoroughly and
honestly as he has done. he should be sustained
without reference to party feeling"
WHAT AN AssEMBLYMAN HAS TO SAY.
Assemblyman Charles 8. Adler OF the Eighth
district said: Il am very much interested In
the question. Living. as l do. In 4 district
where there 10 more poverty than in any other
district In the State. come In direct contact
with people constantly who arc compelled to
send their children to institutions. do not
believe In curtailnE the amounts spent for tho
care and education OF unfortunate children
We must look to the future as well as the pres
emit and 1t Is for the interests OF the entire
community that the inmates Of our institu-
tons should be sent out in tho world as good
nnII t,ln