The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-08
Weekly Letter on
Municipal Hffairs
NO. XIV.-"MUNICIPAL CHART
TIES - EXTRAVAGANT MAN
AGEMENT."
New York, Sept. S.

New York, Sept, s.
vT MATTERS not how cxtravaGant in its ex.
pcnditures any city may be, New York city
II can always go one better. recent eX-
animation into the methods OF administering
municipal charity in Ohio cities revealed most
glarng lack OF system OF administration and wis
dom in expenditures. And yet for every bad
method in Ohio, New York could double it,
There was raised by taxation in the state Of
Ohio and expended for public charity in 1890
the sum OF S430l,9l3."S. For the same year
was expended by New York cix more than
81, OOOOOO.
1t is only to be regretted that so little Of
these large sums of money is applied to the
relief of ncccSsitous cases, for which it was
raised Much more is paid in salaries and for
the administration OF the funds than for the
poor.
Corruption has been rife throughout Ohio in
the handling of the poor funds, until within the
last year or two, when some wise legislation has
been made effective by honcst-heartcd executives,
The writer was shown in Of Ohio's leading
cities where, in 1897, more than one-thrd OF
the poor fund was paid oStcnshy for medical
services, but really for political influence and
party work. In the case of a smaller city out
of total expenditure Of S39SjO, S2l, ,925-more
than one.half of the whole-was paid to doe.
tors while the directors kept $l,s50 for them.
selves. Ordinarily the records for the relief of
the poor show two parents for each family, but
in this instance the officials reported that they
had relieved SO families and 1895 parents,
exactly five parents TO each family!
From another city report it was shown that
out Of a total fund OF 81, ,13s 81 100 went to the
doctors. But the robbery in another instance
was even worse; of the tptal amount expended,
81, GIG AZ, the records show that the doctors
ceived 81 003.75 the commissioners, S355,TT; and
| the worthy poor, S22S,05.
New York state has a number Of cities whose
| poor departments are in bad odor Here is
| one ordcr copied from the records, and issued
| TO a family OF four persons in July: Three and
| one half sacks of -four, 5 sacks graham, 3 sacks
corn meal, 3i9 bushels potatoes, IL pounds pork,
| 70 pounds oatmeal, % pounds ham, 30 pounds
| graduated sugar, 3l2 pounds tea, pounds cof-
| fee, 2 pounds starch, 8 sacks salt, l gallon oil,
| l2ls pounds butter, pounds lard, pounds
crackers l pound sacratus l pound baking
powder, > bushels apples, yeast cakes, dozen
| bars soap, e gallon molasscs."
| The poor fund appropriation, in another city,
| increased from $4,000 TO 100000 within three
| years. An investigation was made and among
other irregularities il found that several
| rich contractors, who employed quite large
| number Of drivers for their teams in the summer,
| were supporting their horses off from the city
poor fund. All of which was conniycd at by
the commissioner Of the poor department.
| But it takes New York city to demonstrate
how recklessly the poor fund can be handled
| Controller Bird 5. Coler has made some as.
tonishng revelations during his term OF ONCE in
connection with the expenditures in this depart
ment. And he has done all within his power to
| correct its abuses
The records show that a number of alleged
charitable institutions aud societies, receiving
money from the city, apply nearly all their
funds TO the payment of salaries Of officers and
employees, while their relief work is very limited
| and OF doubtful character. In one case, So
ciety which claimed board OF directors and