New-York tribune., 1902-07-16
A CITY'S DUTIES.
ATTITUDE OF MUNICIPALITY TOWARD
ITS DEPENDENT CLASSES.

The municipality has experienced complete
change Of attitude in regard to its duties TO the
dependent classes in the last years. said James
z. Reynolds 10 the Summer School OF philanthropy
yesterday morning Mr.. Reynolds. who is Mayor
Lows private secretary, and was formerly head
worker the University Settlement. addressed the
school on The Influence OF Municipal Government
on the Dependent Glasses" Mr.. Reynolds read
into the words dependent classes meaning far
wider that usually understood.
we commonly define dependent classes said
he. those who obliged 10 apply for public
relief in times Of distress But in reality the de-
pendent classes all those who dependent
upon the public for the advantages necessary TO
physical. mental and moral advancement: for edu-
cation. libraries and recreation. lived for several
years the lower East Side. among people who
entirely dependent upon the public for educa-
ton and books, both school books and literature.
II the public had provided these they would
have been obliged TO go without them. Again,
very much struck the other day by the
mark Of a woman school inspector who came TO
consult in regard TO opening the public school
in her neishborhood during the summer She said
the commissioner objected, because. he said, il
not poor district and not needed She said: SO
far the privileges afforded by school play
ground concerned, my children the same
level with those OF the tenement region. I
command outdoor space for them TO play in.
il they go outside TO play. they must either go
long distance park, else play in the street,
exactly the same as tenement house children She
recognized the fact that for certain things she
The change in attitude of the municipality has
come through its recognition Of the service
which it owes people. Ten years ago the school
house 10 be used for distinctivey school pur-
poses during school hours. To-day there thirty
tao school buildings open in New-York for manual
training in summer and ffty-tflree for gyTnnastc
and recreation purposes. The usefulness OF the
school buildings Is be further extended in three
different lines Ihey be opened in the evening
meetings OF organizations serving the purpose
OF local town halls They 10 be open mornings
for the benefit Of mothers with very young chii-
dren, seeking cool place rest and the after
noon and evening they Will be used for recreation
purposes by young people.
The old idea OF the park was that Of an elaborate
and stately garden The conception of its
function is Z furnish recreation utilities. The
tenement house department of the city takes cogni
zsnce only OF the sanitary but the moral wei
fare Of the people The Dock Department has
entered the lists with its recreation piers
Mr. Reynolds found good word 10 say for that
commonly dubbed dubious. coney Island
One can find evil anywhere he chooses to look
for IT," said he: but Coney Island undoubtedly
furnishes recreation for millions of people who
could not secure ii in any other way.
spea king Of the adjacent park newly opened py
the municipality Mr.. Reynolds prophesied that IN
ten years time the moral tone ol Coney Island
fbis rsr "a .b reeI,lt makes l.ss showing than
police raids made the instance of strenuous
oitizens,' said. but the result may eventually
when our government was established con-
tlnued the speaker. going into the philosophy OF
the subject, there no conception existing OF
the modern city. This government was an over
poRering certain abuses OF govern
nent in Europe. The original American loea was
that the iess government We had the better we
have come now 20 see that government can dHu
should exercise many benehcent activities IN De-
half Of the people not contemplated IN It's carrier
Stages The old idea that government was d
Necessary evil. We have come to consider ~
necessary good There Is nothing so encouraging
10 the philanthropist this change IN the a. u
fude OF the public authorities, because thlhss
which phIlanthropists toiled for years asains'
Overwhelming dificulties. TO achieve In a httie
fragmentary way now being zone oE Ebnie ci
municipalitv on an adequate scale for the "itole
eitr TIE social egDerfrnent of yesterday has be,
the municipal programme OF to-oag. , 1e eeei
therefore as philanthropic workers you oa may -
that whatever you able 10 40 II II piO' Lien
have permanent value, Is apt 10 -. pe "a
rp and carried o.. by the city Ihe setIiei IL nx
The charity ganization may thus st las,
pertinent station for the munclpahtSs ~. -esent
century was one of political reform NJ Ppbuan
Is 10 be one Of social reform. i.aGn Possihia
thropie worker to-day may feel that IL ~ To
for him or her 10 make enormous eoIIi r9aorestion
the public welfare Just the OUTDOOR 80 9se oS the
League Of this city, the foreruhnet ~ the
summer playground system no" part 70
Mr.. REYNOLDS expressed the opinion a aIat .o the
any one thing was of great iinpoI amid
people OF New-York cheap laiSS i,aa aIu IN The
Transportation -One-third or those a., IS a co,n-
lower East Side" said he, were DOTH i' ~