Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-17

there are three or four columns Of "Com-
munications from the People on every
conceivable public question. Yesterday.
side by side In the same column, were two
communications. One of them complained
OF the parsimony OF the 'sguardians'' In
their treatment OF the poor and cited as
specfncafion that very inferior quality
of tea is furnished to the old women and
an equally inferior quality of tobacco to
the old men In certain home for the
aged: The next communication was from
an indignant taxpayer. denouncing the
guardians for extravaganza. and declar-
ing that the inmates Of public charity
homes lad more comforts and Injuries
than half the curates In England.
In a measure this Is true. There Is not
the slightest doubt that pauperism Is en-
couraeed by too much generosity. and that
lazy people are tempted to enter beneyo-
lent institutions because OF the comfort
able times and the kind treatment their
inmates receive at the cost Of the taxpay-
ers. In no other country. regardless Of pop
ulation and Industrial conditions. II there
such large proportion Of the popula-
ton In charitable institutions as In Eng
land This speaks well for the generosity
and benevofence Of the English people on
the one hand. but 1t Is not a good sign for
the mental. moral and physical improve
ment Of the masses.
Cost Of Pauperism.
The cost OF supporting paupers has moro
than doubled during the last thirty years.
In 1871 the total official expenditures for the
relief Of 957 .64S paupers was $50. 100. 103. or
about $sS per capita per year In 1881 this
total had been increased by ten and half
millions. and 739, 1913 paupers were relieved.
at cost of $40 SOS, $50 or ISL % per capita.
ported at a cost of $40. 1913 02J. and in 1905
673.232 were supported at a cost of $o..-
SS.Ao. During the last five years a great
many reforms have been introduced. and
M ants In fhA ~ f1,a
and INDECENT. which have caused an I'M
usual increase in the expenditures to ST0.-
OSl .34S, or an average, as I have already
told you, Of $S052 per capita.
The number Of paupers has decreased
from 957.6 in 1871 to 7s2, 422 in 1905. or
ITO, $50 In number. In the meantime the
public expense OF maintaining them has
increased from $50. 100. 103 in 1871 to $70.-
while the per capita cost has increased
from $3S to 80, difference of $4252
per pauper.
Private Benevolence.
These enormous totals would be consider
ably Increased II 1t were possible to ascer-
tain the amount of money that has been
disbursed as private benevoience. by the
friendly societies and other charitable or
CARNATIONS during the last fifty years. The
Salvation Army alone has disbursed mil
lions Of dollars. and their system is much
more economical and effective than that
OF the public officials. They do not encour-
asserting as a fundamental principle of
benevolence that what Is worth having is
worth working for. and the Salvation Army
gives nothing away. Every recipient of It's
charity who is able to do manual labor Is
required to earn whatever assistance he
gets. This rule, of course. is not applied
to the sick and feeble, and aged who are
incapable of labor, but the ingenuity and
experience of the Salvation Army usually
find some light work that every old woman
and old man can do. Probably the Saliva
ton Army disburses annually an amount
equivalent to to 10 per cent of the official
disbursements. The Church of England
does a great deal outside of official chan
nels in the way of relief to the poor and
suffering, and all of the other denomina-
lions, especially the Catholics and Jews,
are exceedingly liberal in their philan-
thropy The Jews not only take care of the
members of their own race, but their bene
factions to public and private institutions
are always generous. The number of Jew
ish institutions for the needy and afflicted
largely out of proportion to those main
tained by other religious sects and benevo-
lent organizations.
In the official returns the expenditures or
none OF these private and religious chart
ties are included. not even the public hos
pitfalls. several of which are entirely sup
ported by private contributions. Last Sun
day. for example, was Hospital Sunday,
when a collection was taken up In every
church in Great Britain and the total con-
tributions amounted to more than mil
lion dollars. This an annual event of great
Importance and is advertised in the news
papers and by posters on the billboards. and
placards in public places everywhere. If
the whole truth were known; II all the
money expended by private individuals, by
churches. associations and benevolent or
CARNATIONS for the benefit of the poor and
the afflicted were added to the official dis
bursementS. / have no doubt that the total
r-NtiI1 ha fa6 nd tIeyhf tn
thing like $40 100000 year in England
alone.
The consequence of this excessive gener-
osity is a matter of concern to those who
are giving serious study to the subject
and are watching Its effect upon the work.
ing classes.