New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-03-05
SOCIAL REFORM
English Poor Lazc-Belattd IT.
tempts to ReUOlutiOnize 1t.

! Banking act, Free Trade and the Poor Law. Tie
conservatism OF the bankers has protected ST.
Robert Peers revised charter for the Bank %
England against assault but one Of the main
political parties is committed against Cob.
denism. and highly influential commission has
condemned the Poor law and workhOuse system
after an exhaustive investigation. The struggle
over tariff reform is likely 10 prove protracsed
and bitter, and the issue Of general election
based upon it cannot be forecast with safety al
though the trend of the bv-eIectOns is heavily
against Free Trade. The Poor law is denounced
with equal severity on both sides Of the COM
mons A commission appointed by the Balfou-
administration has drawn up Indictment
against it, which utterly discredits IL and forces
the Liberal government to take MP the reorssn- +.
ization Of the system with little delay as pos
sible There are two reports one more drastic
and constructive than tine other. bat there Is
substantial agreement on proposals for revolu-
tionizing the existing system. The landmark ot
social reform which opened the way for Frss
Trade is lii ,ly To disappear in the course OF \
few years. let the struggle over tariff reform
end as it may.
Among the proposals favored by all the COM
missioners are the abolition of boards Of guar
dams. the substitution of county and borough
councils for them. the discontinuance Of work.
houses. the establishment Of specialized institu-
tons for the sick. the aged. the young and the
mentally feeble; the coordination Of public as
sstance and private charity. the creation Of a
national system Of labor exchanges and the
founding of colonies for the voorhees, and OF de-
tentiOn colonies for "work-shys" and Migrants
Even the familiar term Poor law il blackiisted
on account of disagreeabe associations and
public assistance is recommended as a substi-
tute for it. There are differences Of method in
the individualist outlook of Lord George Hauail-
ton and the majority and in the coHectivism OF
Mrs Sidney Webb and her three associates. who
have signed the remarkably lucid minority re-
port; but neither section supports the socialist
demand for work as human right and both
reports condemn public relief works as demoral-
izing- The impress of German experience and
organization is shown in each report England
is described hopelessly behind the times in
the treatment Of pauperism by inept processes
OF isolation. when curative and restorative
measures arc needed for what may he scien-
tihcally regarded q disease. The time usS
When the English Poor Law was considered a
model system for progressive countries II i
now condemned by eighteen commissioners a,
out Of touch with the requirements OF social re-
form and modern conditions. and virtually Oh
soiete, although artifcialIy kept in operation by
inefficient boards Of guardians
Extracts from these voIuminous reno-ts ,bf>h
with the evidence. make a library Of t1-entv-Avs
volumes, are appearing IN the press and ,hs
general subject is discussed from many points
or view Two conclusions are drawn with equal
emphasis by journals OF opposite political con-
victions- One is the necessity for bringing AL
recipients OF public relief under close s1,r,sr-
vision. This implies the substitution Of aci4n-
tihc methods for thoughtsss benevolence
whereas the guardians have been giving away
money without adequate investigation or
thought. and encouraging rather than reprsssine
ffa, r~{~%-
known in Germany the EIberfed system, are
to he introduced for educational and remedial
effect. There are three principles in these SCI
enthc methods. One is that restitution shall be
accurately ascertained by inspection and vista
ton; another is that relief shall be restricted to
the necessaries Of life. and the third is the
obligation Of the able bodied pauper to do work
Of some sort in return for the help received
The Elberfeld system discriminates sharply be-
tween those unable to work and those who are
physically equal to It. That has not been done
I'm the recent administration OF the English
Poor Law. There has been spendthrift. public
charity without scrutiny OF individual cases.
Dependence upon local authorities has been en-
couraged Self-help and independence have not
been promoted.
Another and equally important conclusion
reached by nearly all commentators upon these
reports points TO the urgent need for rigorous
sheep. This is brought about in Germany by
the establishment Of penal colonies and work
houses. where lazy and incorrigibIe Migrants
and beggars are detained and compelled 10 work
Anybody who refuses employment or neglects
suitable opportunities for earning a living -
liable to arrest and punishment. The laws are
enforced so vigorously that begging and va
srancy have disappeared in Germany In Eng
land there has been happy go-Iucky. senselsss
method of placing the honest work seeker on a
level with ncorrigible tramps and fdIzrs and
thereby degrading him. The general effect 81
lax administration has been an increase OF men,
delaney and vag-ancy- The streets of London
are infested with besgars and loafers who make
effort find work and to support them
selves. and even the match sellers and shoe lace
pedlers clamor for help after nightfaIL In the
country roads in English shires. where Migrants
were once unknown. beggars and tramps are to
be met mile after mile; and they are. with few
exceptions. able bodied men. who have ceased
to be ashamed to wayIay strangers and TO CON-
plain because the state owes them living and
does not give them food and lodging The syilE
of thoughtless administration OF laws which are
not adapted to existing social conditions in Eng
land are so apparent that decisive action on
the lines OF these wholesome and sakacious
ports cannot long be deferred. whichever party
is in power.
Every nation has it's own social problems and
its distinctive traditions for working them out.
England was convinced seventy years ago that
it had made close approach TO the r1illen-
MUM in establishing Free Trade. the Poor Law
and the Banking act and its faith in the
preme efficacy OF these reform measures was not
impaired decade after decade. 1t has not been
until recently that the infalibiity OF Peel. Cob
den, Ricardo, Mill, Adam Smith and Bssehot