Putnam patriot., 1909-07-30
Poverty and Crime Costly Burdens on
 the State.

zation for the years ending -fpteutitf ai. l907 and lss1s. Perhaps bot lev are aware of the enormous sum the tax payer k required to pay io support the helpless poof, tbe insane and im9eeiie and the criminals. There are - pub- lie institutions required io maintain these various classes. The Total cost oi which was-
 In I905. sss2. .d9t l903, s978. s31
 For buildings etc.
 In Igg7, si0s,g5 I11s, e5aafs9s
 Grand total of expense.
 In Igo7, sg9l ,0ls laas, II ,84I.l33
 Zach of the classes show large in- crease in number yearly, IA well as the increase in expense during the last siA years, lar beyond the increase oi poph- lation.
 Besides what the State contributes, the National Government paid s49, ,tb tn 1908 for the snPpost of the Soldiers Home.
 But that Is not all the amount that k required to support the indigent oi all classes in this State. There are be. sides 84 organizations maintained by public voluntary contributions, and exacied from relatives and friends of part ef those kept in these private In sliluiions. s>o that we may safely say the expense of caring for the helpless and criminal beings of The Stale k full double what the State alone pays. That Is, altogether, the amount paid oat for this purpose must haze been about 2,700.p .p01,
 if would require theiwaees ot i.i92 men earning si4e year to support the indlgent and criminal classes oi the state-an enormous drain on the Indus trial people of the State.
 The Report says" II were a consnm- nation deyoutly to he wished fl groups of towns in Connecticut could unite in the establishment and maintenance of district almshouse. on the cottage plan like the very successful cottage homes for the poor in England, in which The various classes of inmates could occupy separate houses and receive the kind of treatment and diet best fitted for their needs.'
 Men of large and sound judgment and long experience and careful study of the subject, declare nit were con summation dexeutly to be wished, v that their suggestion should be carried into effect. Why is 1t no tattended to by the Legislature at oneeY Every inlelli- gent person in pulnam--and in the State, for that matter-will sas, on reading the suggestion of the Board oi Charities, "certainly, il ought 10 be adopted ' Why.is il nol' simply be cause each one does nothing more than to privately assent Ia it. Suppose he could, at the same moment, touch n button that would, convey his decision to every citizen then all would be aroused to their duty, and it would be carried into effect. Isn't that simple way to secure an improvement to save expense and confer \ great benefit on a dependent class for whose welfare eve " citizen Is morally responsibleF
 At present, the easiest and quickest way to give individual assent Ia any question or movement, to arouse the entire community, Is through an organ ixation for that purpose. We have such an organization in the Business Men : Association, mol alone of this city, but of all the cities in the State. Through them ali such valuable suggestions can be carried into effect at once. While without such concerted action it may take twenty years under tho old plan io secure what all intelligent people de sire ie have carried into effect al once,
 Another Improvement is suggested in the Report, that of having uniform. il, of furnishing statistics, ot receipts, expenses, Sc., issued by the seleetmeu and tfeasurefs oi the It's towns. The Board says: "it k unfortunate that in tanee more uniform and detailed elas' sificaiion is not adopted, and II K there fore recommended that some simple but uniform statements be given in the annual reports, showing the mel eosl and the number ot persons supported or assisted under the several forms o poor.ellef
 This recommendation may be attend ed 10, but not likely, and the membe n of the Legislature are unwilling [, adopt new systems that may be dis agreeable 10 the officials oi their town and they prefer wrong system 10 con unue indefinitely unless public inter est Is widely aroused To compel then to act in the interest of the State. Ii Governor Is elected who insists upof reforms To correct abuses like the shov, character, the politicians. by their con troi of party machinery, begin war or him To gel him out of the way, as the, dld Governor Woodruff, and they ,rie, to do in the case of Governor Hughes o New York Stste--and failed. How Because he had the courage and ahili " to go before the people and fight th, politisns for trying 10 defeat the wishe, of the people, for their own selfish inte rests, The people are always ready ts do right in regard to measures for th, public good II they are enlightened hu N