Norwich bulletin., 1910-01-19


 This amount would have been sew eraI thousand dollars larger were It not for the fact that the W. W Back us hospital is an endowed institution of the town. Also the United Work CTS spend a large sum in suppiemehtal aid.
 The sum of s24.0s4.so was contrib uted to the outside poor or NofMicH and 400 persons were aided.
 Compare this with the amount ex- pended by the city of New Haven Tor outside poor $12,66s.46. and the nun ber of persons aided, 4,336. DlVlulhs the amount expended by the total pop ulation we find the per capita sum Was g cents in New Haven as against sO cent sin Norwich. The results in New Haven were attained solely through the activities of the Taxpayers asso- citation, which secured Legislative lh- vestigation and revision of the char ter of New Haven, which now proVines for a department of charities and cor rection. As a result In 1900 New ha- ven, with a population of 1os,oo0, was expending about $6,000 a year for out side poor. whereas in 1877 with pop ulation of 6O,00O or less, the expense was S36,479. In the meantime the poor were cared for and poverty had ann finished.
 What is true of New Haven is also true of other cities of the state where improved city government by commis- sion has been inaugurated. The super intendent of charities of New Britain reports that after three years opera tion of a board of public charities III that city it is doubtful if anyone would be willing to return to the old select mems regime. In the case of these cities as well as Hartford the benents of the commission form of administer- ing public monies came as the result of legislative action in consolidating the city and town governments.
 Statistics are at hand from other For instance, Denver, with popula ? tion of 175,000, pays only $19,14l.27 for outside poor, and 3,551 persons are aided.
 The board of charity commissioners in Hartford consists of six electors, not more than three of whom shall be of the same political party. They are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the court of common council.
 The rules for outdoor relief call for the maintenance of a storeroom where in shall be kept for distribution the following articles: Beans, coffee, cod fish, flour, oatmeal. pork, potatoes, rice, sugar, tea and soap.
 There is an investigator who inyestl- gates every application for relief. No permanent aid outside the aims house can be given to any persons ex- cept in the case of a person having in under 14 years of age.
 No money can be given to the poor nor any orders be given which may be converted into money.
 The charity commission of New Britain is chosen in the same manner as in Hartford. with similar powers that were formerly vested in the ee- lectmen. and has charge of all pub lie charities in the city. The board Of charities of New Haven is composed of three members. All members are without pay except the superintendent.
 The plan of issuing supplies from a storehouSe has worked well in Dan- bury. In 1906 the amount expended for out of door relief was $6,500. The population of the town was 25,000 Bridgeport follows the same plan.
 These few facts are presented at this time when increasing public in- terest is being shown in municipal matters. It is hoped that discussions of this and other questions of admin istration of civic affairs may take Norwich Schools.
 Two-thirds of the population of the state now have their children in schools under town management. The legisia- ture of 1909 passed an act consolidating ! the district schools of the state under town management without requiring in case of towns in which there was a 1 city or incorporated school district | The town of Norwich in 1909 by a small majority voted not to accept the | provisions of this act, lack of interest in the matter resulting in only a small number of votes being cast.
 Norwich has the honor of being ont of the few cities in the United States (Continued on Page S.yen.)