Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-01-09
RABBI FRISCH SAYS NEW COM. MISSION. SHOULD SHOW ITS
 HUMANITARIAN SIDE.
MAKES SUGGESTIONS
Reviews The Unfortunate Charitable System in Arkansas-Has Made
 Investigation.

Editor of the Graphic:
 read with interest the news item and editorial in yesterdays Graphic i relating to the proposed sale of the i Poor House and the appointment of commission to purchase a new i site and erect new plant designed more for vegetable, stock and poul- try raising purposes. The main mo- [ tive of the change is, as gather from the article, economy.
 This is matter that has other than mere business aspects and should be treated with caution and deliberation. The humanitarian con- siderations involved require diligent study of the entire almshouse prob- lem. When one examines the sub ject of almshouses at close range. he discovers, to his surprise that it is a nysided one calling for ex- pert knowledge and sociological out look. I trust that the new con- mission, whose competency in busi- ness affairs is above question. will not neglect those phases of the question.
 The present Poor House is indeed Inadequate in accommodation, equip n1ent, separation Of different classes of inmates, sanitary and batiling :a- cilities and in other important di- rections. A better arranged and better equipped institution is need ed but whether the kind of institn ton proposed would be the most de- sirable l, for one, am not ready to say without some investigation and reflection.
 To learn just what kind of plant ought to replace the present slms- house, one must make a study o1 the character of the inmates housed there. About three years ago when I had occasion to investigate our almshouse, I found that there were but 12 permanent inmates there that year, though 9S more had received temporary care. The average num- Der of permanent cases during the years between 1900 and 1909, inclus- i've, was P. Most of the temporary cascs consist of tramps who come to recuper.J.a there from exposure from injuries sustained in riding freight ears, etc, or of inebriates or of pros titutes, who use the almshouse as refuge when broken in health and penniless. It is during the winter that these birds of passage flock to the almshouses. But lhat is the very time when gardening, perhaps the only kind of outdoor work that will benefit them and at the same time yield a profit to the county, cannot be. done. Some light indoor work would probably be more adapted for these people. However, they nesd not figure much in the scheme of oc- equations planned for tn new aims house since most of them run away as soon as they get ready. If they should be allowed to take care of the poultry and eggs. many chicken and its speeches. offspring would disappear mysteriously every day. or rather. every night. The per manent residents at the almshouse are but few yet they are so lncapaci- uated for the most part and so unlike in the nature of their misfortunes as to make it doubtful whether they can do any work ax all with pecuni- ary profit to the county. The alm- house is still unfortunately used as the dumping ground of all our ab- normalities when 1t should be only a refuge for the worthy poor. the superannuated and the inflrun, and possibly also of unobjectionabR chronic sick. As 1t is. we put the insane there, our state institu' ion for this class being overcrowded. The feeble-minded and the epileptic, each group of which is segregated and received separate kreatment in the advanced counties in New York. Massachusetts, Indiana and other progressive states. must be provided for in the almshouse i'm Arkansas. The blind and the deaf mutes who deserve and elsewhere enjoy spe- cial attention in institutions adapted to their defects. are also to our shame thrust in our poorhouses. h. digent consumptives who should re- ceive extra care in sanatoriams for that purpose are, again because of the overcrowding of our state insti- tutions, forced to seek refuge In our poor houses. And. im complete disregard of the comfort end pride Of tnne respectable clements in the aims .o u,o uua rtor thre many ClaSSSS