The National Republican And Ohio Political Register

From the Salem Observer.

Pauper Establishments.—In a former paper we gave an extract from the report of the Philadelphia committee, who were appointed to examine some of the principal pauper establishments in the United States. We have since been furnished by the committee with a copy of their report and are enabled to exhibit a comparative view of all the establishments which they visited in their tour. The first in order was the Baltimore alms house.

This belongs to the city and county, and is under the care of seven trustees, four in the city annually appointed by the mayor and council, and three residents of the county appointed by the governor and council. They meet weekly and are allowed two dollars per day for their services.

The house is situated on a farm of more than 500 acres. It consists of a centre building and wings, capable of accommodating 800 or 900 paupers. It contains an infirmary, a lying-in hospital, work house for the employment of vagrants, an asylum for destitute children, a lunatic hospital, and a medical and chirurgical school. The officers of the establishment are, a master who is paid $600 per annum, a matron $200, a physician $400, who is allowed students who pay him $200 each, a superintendent of the farm $400—clerk to the steward, schoolmaster, nurses and assistant cooks, and those not receiving salary are paupers. An account is opened with every male over 15 years of age, and every female over 12, who are credited with any work done towards their maintenance, the charge of which is not to exceed 50 cents per day. The average number in the house is about 400. Of the whole number admitted more than three-fourths were reduced to pauperism by intemperance! The proportion of foreigners exceeded one third. The agricultural and manufactured productions of the farm for the year amounting to $7,166 67. The only out-door relief of any kind that is granted, is to the quarterly pensioners, which amounted last year to $2,491 75. Neither medical attendance, medicine, fuel, provisions, nor clothing is allowed to out door poor. The amount expended on account of the poor of the city, including every expense, except the interest of the purchase money of the farm, averages about $18,000. The population of Baltimore exceeds 70,000.

New York.—The next which they visited, was the almshouse in N. York, distant from the city about two and a half miles. It is within an enclosure of 26 acres, surrounded by a stone wall. It is 325 feet long, and consists of a centre with the wings. The centre building is 4 stories high including the basement, the wings three stories. The inmates are lodged in 42 rooms, each about 22 by 45 feet. There are from 20 to 24 persons in each room, and are classed according to sex, nation, and habits.—The different wards are under inspection of persons selected from the most exemplary of the paupers. The house is warmed by the funnels of stoves in the basement story. By the use of anthracite coal, about $3000 was saved last year. The average number of paupers in the house is 1949, of whom 425 are children. About 150 are employed in picking wool, spinning, gardening, &c. There is attached to the establishment a farm of 100 acres, which is at present unproductive. There are within the enclosure, besides this building, a penitentiary, an hospital for the sick and insane, containing about 260 patients: a large building for the manufacturers, in the upper story of which is a school room, where are taught about 258 children. The committee saw specimens of writing, which were of superior elegance. There are two detached buildings, where the children are kept separate from the paupers. There is another building used as a pest house.—The officers of the institution are a superintendent, whose salary is $1600, three stewards $500 each, one matron $200, superintendent of work shops $250, physician $1,500, steward of hospital $500, matron of same $200, clerk of commissioners $800, deputy clerk $450, visiter $600. The expenses of the institution are about $58,500. The relief out doors, last year, was distributed among 1500 families.—Part of it was eight thousand dollars in cash. The relief is either in money, wood, or provisions. The whole expenses of the poor establishment are $72,190. The district contains 175,000 inhabitants.

Providence, R. I.—In Providence, the whole of the concerns of the poor is directed by one overseer, who has a salary of $700, and a keeper of the almshouse, salary $150. The inmates of the house are boarded by the keeper for $1 25 per head, children half price.—Out of door relief is given in wood and money. No labor has been introduced except the picking of oakum. One physician with a salary of $75 per annum, is employed for the paupers. The expense of the poor last year $7,500, population of the town 16,000. A new poor house has recently been erected, which is expected to improve the system. The committee did not visit Newport but they were informed, that the almshouse there was on an island of about 90 acres. The paupers about 70 in number, are supported at an expense of about $5000.—Out of door relief is entirely abolished.

Boston.—The almshouse is about two miles from the city, and on a farm of 60 acres. The buildings are of stone, 220 feet long by 40 deep, four stories high.—The rooms are 15 by 18, and contain from 3 to 5 persons. On the first floor are apartments used as hospitals. There is a detached building for the blacks, and another for the insane. The average number in the house annually is about 450.—The officers of this institution are nine directors, a superintendent and family who receive $1,000, an assistant $600, clerk $161, chaplain and schoolmaster $167 53, physician $350, schoolmistress and domestics $341, teamster $200. The poor district contains a population of 60,000 persons. The actual burthen of their support, deducting payment for state paupers, $20,892. The out door relief is wood, provisions and some money. Not more than half a cord of wood is allowed during the winter.

Hartford.—The almshouse is on a farm of about 26 acres. Part of the building is used as a house of correction. The house is under the government of two of the selectmen, a superintendent and his family, who have a salary of $365. The number of paupers about 50, nine or ten of whom are employed in farming; the expense including interest of purchase money of the farm, is, $1,407. There is a physician who takes care of the poor and has a salary of $50. The out door relief is in wood and physic alone. Foreign paupers are supported by an individual on a contract with government, at an expense of $2,500 per annum. The average expense of supporting the poor in the house is 49 cents weekly. Population of Hartford is about 7000 persons.

In concluding their report, the committee remark, that every system they have examined is superior to their own. They consider the manner in which their out-door relief is furnished, as the most grievous part of their system. They recommend a radical reform in this respect, being satisfied that their outdoor relief, which costs more than forty-seven thousand dollars, is the most expensive and wasteful mode of supporting the poor. They ascertained during their tour, that from three-fourths to nine-tenths of the paupers were reduced by intemperance. The expense in Philadelphia, in cases of bastardy, excited surprise, say the committee, in every place which they visited. In New York the cases of this kind are between 80 and 90. Boston 9 and 10. Salem 2 or 3. Baltimore none. Philadelphia 269!! The committee were much pleased with the house of refuge in New York. They recommend the establishment of an asylum for the intemperate, the directors of which should be authorized to arrest and imprison every person guilty of this vice.