cation in U.S., 88-93. New Encyc. of Social Reform, 425. 126. School Finances. The public interest taken in our Sources of schools is shown by the large sums expended annually, for revenue. the common schools cost more than $300,000,000 annually, about $3.50 for every person in the United States Boone, Eduand nearly $17 for each pupil enrolled in the schools. The aid given by Congress to the newer States has undoubtedly exerted a healthful influence in quickening this popular interest. Ever since 1802 Congress has given as the basis of an educational fund to each of the States formed out of the "public domain," i.e. the land directly controlled by Congress, one section of the thirty-six in each. township (see § 279), and since 1848, two sections. These school lands have been sold and the proceeds devoted to developing the schools in these States. By far the larger part of the school revenue is, however, obtained from regular taxation (§§ 149–152). Many States collect state school taxes and then distribute this sum to the counties or townships in proportion to the number of scholars in each who attend school regularly. In this way help is given to the poorer districts and to those which are most earnest in their school work. In most of the States, the taxes are purely local and are as large as each community thinks it needs and can afford. 127. The Problem. PUBLIC CHARITIES Annals There are in every community cer- Features of tain persons who are unable or unwilling to provide for the problem. themselves. Most of these have relatives who see that they are provided with a home and the necessaries of life. The Folks, H., in rest are a burden on society in general, and must be supported by private charity or at public expense. The first duties of the public are to separate them into classes according to their disability, to distinguish between the deserving and the unworthy, and to provide suitable help for those who may be entitled to receive it. Pol. Sci., 23 (1904), 268-280. Working out the problem. Devine, E. Am. Acad. Pol. Sci., 21 (1903), 343-362. Public These tasks constitute a problem of no mean proportions; for although we may determine easily what classes deserve aid and which require punishment, the separation of those who are worthy from those who are not is sometimes impossible. An impostor may remain long undetected and have become a social parasite, whereas funds may be withheld from needy families. There may also be very great difference of opinion about the best way of aiding any particular class of dependents. Especially is this the case with the most general problem of all the question of public, or private, charity. We do not question the justice of the doctrine that these unfortunates should be a public charge. Society is a unit, and we believe that society is under obligation to care for its poor and for those to whom nature has denied some facHenderson, ulty, just as a family is expected to provide for those of its Dependents, members who are unable to care for themselves. This does Defectives, not mean that most of the expenditures for charitable purposes should be made through government officials, for private organizations can often much more easily learn whether those applying for help are deserving. In fact, government now does little more than care for those dependents who live in charitable institutions. Delinquents, 40-51, 138150. Children's homes. Warner, Am. Charities, 220-228. 128. Care of Dependent Children. - Two classes to whom society owes the best possible care are those children who have no one to look after them, and the children who have some notable physical or mental defect. If private enterprise fails to provide suitable children's homes, public institutions must be constructed for the purpose of keeping Henderson, orphaned little ones out of the streets and away from evil Dependents, influences. This is felt to be a most necessary step in the Defectives, process of preventing crime, and consequently should be undertaken by the localities for their own safety, if not for the sake of the children themselves. Delinquents, 98-120. A second class of dependent children includes those afflicted with some physical defect those that are blind, dumb, and deaf, or dumb. If society owes the advantages of a free Schools for education to its normal children as the best safeguard of its the deaf, free institutions, surely the education of these unfortunates blind. is a duty rather than a form of charity, not to be neglected under any circumstances. Although these "defectives" Henderson, may not be prepared for a full measure of the activities Dependents, Defectives, of citizenship, this education opens to them many of the Delinopportunities and enjoyments of life, of which they would quents, otherwise be deprived by their infirmity. The equipment furnished, the methods used, and the instruction given in these schools are usually of a high character. 169-173. Public institutions for weak-minded children are even School for weakmore essential than those for physical defectives, because minded weak-minded children are so much more helpless and more children. apt to be public charges. Although society does not begrudge the care necessary for such unfortunates, it is seek- Henderson, ing to prevent the multiplication of those whose existence Dependents, can be only a burden to themselves and their fellows. The Delinexisting schools are maintained with an idea of training quents, these children to do well a few mechanical duties and of developing in them a stronger mentality. sane. Defectives, 174-182. Why insane persons are a public charge. Hamilton, A. McL., in 129. Care of the Insane. One class of dependents whose care is left to the government exclusively is that of the inOur government performs this task, not only because it is a necessary charity, but, as many insane people are dangerous, for the sake of protecting the public. No person is, however, placed under the control of government officials until he has been examined and declared to be of unsound mind. Otherwise it would be possible for people that wished to be relieved of some eccentric relative who was perfectly sane, to have the latter placed under restraint. Public care of the insane varies greatly from State to of the State. (1) Many of the States compel each locality to look after its own, insane persons being left in poorhouses Warner, Am. where they are systematically neglected or even maltreated. (2) In other States, the most violent patients are sent to 241-249. Treatment insane. Charities, Chap. XI. Morey, New York, Delin state institutions, the others being placed in local asylums. (3) A few States care for all persons of unsound mind in state hospitals, which are worthy of the name, for insanity is regarded as a disease, and the patients are treated not as Henderson, criminals to be punished, but as mental invalids to be Dependents, Defectives, cured. New York well represents modern methods in its care of its insane, several millions of dollars being spent each year for the benefit of the inmates of its eleven state hospitals. It is in advance of most other States not alone in its provision for hospitals under state rather than local supervision, but in its segregation of all insane persons accused of crime in two separate institutions controlled by the prison authorities of the State. quents, 183-194. Chance, B., in Outlook, 78 (1904), 1031-1038. Poorhouses and poor farms. 130. Care of the Poor.- Very much the largest number of those dependent on the public for charity become public charges because of their poverty. The character of the Henderson, help given to the poor depends on the degree of their Dependents, need. If they are not only destitute, but also aged or inDefectives, firm and without relatives to whom they may look for sup Delinquents, 71-82. Warner, New Encyc. of Social Reform, 915-917. port, they must be placed in public institutions. Few indeed are the localities that have no poorhouse, the care of these classes being left entirely with the local governments. In the northeastern part of the United States it is usually the towns which care for the poor, but in other parts of the country the counties must assume this duty.. In a few poorhouses, those capable of working. are compelled to contribute something toward their own support. Often poor farms are maintained, which are managed without help from outside, so that the institution is largely selfsupporting. In many of these institutions the practical management is seriously defective, and often unpardonably brutal. This is especially the case where the aged, the young, the blind, the insane, the feeble-minded, and the sick are herded together. Outdoor Relief is often granted by the overseers of the poor to those not destitute but needy. The chief danger of |