essays-1-第20节
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r； as well those who make a profession of begging； as other who do not； might be usefully employed in various kinds of labour； and supposing them； one with another； to be capable of earning ONLY HALF as much as is necessary to their subsistence； this would reduce the present expence to the Public for their maintenance at least one half； and this half might be reduced still much lower； by a proper attention to order and economy in providing for their subsistence。
Were the inhabitants of a large town where mendicity is prevalent； to subscribe only half the sums annually； which are extorted from them by beggars； I am confident it would be quite sufficient； with a proper arrangement； for the comfortable support of the Poor of all denominations。
Not only those who were formerly common street…beggars； but all others； without exception； who receive alms； in the city of Munich and its suburbs； amounting at this time to more than 1800 persons； are supported almost entirely by voluntary subscriptions from the inhabitants； and I have been assured by numbers of the most opulent and respectable citizens； that the sums annually extorted from them formerly by beggars alone； exclusive of private charities； amounted to more than three times the sums now given by them to the support of the new institution。 I insist the more upon this point； as I know that the great expence which has been supposed to be indispensably necessary to carry into execution any scheme for effectually providing for the Poor； and putting an end to mendicity； has deterred many well…disposed persons from engaging in so useful an enterprise。 I have only to add my most earnest wishes； that what I have said and done； may remove every doubt； and re…animate the zeal of the Public； in a cause in which the dearest interests of humanity are so nearly concerned。
In almost every public undertaking； which is to be carried into effect by the united voluntary exertions of individuals； without the interference of government； there is a degree of awkwardness in bringing forward the business； which it is difficult to avoid； and which is frequently not a little embarrassing。 This will doubtless be felt by those who engage in forming and executing schemes for providing for the Poor by private subscription； they should not； however； suffer themselves to be discouraged by a difficulty which may so easily be surmounted。
In the introduction of every scheme for forming an Establishment for the Poor； whether it be proposed to defray the expense by voluntary subscriptions； or by a tax levied for the purpose； it will be proper for the authors or promoters of the measure to address the Public upon the subject； to inform them of the nature of the measures proposed； of their tendency to promote the public welfare； and to point out the various ways in which individuals may give their assistance to render the scheme successful。
There are few cities in Europe； I believe； in which the state of the Poor would justify such an address as that which was published at Munich upon taking up the beggars in that town； but something of the kind； with such alterations as local circumstances may require； I am persuaded； would in most cases produce good effects。 With regard to the assistance that might be be given by individuals to carry into effect a scheme for providing for the Poor； though measures for that purpose may； and ought to be so taken； that the Public would have little or no trouble in their execution； yet there are many things which individuals must be instructed cautiously to avoid； otherwise the enterprise will be extremely difficult； it not impracticable； and； above all things； they must be warned against giving alms to beggars。
Though nothing would be more unjust and tyrannical； than to prevent the generous and humane from contributing to the relief of the Poor and necessitous； yet； as giving alms to beggars tends so directly and so powerfully to encourage idleness and immorality； to discourage the industrious Poor； and perpetuate mendicity； with all its attendant evils； too much pains cannot be taken to guard the Public against a practice so fatal in its consequences to society。
All who are desirous of contributing to the relief of the Poor； should be invited to send their charitable donations to be distributed by those who； being at the head of a public Institution established for taking care of the Poor； must be supposed best acquainted with their wants。 Or； if individuals should prefer distributing their own charities； they ought at least to take the trouble to enquire after fit objects； and to apply their donations in such a manner as not to counteract the measures of a public and useful Establishment。
But； before I enter farther into these details； it will be necessary to determine the proper extent and limits of an Establishment for the Poor； and show how a town or city ought to be divided in districts； in order to facilitate the purposes of such an institution。
CHAPTER。 II。 Of the Extent of an Establishment for the Poor。 Of the Division of a Town or City into Districts。 Of the Manner of carrying on the Business of a public Establishment for the Poor。 Of the Necessity of numbering all the Houses in a Town where an Establishment for the Poor is formed。
However large a city may be； in which an Establishment for the Poor is to be formed； I am clearly of opinion； that there should be but ONE ESTABLISHMENT；with ONE committee for the general management of all its affairs；and ONE treasurer。 This unity appears essentially necessary； not only because； when all the parts tend to one common centre； and act in union to the same end； under one direction； they are less liable to be impeded in their operations； or disordered by collision；but also on account of THE VERY UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH； as well as of misery and poverty； in the different districts of the same town。 Some parishes in great cities have comparatively few Poor； while others； perhaps less opulent； are overburthened with them； and there seems to be no good reason why a house…keeper in any town should be called upon to pay more or less for the support of the Poor； because he happens to live on one side of a street or the other。 Added to this； there are certain districts in most great towns where poverty and misery seem to have fixed their head…quarters； and where it would be IMPOSSIBLE for the inhabitants to support the expence of maintaining their Poor。 Where that is the case； as measures for preventing mendicity in every town must be general； in order to their being successful； the enterprise； FROM THAT CIRCUMSTANCE ALONE； would be rendered impracticable； were the assistance of the more opulent districts to be refused。
There is a district； for instance； belonging to Munich； （the Au；） a very large parish； which may be called the St。 Giles's of that city； where the alms annually received are TWENTY TIMES as much as the whole district contributes to the funds of the public Institution for the Poor。The inhabitants of the other parishes； however； have never considered it a hardship to them； that the Poor of the Au should be admitted to share the public bounty； in common with the Poor of the other parishes。
Every town must be divided； according to its extent； into a greater or less number of districts； or subdivisions； and each of these must have a committee of inspection； or rather a commissary； with assistants； who must be entrusted with the superintendance and management of all affairs relative to the relief and support of the Poor within its limits。
In very large cities； as the details of a general Establishment for the Poor would be very numerous and extensive； it would probably facilitate the management of the affairs of the Establishment； if； beside the smallest subdivisions or districts； there could be formed other larger divisions； composed of a certain number of districts； and put under the direction of particular committees。
The most natural； and perhaps the most convenient method of dividing a large city or town； for the purpose of introducing a general Establishment for the Poor； would be； to form of the parishes the primary divisions； and to divide each parish into so many subdivisions； or districts； as that each district may consist of from 3000 to 4000 inhabitants。 Though the immediate inspection and general superintendance of the affairs of each parish were to be left to its own particular committee； yet the supreme committee at the head of the general Institution should not only exercise a controlling power over the parochial committees； but these last should not be empowered to levy money upon the parishioners； by setting on foot voluntary subscriptions； or otherwise； or to dispose of any sums belonging to the general Institution； except in cases of urgent necessity；nor should they be permitted to introduce any new arrangements with respect to the management of the Poor； without the approbation and consent of the supreme committee： the most perfect uniformity in the mode of treating the Poor； and transacting all public business relative to the Institution； being indispensably necessary to secure success to the undertaking； and fix the Establishment upon a firm and dura
