essays-1-第23节
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ity of directing the whole from one center。
As the inspection of the Poor；the care of them when they are sick；the distribution of the sums granted in alms for their support；the furnishing them with clothes；and the collection of the voluntary subscriptions of the inhabitants；will be performed by the commissaries of the districts； and their assistants；and as all the details relative to giving employment to the Poor； and feeding them； may be managed by particular subordinate committees； appointed for those purposes； the current business of the supreme committee will amount to little more than the exercise of a general superintendance。
This committee； it is true； must determine upon all demands from the Poor who apply for assistance； but as every such demand will be accompanied with the most particular account of the circumstances of the petitioner； and the nature and amount of assistance necessary to his relief； certified by the commissary of the district in which the petitioner resides；and also by the parochial committee； where such are established；the matter will be so prepared and digested； that the members of the supreme committee will have very little trouble to decide on the merits of the case； and the assistance to be granted。
This assistance will consistin a certain sum to be given WEEKLY in alms to the petitioner； by the commissary of the district； out of the funds of the Institution；in an allowance of bread only；in a present of certain articles of clothing； which will be specified；or； perhaps； merely in an order for being furnished with wood； clothing； or fuel； from the public kitchens or magazines of the Establishment； AT THE PRIME COST of those articles； AS AN ASSISTANCE to the petitioner； and to prevent the NECESSITY OF HIS BECOMING A BURTHEN ON THE PUBLIC。
The manner last mentioned of assisting the Poor；that of furnishing them with the necessaries of life at lower prices than those at which they are sold in the public markets； is a matter of such importance； that I shall take occasion to treat of it more fully hereafter。
With respect to the petitions presented to the committee； whatever be the assistance demanded； the petition received ought to be accompanied by a duplicate； to the end that； the decision of the committee being entered upon the duplicate； as well as upon the original； and the duplicate sent back to the commissary of the district； the business may be finished with the least trouble possible； and even without the necessary of any more formal order relative to the matter being given by the committee。
I have already mentioned the great utility of PRINTED FORMS； for petitions； returns； etc。 in carrying on the business of an Establishment for the Poor； and I would again most earnestly recommend the general use of them。 Those who have not had experience in such matters； can have no idea how much they contribute to preserve order； and facilitate and expedite business。 To the general introduction of them in the management of the affairs of the Institution for the Poor at Munich； I attribute； more than to any thing else； the perfect order which has continued to reign throughout every part of that extensive Establishment； from its first existence to the present moment。
In carrying on the business of that Establishment； printed forms or blanks are used； not only for petitions；returns；lists of the Poor； descriptions of the Poor；lists of the inhabitants； lists of subscribers to the support of the Poor；orders upon the banker or treasurer of the Institution；but also for the reports of the monthly collections made by the commissaries of districts；the accounts sent in by the commissaries； of the extraordinary expences incurred in affording assistance to those who stand in need of immediate relief；the banker's receipts； and even the books in which are kept the accounts of the receipts and expenditures of the Establishment。
In regard to the proper forms for these blanks； as they must depend； in a great measure； upon local circumstances； no general directions can be given； other than； in all cases； the shortest forms that can be drawn up； consistent with perspicuity； are recommended； and that the subject…matter of each particular or single return； may be so disposed as to be easily transferred to such general tables； or general accounts； as the nature of the return and other circumstances may require。 Care should likewise be taken to make them of such a form； SHAPE and dimension； that they may be regularly folded up； and docketed； in order to their being preserved among the public records of the Institution。
CHAPTER。 IV。
Of the Necessity of effectual Measures for introducing a Spirit of Industry among the Poor in forming an Establishment for their Relief and Support。 Of the Means which may be used for that Purpose； and for setting on foot a Scheme for forming an Establishment for feeding the Poor。
An object of the very first importance in forming an Establishment for the relief and support of the Poor； is to take effectual measures for introducing a spirit of industry among them； for it is most certain； that all sums of money； or other assistance； given to the Poor in alms； which do not tend to make them industrious； never can fail to have a contrary tendency； and to operate as an encouragement to idleness and immorality。
And as the merit of an action is to be determined by the good it produces； the charity of a nation ought not to be estimated by the millions which are paid in Poor's taxes； but by the pains which are taken to see that the sums raised are properly applied。
As the providing useful employment for the Poor； and rendering them industrious； is； and ever has been； a great DESIDERATUM in political economy； it may be proper to enlarge a little here； upon that interesting subject。
The great mistake committed in most of the attempts which have been made to introduce a spirit of industry； where habits of idleness have prevailed； has been the too frequent and improper use of coercive measures； by which the persons to be reclaimed have commonly been offended and thoroughly disgusted at the very out…set。Force will not do it。Address； not force； must be used on those occasions。
The children in the house of industry at Munich； who； being placed upon elevated seats round the halls where other children worked； were made to be idle spectators of that amusing scene； cried most bitterly when their request to be permitted to descend from their places； and mix in that busy crowd； was refused；but they would； most probably； have cried still more； had they been taken abruptly from their play and FORCED to work。
〃Men are but children of a larger growth；〃 and those who undertake to direct them； ought ever to bear in mind that important truth。
That impatience of control； and jealousy and obstinate perseverance in maintaining the rights of personal liberty and independence； which so strongly mark the human character in all the stages of life； must be managed with great caution and address； by those who are desirous of doing good；or； indeed； of doing any thing effectually with mankind。
It has often been said； that the Poor are vicious and profligate； and that THEREFORE nothing but force will answer to make them obedient； and keep them in order；but； I should say； that BECAUSE the Poor are vicious and profligate； it is so much the more necessary to avoid the appearance of force in the management of them； to prevent their becoming rebellious and incorrigible。
Those who are employed to take up and tame the wild horses belonging to the Elector Palatine； which are bred in the forest near Dusseldorf； never use force in reclaiming that noble animal； and making him docile and obedient。 They begin with making a great circuit； in order to approach him； and rather decoy than force him into the situation in which they wish to bring him； and ever afterwards treat him with the greatest kindness； it having been found by experience； that ill…usage seldom fails to make him 〃a man…hater；〃 untameable； and incorrigibly vicious。It may； perhaps； be thought fanciful and trifling； but the fact really is； that an attention to the means used by these people to gain the confidence of those animals； and teach them to like their keepers； their stables； and their mangers； suggested to me many ideas which I afterwards put in execution with great success； in reclaiming those abandoned and ferocious animals in human shape； which I undertook to tame and render gentle and docile。
It is however necessary in every attempt to introduce a spirit of order and industry among the idle and profligate； not merely to avoid all harsh and offensive treatment； which； as has already been observed； could only serve to irritate them and render them still more vicious and obstinate； but it is also indispensably necessary to do every thing that can be devised to encourage and reward every symptom of reformation。
It will likewise be necessary sometimes to punish the obstinate； but recourse should never be had to punishments till GOOD USAGE has first been fairly tried and found to be ineffectual。 The delinquent must be made to see that he has deserved the punishment； and when it is inflicted； care should be taken to
