There are no accurate statistics of paupers in the United States. The census of 1890 gave the number of inmates of almshouses as 73.045. lint this is generally conceded to he at least 10.000 short of the actual number. To these Indoor poor' would have to he added the much larger number of persons receiving help \vim are not in institutions, and the insane and other defeetives who are eared for in public institutions, not to mention those supported by private associations.
No attempt has been made to give any com parative statistics of the extent of pauperism in the different countries. The conditions of relief are so diverse. and the census of paupers is so inadequate, that comparative statements are mis leading.
Pauperism has no panacea. With every step in human progress a certain proportion of the population. discouraged or overwhelmed by mis fortune through the breaking up of old indus trial relations when new ones are established, falls behind in the race. Therefore each age and each nation must attack anew the problem of preventing all inevitable destitution from be coming a hopeless pauperism. Certain funda mental principles. however, have been well estab lished by experience, and may thus be sum marized : (1) Indiscriminate almsgiving. without care ful investigation of the situation and needs of the applicant, is a fruitful cause of pauperism instead of a remedy. (2) To remove the cause and to bring the individual to self-support. if possible.-must lie the aim of all efforts: and 131 to accomplish this doles are not sufficient, but carefully worked out plans must be adopted and carried through. (4) This necessitates an en during organization of experts (either private or public) to superintend and execute the chose? methods. If success is to be obtained,
the various ch:o•ities must work in coilperation with this central body to prevent imposture and duplication of efforts. (see CHARITY ORGANIZA TION SocirrY.) (5) The assistance given must be sufficient. but not enough to tempt the self supporting workingman to surrender his inde ix•ndence. (6) In the words of Malthus: "It is in the highest degree important to the general happiness of the poor that no man shall look to charity as a fund neon which he may confidently depend." (7) Beggars should be put in institu tions with labor• adapted to their abilities. (S) Constructive efforts, such as the creation of fam ily pride, assistance in securing work, removal of children from demoralizing surroundings, pay far better than any palliative measures. (9) The questions as to the sort of relief. in money or in kind; the agency. whether private or• public; the place, whether at home or in institutions. arc matters to be determined by local antecedents and local conditions. (10) For the physically or mentally feeble there must be furnished good care under decent surroumlings—that which con stitutes good care naturally varying from place to place and time to time. (11) It is nized as desirable, no matter what system of re lief prevails. that there should be voluntary, unpaid eoiiperators to lessen the danger• of offi cial ism.
BinuounAmiv. The books and articles treat ing of pauperism are almost numberless. Refer ence is made only to a few of the more important sources.