PROBLEM FOR THE BRITISH TAX-PAYERS 



73 



Misplaced Charity 



In private life the common experience is, the moment you 

 establish a reputation for philanthropy, you are " got at " by 

 men and women of all sorts and conditions, and, despite every 

 possible precaution, you arc deceived in hundreds of cases. 

 There is a veritable host of people, of both sexes, always on the 

 look-out for a " soft job," and this is certain, that so long as 

 widespread, misplaced State and private philanthropy exist, so 

 long will this array of loafers, tramps, and ne'er-do-weels, this 

 human scum, that battens on the poor-rates like leeches, and 

 waxes fat on the silly credulity of the charitably disposed, grow 

 and multiply. 



There is no getting away from this fact, and it applies 

 equally to all charities, whether private, public, or State. 



Before we finally decide what we, as tax-payers, are to do in 

 this matter, let us see if our millions have really done any good 

 to the cause to which we have so liberally contributed for the 

 last fifty years or niore ; and as this thing, like everything else 

 in life, should be measured hy results, let us apply that infallible 

 standard to it. 



Enormous Pauper Taxation 



Appended are some figures showing the total sum expended 

 on paupers in Great Britain and the cost per head for several 

 periods from 1865 to 1906, compiled from the Eeports of the 

 Eoyal Commission on Depression of Trade, and those of the 

 Local Government Boards for England and Wales and 

 Scotland — 



England and Wales 



