THE MAKING AND UNMAKING OF PAUPERS4 IT is matter for
satisfaction that discussion on the problem of Poor Law reform is now proceeding in a more reasonable spirit. There was a moment when the zeal of the " paradoxer " seemed likely to capture public opinion, but reduced to the terms of a Bill, the impracticability of the Minority proposals becomes apparent even to the uninitiated. We feel able, therefore, to dismiss this aspect of the question, and Mr. Booth's volume comes opportunely to remind us that there remains a vast controversial material about which it is difficult to make up our minds, and with regard to which it might be well to suspend judgment.
The problem before the country may be briefly stated. How far, if at all, can Poor Law administration be taken out of the ignorance and uncertainty of local party politics and put into the higher atmosphere of our judicial system P Here surely "that which is best administered is best," and it is very interesting to note the different devices, by which our expert advisers suggest that we should get Ad of, or control the ignorant empiricism of popular election. The Majority recommend that there shall be no ad hoc election. Let us * Interpretations of Horace. By the late William Medley. Edited by J. G. Skemp and G. W. Macalpine. London : Henry Frowde. 17s, 611. 3:14,3 t Poor Law Reform. By Charles Booth. Being Memoranda Submitted to the Poor Law Commission, together with an Appendix Embodying Memoranda by Dr. Arthur Downes and Miss Octavia mu; London : Macmillan and Co. Lis. net.] elect sensible men whom we can trust to make roads and conduct county business. They wilt select for us a reasonable Committee for Poor Law administration. Mr. Booth sees that the county area is inconvenient for Poor Law business, as -Onions run in and out of the county boundaries on all sides. He proposes, therefore, a grouping of Unions by way of obtaining the larger areas which are thought necessary. This leads him to retain the principle of an ad hoc election for these new areas; but the popular element is to be controlled by the introduction of persons nominated to represent the taxpayer in respect of the Exchequhr grants which are now being made for Poor Law purposes. Another body of opinion, represented by the Committee of the British Constitution Association, shrinks from putting our Poor Law machinery into the melting-pot, and would prefer to continue the old Boards, and to make yet another attempt to strengthen and control them by nominating additional Guardians and increasing the action and powers of the Local Government Board. There are also Guardians here and there to be found, with their officials, so conscious of virtue, that they declare themselves quite competent to continue the slow but undoubted improvement which has taken place since 1849, the date of our first statistical record.
We cannot set out in detail the various controversial points raised in this volume. The above is a sample of one of the most important issues. The book should be read by every one who wishes to follow intelligently the long controversy on which it seems probable the country is about to embark.
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