Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/698

 682 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

quarter system lies in the fact that each dependent is from the start in definite relations to a particular helper, in whose "quar- ter" he lives, the quarter being very closely defined within cer- tain streets and house numbers ; the helper is therefore able to keep very fully informed on the conditions in his quarter ; he can, within the range of the few houses allotted to him, find out every case that may demand his attention, and come in contact with the poor of his quarter frequently and in many different ways. The disadvantages are these : a given case must of necessity remain always under the same helper ; under circum- stances a sort of protectorate is developed; and (especially) an approximately even distribution of the population among these quarters has ceased. Frequently certain houses are occupied almost solely by the poorer class, while others do not contain a single dependent. It is therefore possible under this system, and it actually did occur in Hamburg, that some helpers had in charge houses containing fifty to sixty paupers, while others never saw anyone in need. Hamburg, therefore, as well as Berlin, Leipsic, and Dresden, has adopted the district system (Bezirkssysteni). Here the district includes quite a number of streets and places. The district assembly or council is made up of the district superintendent or chairman {Bezirksvorsteher) and a number of helpers, varying with the needs of the district usually not under twelve, under no circumstances more than twenty. But none of these helpers has, at the outset, any relation to a particular house or its occupants. On the contrary, every applicant for aid must first present himself to the district chair- man ( Vorsteher], who refers him, by means of an application blank, to one of his helpers ; this helper, then, is obliged to examine into the case, supply any urgent and immediate need, and report at the next district assembly. Usually the case will be left in his charge for further treatment as long as the depend- ent continues to reside in his district ; the case may, however, be given to another helper for further treatment. The advan- tage of this dividing of dependents among the several helpers by the superintendent lies in the fact that the latter can employ