What particularly appalling thing does Scrooge say the gentlemen collecting for charity?

When the gentlemen refer to the poor not wanting to go to the work house (remember the work house treated people appallingly almost like criminals ) they cite that many would rather die first. Scrooges reply was simple , "They better had then and decrease the surplus population". This literally come back to haunt him when he asks the ghost of Christmas Present if tiny Tim be spared his death, the ghost replies "he better had then and decrease the surplus population"