The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-01-29
DEBATES.
SKETCH OF THE DEBATE,
n Tie House Of Representatives., on ThNrsddy
last on tie subject Of P1upers.

SKETCH OF THE DEBATE,
IN the House Of Representatives., on Thursday
last, on TIE subject Of P1upers.
On Thursday tie tnil proposing change in the law
passed last session for the support OF paupers came on
for discussion in the House Of REPRESENTATIVES the
law Of LAST session il win be recclectel provided that
paupcrs who had legal settlement within the state
should be supported Al the epence Of tile towun whic
they were found destitute and not bv the state
formerly the case and that themoney pald for licenses
in the several towns should be paid into the town easur
les for the Of tic towns. Fihc pfesenhll proposed
merely to restore the old system that those having
no legal settlement within the state should be sup
ported from the state treasury the question on
giving the bill third reading
Nj, THATCHER. Of Warren, observed that il was
usual for a committee. who repnrted bill 70 alter
existing law to explain their motives il making the
pnrt. The committee unanimous in the opinion
that that part q the law committed 10 them ought
be altered and several reasons might be assigned.
The present mode Of supporting those who have been
known under the OF State Paupers j. an innova
ton upon the system practised upon IN Massachusetts,
for 4 long series Of This system IS evidently
founded upon the principles OF lastoe and equality
!, WAS a common burden, and ought TO be a common
charge The law uf the last session has thrown upon
towns in the most unequal proportion, shc burden OF
supporting these paupers. Some towns have none
and some have considerable number IL was I'M
necessary 10 name them all; every member knew
this great inequality existed Various instances were
stated to the winch demonstrated tie un-
inst operation Of the law Here Mr. L. stated
al cases. One was a case IN Oxford member had
stated the committee that town IN that county
had, the time of separation, IA paupers supported
BY the State but he did not state TO the committee
how many there were now. lit i well known that
this law was opposed in the most strenuous manner
when it passed. and the bill could probably have
been enacted, had not clause been inserted, pro-
vding that the license money, paid by lnnholders,
Retailers aud Victualers should he paid INTO the town
treasures, for the support OF the poor This pro-
vision rendered the law still unequal favored
some towns 10 the great injury Of others. Il was no
COMPENSATION 10 a town, having several OF those who
ought TO be state paupers 10 support 70 receive few
dollars of license money. Indeed, said Mr. IT, the in
equality Of the operation Of the law seemed to be gen
orally acknowledged, although gentlemen did not agree
as TO the proper remedy The bill under consideration
provided that the license money should he paid into
tho State Treasury. This would he fund. as the COM
luittee supposed, sufficient for the support Of these
paupcrs, ard 70 leave balance i'll favor Of the State
II appears that the amount Of the accounts which
passed the committee of accounts, for about eleven
months last year, for the support of these pauDers was
S794052. The committee rejected the sum Of 500 o.
some part Of which win probably be vet allowed.
10 complete the year would require additional sum;
the whole calculated not TO exceed $4,000 The
license money could not be correctly aScenained by
;he committee but they had the return from Cunlrcr-
land amounting to $780, of which the town OF Port
land receives nearly one half. This state contains
by the last 1893 inhabitants IF this BE- A
rate 10 estimate by the license money amounts 10 A.
bout $4,000. leaving a large sum in the Treasury.
But this consideration the prevailing in
his mind. He considered the alteration required bv
the principles Of Justice and humanity. 1t was 4 fun
damcntal principle Of our government that taxes should
be levied and pubic burdens imposed unon rqual urn-
cipes. The operation CT the present act was extreme
" Inhumane. II might in many instances induce
towns TO make very inadequate provision for these un-
fortunate fellow beings, and 10 take improner measures
e. remove them from their bounds. Bur Mr.T din not
think necessary 70 enlarge anticnate objections
to the bill lie had the fullest confidence that the
Legislature would provide a remedy for the evils com
planned Of and trusted that difference in opinion as
70 tic mode wOni prevent Justice from heing done
Mr. T. stated hat the 18th section Of the present law
was detective IN several particulars. II provided that
the license money should be paid into the treasury
Z" for the support Of the poor Ia some owns tbere
were no paupers and it not intende thar the
money should remain in the treasures The r,sion
as 70 plantatous also, inadequate for lis object.
Mr.. FilNMAN. was opposed 10 The bill Ne ,aid tar
the present system acceptable in he secton of the
state in which he lived. (IIancock Coz
Mr.. ADAMS, Of Portland oppnsed the bill. ne
thought the argument Of the gentcnan from Warren
~ NJ means conclusive for ii appeared ~ ~ founded
upon the effect Of the law in the county If Cumberland
alone which was not fair criterion IFe believed tha
the principles contained in the system which tho hin ho
fore the House eyhibiied. were radira defective .be,
had bten found nregnant with evil III Eurnne len
larry "a England. and also in The narcnt eta,c III Enc
land ne money paid for tie surnort AZ the moor ~,
nrariv treided IN few years and IN Massachusetts
| had followed ike proportion he did no, see ,vh,
souid h"' take similar course in this state II the sa
system were afnpiei In MaSenrhuserrs \, enc 80,
that we we're united with her there were 1a3 Onn rai
Out Of me Treasury for tie suDport of naupprs re sa
was Obvious 70 his mind that the more provision vo
make for the poor r. more pncr Won NIKE Tho'rrca
Fh'a9F q orr present srs'ert Is Re Observed tha
tie intereSt is brought nearer hpr,e ,;-i-- ~,
tire cor3i.icn n ;hc -anrl and no-r v-i,apca N a
~ prevent such pereons coming or reeiiinr IN ~,
| towns as NAV probably become chargeahle II wa
stated IN former legislature that if the roor sbo5 n
supported from the state treasury there were scvera
III .l,lons towns VINO WIRE ready - on the list III
/ which II thar course was not alon+aa 80 -, III \
'aks care ssoa'i =: = supported a; lsir cvsrsc.