Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1849-03-10
PAUPER EXPENSES.

We have waited, since the publication Of
the fiscal affairs of our county, to learn some
expression of the people in regard to the
enormous pauper expenses Of the three years
past. AS no correspondent seems disposed
to say anything about il, we shall offer a
few editorial remarks on the subject, with
out fear, favor, or affection. That our
county has expended for the supporter pau
perism, over three thousand dollars, tho past
year, is a fact sustained by figures, which
cannot lie. Contrary TO the hopes aud ex
pecta,ions Of all, the pauper farm, has pro-
we'd to be an enormous bill of expense TO the
county and had speculation, from the be-
ginning. There now seems no prospect
that the pauper farm viii ever be anything
but perpetual drain upon the county treas
ury. Similar establishments elsewhere,
have proved economical but not so here.
The Commissioners appear to have dischar-
ged their duties. They have let the farm to
the lowest and best bidders but the terms
Of bidders have been extremely high; one
reason for which, no doubt, has been that
the letting was only nom year 10 year, and
not for term of years. No farmer can af-
ford to break up his business and move on
to the pauper iarm aud AT the end of the
year move of again, without very consid-
cradle reeompense. A good manager could
better afford TO take lease of the farm for
five years and support the paupers entirely,
tor five hundred dollars year, than to take
the farm one year ut the terms on which the
present contractor has taken IL. We do not
blame the Commissioners. They have done
the best they could for tho county, without
taking upon themselves the extraordinary
responsibility OF extending a contract to per-
haps five years. The present Board, espe-
ciolly, were placed in an awkward dilemma.
The pauper farm aud the paupers were on
their hands and must be provided for. A
town law was passed making it the duty of
each town To support it, own pauperS but
no town organization had yet taken place,
nor did such organization seem possible
without some new legislation. The Conn
missiouers did the only thing they could do.
They made sure provision for the paupers
for another year, and upon better terms than
heretofore. This irksome duty and the I'M
onyiable job of dividing the county into
towns, aud all the ordinary routine of ooun-
" business devoIving upon their hands, the
Commissioners did, to the best of their abb
ity, it appears 10 us--a Ihankless job, which
reminds us Of the following anecdote which
somebody told, or might have told:
"Nheu was a boy, | remember one
cold winters day, was acoS,eil by a Smi-
lug man with an axe ON his shoulder: 4" My
little man." said he, 4" has your father a
grindstonein "lcs, slr," said |. ''Nou're
iine little teilow--will you let me Qeind my
axe upon it!' said he. Pleased with has
compliment of fine little fellow "Oyes,
sir, rs down ia the shop" answered.
Aud Will you, my mau,n said he tapping
me on the head, get ll,le hot wateriN
How could retuscl ran aud soon brought
kettle fall. "How old are you-what is
your name, % continued he, without waiting
Cor a reply, -" am sure you are one Of the
6nest lads tina, ever have seen; will you
Just ura few miuutcSs" Gickled with
his iiauery, like llJtic fool, went 10 work,
sud bitterly It'd rue the lay. twas new
axe, ana ! 1o,lcd aud tagged i,ll was al
most urcd To- death, The school bell raa-,
and | could NOT get away my hands were
ldisteged, and Il MAS NOT half ground, "A
leugth, however, the axe Was sharpenea,
end the man turned 20 ne with, {" Now, YOU
ljule rascal, you have played the tr,,ant
scud 10 school, or you'll rue it." Alas
thought |, il was hard enough 10 turn the
grind>Sonc this cold day now to be called
'litlle raseal' was too mgch. IL sunk
deep into my mind, and ihave often thought
OF il since"
IS the county eoaxed the present Board
to grind the axe, il would be cruel now
10 curse them for turning the grinas,one
Nor arc CONTRACTORS 10 blame Tor tbe