The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-06-01
Regulation of the Poor.

Rtsul.NlOn OF the .OOr.
The Board Of Supervisors Of this county. at their
meeting, commenced on Monday, by resolution
adopted the town system ofproyiding rand tax.
Ing care of the poor, Under this sy-.cm the o.
vcrsccrs Of the poor will take charge of the poor
in their respective towns. Til, is M important
measure, and one which we trust will work re.
form.
Nearly every member Of the board was decided
in the opinion that the poor could lie better pro-
yidcd for and with much less expense in the towns
where they belonged, than 10y the county system
There seemed, however, to be a difference of
opinion rs to the power Of the board, relative to
this matter; some conceivin, the law was lmper
alive in requiring the supervisors TO take the
charge Of the poor and provide for them; while
others were Of the opinion that the board possess
ed the right under the law to determine that each
town should take care oil its own poor
/, was supposed that there is conflict in the law
relative to the powers conferred upon the towns
and those conferred upon the supervisors; that
from tie present reading Of it, the board is requi
red 10 exercise the same control in matters relating
TO the poor rs was exercised by the old county
commissioner court
After hearing the subject very fully discussed
il appears to US that in those counties which have
established poor house it is the duty Of the super
vsors to take charge Of the poor and the manage
ment OF the poor house and if the overseers
"a. la
by the county. But as the old county commits
sioners court might sell the poor house and return
to the district or precinct system providing for
the poor; 60, now, may the board Of supervisors
sell the poor house and leave the towns to take
charge of their poor.
Under the old precinct system the accounts OF
the overseers, and the contracts made by them,
were reported to the county commissioner court
which made appropriations to liquidat, and fll.
| fl the same Under the township law, the ac
counts and expenses o! the oversees are to be au
died by w. board OF town auditors, and, ii ap
/ proved by the board Of supervisors, Hrc to be le
Wed and raised upon the town a. other town
charges.
! Because a poor house has been established II
the county, there does no, appear to be- anything
in the law requiring the board Of supervisors t.
continue It, any more than it did the old count,
commissioner court, and that the same may o'
sold and the county arrangement discontinued
whenever it is for tho interest OF the county t.
do so.
In counties which have not accepted the town
ship organization, having no poor houses Their
does not appear to be any law requiring them t.
establish one. In such a case the town ovcrsccr
would be required to provide for the poor as tn
county has no authority until n poor house is c'
tablishcd AMI so entered Of record.
We are decidedly Of the opinion that the Law
making it the duty Of the board of supervisors {,
take charge Of the poor, and the management &
the poor house, rs was required of the count
commissioners court, could have no effect had u
poor house been established
Thus, while this measure is unquestionably lcga
! We very much doub, the proprie,y Of rcquirin
each town in this county to provide for its ow
poor Towns situated upon great thoroughfuc
are always rcsor;ci to by those who are unabl
from sickness OF bodily iniirmity to support then
selves, They do this for the reason that they AT
impressed with the belief that the sympatlnes an
benevolent impulses Of their fellow man VIII
moved To relieve suffering humanity. But Il
!; this hopc, .hey would remain away from o'
towns and angush and die for tho want OF l"
neccssaries of life, which they have not the phys
. cal ability to obtain.
Again in this ngc Of emigration, many VINO ~
T seeking other homes, from accident or sickncs
are deprived Of their means and, unable to pu
sue their Journey, are left in our towns, stranger
: aud pennyloss, requiring temporary relief
There are many other causes that contribute
burthen our towns with an undue proportion {
poor persons, and which are not ehargeable to an
thing wrong in the management Of the affairs
the towns or to any desire of,he citizens to cneo'
j. rage paupsrs to come and dwell among them, bt
|, 10 70 their situation. The citizens Of our towr
have sufficient extraordinary taxes and asses