American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-04-26
For tho American Union.

NlR. ,EDIToR,--As our election is fast D.
proachnig, and candidates are already being
announced for the various Offices to be sup.
piled this Spring. lbave been led TO reflec,
upon the Importance Of selecting good men
for one Of these Offices which, regard as one
oi the most important to the tax payers OF
the comfy QUE that they have here, ofora
seemed to manifest but ltttle in,erastm. {
alilde To that Of OyeIseer Of the Poor IL
is important and desirable that a prudent,
humane and economical Doard,--a Board
that would prudentL expepd The taxes and
exercise proper regard for the WAITS aud
interests OF the Poor should be selected.
Within few years past our poor levy has
run up from the small sum OF eighteen cents
to one dollar and twenty-five ceuis. exceed
Jog last year nearly double the County levy.
This, together with an increase by the last
Legislature of one bundled per cent. ON our
Stule tax, should cause, us TO feel an addi.
uonal interest in the subject, What has
caused this great increase in our Poor. tax ?
aud how shall we remedy il? are questions
of everyday occurrence. as'eos
| understand that the poor levy of last
year was near three thousand dollars. and
out oil that sum not one.third was paid for
keeping paupers 1.-THE County Poor House,
The balance having baen SLOWED to persons
who remained al home, and TO persons ,hro'
the country for keeping paupers who We're
not willing 10 go TO the Poor House This
system is growing yearly more and more OPP
pressive, and should be speedily remedied.
Allowances are made to persons, in many
cases, who remain al home, and are able to
support themselves. This is too often the
case, and is productive Of no good, but leads
to idleness and proHigacy. We have, TO
my own knowledge, cases of this kind. -
While am opposed to this system of ma
king allowances outside the Poor House, as
a general thing, yet | think there are cases
which circumstances demand should be pro-
vided for elsewhere; but when this is done
g'ca, discretion should be used.
In selecting our Board of Oversees to
serve us for the next four years, we should
see that we select one pledged torelonn this
matter.
The Overscers, BY consent of The Court
| arc authorized TO purchase lands and erect
suitable buildings TO be used as a. general re-,
teption for the Poor. The present building
isnot suitable, neither is there ground enough
attached TO it,. The 0verseers can, also, by
consent Of the Court, sell and convey lands
The present property could, no doubt, be
sold Tor a good price. Now, sir, if this can
be done, would it not be the better policy to
| cS'' VIC piCoOiiN plopoliJ dlu uuS
! piece OF ground and erect suitable buildings
buildings that would be sufficiently large tC
accommodate the poor generally, or those
who are strictly chargeable TO the County,
and work those who are able to work on the
| farm. This system has been adopted in
| some of the counties OF the State, and il
works well, and no doubt would here. And
ii properly managed il might be made 10
delray very considerable part OF our poor
! tax. f.sga str+.,.-rU a-,lF.EgI so
| ] may be mistaken in the amount of the
! poor tax of last year, and also of the amount
paid Tor keeping paupers a, the Poor House
but such has been the amount represented
10 me. suppose, however, that at on
| May Court, those OF us who are curious or
| the subject can be fully informed ] fine
I from the Code OF Virginia, Chapter 81, sec
tons 90, 81 and %, The Overseas of every
| County are required 10 make a report TO
the year ending 3lst March, and deliver Il
| the County Court on tho first day of Ma,
term showing The number provided for
| The name oil each and where provided for
| theamonnt expended during The year, how
much al the Poor House and how mucl
| elsewhere, &c, sc, Aud for failure Il
produce such report, the President Of tn,
Board 10 forfeit fifty dollars This repor.
will be looked for; the people feel all inter
est in knowing how and where lha tax has
been expended. roy FLATS.
District No. g. a..s So