The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-03-13
r.uperI.m ana Us Management.

N IN us IN M chGnN.
There bas been much complaint in this
county in reference to the management OF
the Poor House and farm and the condition
and the treatment Of the paupers supported
BY the public. We have abstained as far as
practicable from giving currency to these
complaints, partly on account of the inhe-
rent difficulties OF the subject and our lack
OF familiarity with il, and more from an in
disposition to excite party feeling iu refer
ence to the matter. And We allude to it now
only 10 order to impress the people OF the
county, and especially the Board OF Super
visors, with the Importance OF giving the
subject more careful and thorough attention
and investigation.
The support and management Of paupers
has been one Of the most difficult and vexa.
tious subjects with which Legislators 10 every
age and country have to deal, and the prac.
tical administration of pauper affairs has
been attended with much abuse and many
failures everywhere.
On account of the peculiar location Of our
county, pauperism is rapidly increasing and
IL itaeic to become very burdensone, and 1t
is, therefore, exceedingly important that the
matter should be thoroughly investigated
that the best possible system Of management
should be adopted. Time and experience
will be required to perfect the system, but it
may be inaugurated at once. And in order
TO ultimate success, both on the score Of
economy and humanity, the hes. beginning
that can possibly be made, is to place an
honest man OF sound practical sense, fair in
tellectual and humane feelings, in charge OF
the Poor House and farm and the county
panpers. Let him give his whole attention
TO the subject, and "read up" on pauper leg
islation, pauper reports, and paupcr publ
cations generally, in connection with an OBJ
serving, practical administration OF affairs
under his charge, and he will soon be able to
suggest improvements in the laws and regu.
lations and adopt reforms in practical man
agement which will eventually work great
saving to the county, while the ends Of blu.
mainly will be greatly promoted in securing
much more thoroughly the comfort and well
fare of the unfortunate beings com mitted to
bis charge.
We know nothing about the present Su
perintendeDt Of the establishment, and have
no reference TO him or his management in
the general remarks we have made. If heis
the right kind of a man for the place, give
him the necessary powers and instructions
for the accomr ishment OF the objects indi-
Gated above. Ii he is not the man for the
place, remove him and End one that will
properly 6ll the position.
Our pauper system is designed to relieve
the wants and ameliorate the condition OF
our unfortunate fellow creatures. The
county has made a liberal investment for
that purpose. Let il be administered in the
liberal and humane splrit Ia which it was
made, with the direct and sole purpose of
promoting the welfare Of those for whom il
was desFgncd-no, with an effort to make
money FOR the county by harsh and despica-
Bile renuriousness-nor vet to furnish situa-
tions for low minded understrappers to max g
living by rohbing the county Of it's bounty,
or the paupers OF their charity, and then
make IT all right with the powers that be by
halling them in 10 vote Tux TICKET on cleo
ton days. We speak tho universal senti
ment OF the honest and honorable masses o,
both parties in The expression Of Our scorr
at the idea OF making political capital or
political machine Of the charitable institu
tons supported by the people; and We bu
express q wide spread sentiment when v,
urge our Board of Supervisors to give th
subject OF the manae ement Of the poor thei
earnest and thoughtful attention that the,
may be able to adopt and carry out the sys
tenn which will best secure the humane obiec
for which it was designed.
Since the above was in type we learn .ha
the Board OF Supervisors have acted on tn
paurer question for the present session.
We trust, nevertheless, that our suggestion
will lead them to consider the subject NOR
fully on future occasion.
EV There WAS quito a discussion in tn
Senate on the Resolution presented by Mr.
Foster for the expulsion Of Senator Wigfal
for Boosting that he owed no allegiance /,
this Government, being q citizen Of tn
foreign State Of Texas.
Ciingman, Mason and Hunter argue,
In favor Of the Constitutional right of So
cesson and insisted that they owed allcgianc
only TO their own State Government and no
TO that OF the United States.
fTA great many ofhcehoders have sen
ia their designations, and thus rendered
necessary .oT ;bs rre-,ien, TO submit tn