Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1864-12-05

U4UcUJISE VvvICB,
De- noines, Nov. sOth, 1854. I

~ ~ Repls u Iosea
The approach q winter should remind %
& ~ G60eatiens to ths families Of she
bgoye men who are absent Ia the public ser-
vleo, and stimulate us to general and uni
~ effort in making al nesdful provision for
thslr comfort. This subject addresses it.
nele With peculiar force to The gratitude Of .
pcopls Justly proud Of their martial record.
and Who have never yet thllered in the faith
full discharge Of patriotic duty.
There arc many families among us who
have no means Of support beyond the money
saved from the monthly wages Of their hus-
bsuas and fathers in the public service; in.
sutBcient, IN most cases, to furnish them
with fuel. clothing and food during the win
Ter months In addition to this should be
considered the unavoidable delays which
frequently occur in paying troops, and the
difficulties they often experience in trans
uniting money tn their families fom distant
places occupied by our armies. To supply
the wants which these circumstances pro-
ducs. We must appeal to the patriotism and
invoke the ample generosity Of our people
The last General Assembly passed IN act
for the relief Of the families Of soldiers and
marines in the service Of the Unitel States,
which requires that levy be nade for this
purpose, Of not less than two mills on the
dollar. for the years 1864 and 1865, on all
the taxable property in each county. The
funds no raised are placed under the control
Of the Board Of Supervisors Of the several
counties, respectively, who arc required to
distribute them - they may deem proper
for the relief Of the families therein designa-
ted. ! am not aware that any county has
failed to levy this tax. and many Of them.
a. am advised, have levied more than the
minimum rate
In some counties II nav be found that the
amount realized from the first levy. is mad
cquate to meet all the demands made upon
the treasury. Should this occur. the 9th
Section Of the Act confers ample authority
upon the Treasurer to meet the deficiency
by temporary transfer of other funds. Tex
ccpt the School FUND.- thus anticipating ~e
ceipts from the levy of 1866. which should
be made sufiic cnt to cover the deficit and
oil probable applications for relief during
that fiscal year. This course would he high
" commcndahlc, and earnestly recommend
that it be pursued in those cou' ties where
deficits in the relief { md may exist.
II is the duty Of Assessors in the several
wards and townships, as provided hy law,
tc make an enumeration, by name company.
regiment. etc, Of all the sold crsand marines
having families, who arc in the service of
the United States, and Of the families Of
those who have been in such service and
are dead or d sablcd, and make accurate re-
turns to the Boards Of Supervisors Of their
respective counties, designating such as
are, in their opinion. entitled 10 aid. These
returns are to be revised by the Board. and
such names inserted as may have been
omitted
Great accuracy was expected in making
these returns, that no family entitled to aid
might he overlooked, and | would eniuin
upon the several Boards the .uty Of care
fully revising them.
Notwithstanding the plain and ample pro-
visions Of the law, am constrained TO be
lieve that, in some localities, it has been i'm
perfectly executed. and that many families
fail 10 obtain the aid to which they are en-
titled. Complaints are made to me of un.
just discrimination between families in the
distribution Of the fund II is alleged that
while some families are amply supplied, 9th
ers, equally desei wing and needy, arc turn
ed away with only mcagre allowance, and
IN some cases without any relief
While the Legislature evidently did not
intend this fund should be absorbed by
those who are able to live without it, can.
not think that lynx eyed scrutiny OF the
circumstances and means Of each particular
family, in either cxpedient or manly. It is
0id. in its proper and practical sense, that
the law cOntemplatcs, and to reduce families
to absolute necessity before they are per
mitted to obtain it, would be degrading tn, m
to the status Of pauperism, which is not
only at variance with the obvious spirit Of
the law. but repugnant to the known senti-
ments Of the people. It is enough. if. in
determining who are entitled to be the ben
ehcar'es, We act upon app arances and gen.
eral repute.
The errors in the execution Of the law
which exist in certain localities. demand i'm.
mediate correction. may be pardoncd for
adverting to them in this public manner.
wnen Il Is understood that the parties ag-
grievcd are constantly appealing to me for
redress. These appeals come from sources
winch entitIe them to respectful considera-
ton. Approaching the deep solicitudc
winch . soldier in the field naturally enter
tsins for the comfort and welfare Of his fam.
ny, caunot remain silent listener to their
complaints. It is not the question Of food
and clothing alone. which is involved. Con
siderations Of public policy require us to
view the subject in q higher and broader
light. We cannot over estimate the inAu-
ence which kindness and charity NAV exert
in strengthening tho foundations Of social
virtue and promoting the public veal. III
you would increase the contentment If sol.
dicrs and give their patriotism a loftier i'm
pulse, assure hem that a grateful public will
watch over their families and supply them
with . tender care.
Another important fact demands our con-
sideration. The law requires the Assessors
IN the several wards and townships to take
their enutnerations Of soldiers families be-
fore the first Monday Of June, 1864: and
the returns then made constitute the basis
upon which Bnards Of Supervisors make
their Ievies. Since these returns were made.
the Government has been compelled to call
into the public service an additional number
Of our fellow citizens. who have been taken
from their homes on brief notice. and with
OUT sumc'cnt time being allowed them to
suitably prepare their families for winter
This Class Of soldiers receive no other rom.
pensation than the ordinary nav and allow.
ances, and ~ many Of them are poor men.
we may apprehend much suffering smonv
tne'r families, onless prompt and sdeou.te
measures are adopted for their relief V,th
the number Of soldiers. families Tina anc.
mented beyond our authorizations the na..es-