The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-12-10
The Families Of SOLDIER.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
DES Mn4ALS Mar QOAh lQGl

t. ]
To THE PEOPLE OF Iowa:
The approach of winter should remind
Us of our obligations to the families Of the
brave men who are absent in the public
service, and stimulate us to general and
united effort in making all needful plovis-
ion for their comfort. This subject address
ses Itself with puculiar force to the graft
tude Of people justly proud OF their mar
tial record, and who have never yet fall
tered in the discharge of patriotic duty.
There are many families among us who
have NO means Of support beyond the
money saved from the monthly wages of
their husbands and fathers in the public
service; insufficient, in most cases, to fur
nIsh them with fuel, clothing and food du.
ring the winter nenths. In addition to
this should be considered the unavoidable
delays which frequently occur in paving
troops, and the difficulties they cfteri ex.
perience in transmitting money to their
families from distant places occup by
our armies. To supply the wants which
these circums stances produce, we must APP
peal to the patriotism and invoke the am
pie generosity Ofour people.
The last General Assembly passed an
Act for the relief of the families Ofsoidiers
and marines in the service of the United
States, which requires that u levy be made
Tor this purpose, OF not less than two mills
on the dollar. for the year 1864 and 1865, on
80 sAo soA1DtS PAOpSItJ III VdCu county,
The funds so raised are piaced under the
control OF the Boards Of Supervisors of the
several counties, respectively, who are re.
CURED to distribute them as they NAV
deem proper for the relief OF the families
therein designated. / am not aware thar
any county has failed 10 levy this tax, and
many OF them, as lam advised, have lew
led more than the minim um rate.
In some counties it may be found that
The amount realized from the first levy, is
inadequate 10 meet all the demands made
upon The treasury. Should this occur, the
9th Section OF the Act confers ample au-
thority upon the Treasurer to meet the de.
tlciency by = temporary transfer Of other
funds. Except the School Funds,) thus an
ticipatiny receipts from the levy of 1865.
which should be made sufficient to cover
the deficit and all probable applications for
relief during the fiscal year. This course
would be highly conimendable. aud
earnestly recommend that it be pursued
"a those counties where deficits in the re.
lief fund may exist.
i is the duty of Assessors in the several
wards and townships. AZ provided by law.
TO make an enumeration. by name, Com
pany, regiment, &C., of all the soldiers
ind marines having families, who are in
The service OF the United States, and Of the
families Of those who have been in such
service and are dead or dicabied. and make
accurate returns 20 the Boards OF Superv;-
sors of their respective counties, designa-
ting such as are, in their opinion, entitled
% aiu. THESE returns are to be revised by
the Board. and such names inserted rs
may have been omitted,
5reas accuracy was expected in making
these returns, that no family entitled Is
aid might he overlooked, aud would en-
Join upon the several Boards the duty of
carefully revising them..
Notwithstanding the plain and ample
provisions OF the law, I am constrained to
oelieve That, In some localities, it has been
imperfectly executed, and hatmany fanni-
lies fail to obtain the aid to which they are
entitled. Complaints are made to me of
unjust discrimination between families in
the distribution Of the fund.- It is alleged
that while some families IRE amply sup
piled, others, equally deserving and needy,
are turned away with only 4 meagre al.
lOwance, 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 IL, lean
not think that lynS-eyed scrutiny Of the'l
and means of each particu-
lar family, IS either eSpedient or manly.
It is aid, in its proper and practical sense,
that the law contenplates, and to reduce
families to absolute necessity before they
are permitted to obtain it, would be de-
grading them to the status OF pauperism.
which il not only at variance with the Oh.
vious spirit Of tho law, but rcpupnant To
the known sentime rts Of the people. It is
enough, if, in determining who are entitled
to be the beneficiaries, We act upon appear
ances and general repute.
The errors in the execution Of the law
which exist in certain localities, demand
immediate correction. may be pardoned
for adyerting to them in this public man
aggrieved are constantly appealing to me
for redress. These appeals come from
sources which entitle them to respectfni
consideration. Approaching the deem soi;.
citude which soldier in the Geld nat',ralir
entertaiDs tor the comfort and welfare Gf