The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-12-09
fhs 0AaDssaesD1 0oaAsssS.
ExecufIvf Osy1cs,
Dss MOsn.s, Nov. 3Oth. 1864

ey DAeOUI1 ~ N11tC01
Dss MossEs, Nov. 30tb, 1864.
7D the People ef lopa:
The approach Of wiatsr shoald remin.
~ Of osr obligasios 70 the families or III,
brave men who aFe abseAE 10 the publ,
service, and stimulate ns to general aut
united effort ii making iii needful provis
ION TOR their comfort. This subject id.
dresses itself with peculiar force t. The
gratituds of people Justly proud Of their
martial record, and who have ne7er ye,
ALTERED in the faithial discharge Of pstri-
otto duty.
There are many families among us tho
hare no means Of support beyond the
money eaved from the monthly wages OF
their Husbands and fathers in the Pablo
service: insufficient 10 most cases, TO fur
nish them With fnsl, clothing and food
during the winter months. In addition
70 this should be considsyed the uusvoid-
able delays which frequently occur in
paying troops and difficulties they ofien
experience in transmitting mon ~ to their
families from distant places ecclp.ed BY
oar armies. To supply the wants which
these circumstances must produce, We
must appsal to the patriotism and invoke
the aDpis generosity Of our people.
The last General Assembly passed an
Act for the relief Of the families Of SOL
diers and marines in the service u the
United States, which requires that levy
be msde for this purpose Of not less than
two mills on the dollar. for the years 1864
and 1866, on all the taxsbls property in
Zach county. TIE funds % raised are
placed under the control of the Boards of
of the several counties re-
spsctively, who are required to distribute
them as they may deem proper for the
relief OF the families therein Designated.
am not aware that any county has fail
ed TO levy this tax ssd many Of them a.
am advised, have levied more than the
rate
In some counties it may be found that
the amount realized from the fsst levy,
is inadequate. to mset all the demands upon
the treasury. Should this occur, the 9th
Section Of the Act eonfers ample authori-
~ upon the Treasurer to meet the de-
6ciency BY q temporary transfer of other
funds, Except the School Fund, thus
anticipating receipts from the levy. OF
1865 which should be made sufficient to
cover the de6ci. and all probable spplica-
sions for relief duringlte 6-cai year. The
course would be highly commcndabie, and
earnestly recommend that it be pursued
in those counties where deficits ia the Ie-
lief fund may exist.
1t is the duty of assessors in the sever
Il wards aud townships, Rs provided By
aw, TO make sn enumeration, BY name,
Company, Regiment, DC, OF all the SOL
diess and 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 and disabled,
lnd make accarate returns to the Boards
IF Supervisors Of their respective coun-
les, designating such as are. in their
,pin ion, entitled to aid These returns
ire to be revised by the Board, aud such
names inserted IS may have been omitted.
Great accuracy was expected in making
these returns, that no family entitled to
aid might be overlooked, and | would
epjoin upon the several boards the duty
Of carefully rcvis ing them.
Notwithstanding the plain and ample
provisions OF the las7, am constrained to
believe that in some localities. i, has been
executed. and many families
fail to obtain the aid to which they ara
entitled. Complaints are made to me OF
unjust discrimination between families in
the distribution of the fand. Il is al
LEGGED that while some famiiies are amply
Supplied, others equally deserving and
needy are turned away With only msa-
gre allowance and in some c.@es without
any relief.
While the Legislature evidently did
not intend this fund should be absorbed
by those who are able to live without it,
l cannot think that lynx-eyed scrutiny
of she circumstances and means Of each
particular family is either expedient or
manlg. Il is aid, in its proper and prac-
tical sense, that the law contemplates, and
to reduce families to absolute necessity
before they are permitted TO obtain it,
would be degrading them to status of
paupsrism, which 10 not only It variance
with the obvious spirit Of the Law, but re.
pugnant TO tle4n,wa sessiments of the
people. 1t is enough, If, in Determining
who are entitled to the benefciaries, We
act upon appearance and general repute.
The errors in the execution of the Law.
which exist in certain localities, demand
immediate correction. I may be pardon
ed for adverting to them in this. public
manner, when il = underwood that the
parties aggrie sed are constantly appeal
ing to me for redress. These appeals
come from sources which entitle them to
respectful consideration. AppreciAting
the deep solicituds which soldier in the
6eld naturally entertains for the comfort
and welfare af his family, cannot remain
a silent listener to their complaints. It
Is not the question Of food and clothing
alone, which is Involved. Consideratio
of public policy require us to view the
subject in . higher and broader light.
We cannot over estimate the influence
which Kindness and charity may exert in
strengthening the foundssions Of social
virtue and promoting the public veal. II