Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-05-30

tions, By different persons, respecting the
Columbia County Poor House, and for
q clear and decisive answer we have only
to refer them to the bill itself. The bill is
plain and easily to be understood, in all its
provisions, and should be carefully examln-
ed by every man in the countyin order that
he may vote intellgently upon it on next
Tuesday. It provides for the establishing
of an entire new system of maintaining the
poor of our county, which is a matter Of no
minor importance, and before the people
accept or reject the new plan they should be
well satisfied that they are acting in the
right direction to promote their interests. =
We do not deem it necessary that we should
speak of this bill in detail, as it has been
published in all the county papers for the
past five weeks, thus afording every person
an opportunity to examine it and act In the
matter as his better judgment would dictate.
Should we undertake to go through the bill,
and explain the different sections, it would
eli up one-half page of our paper; but we
win not leave the matter without directing
special attention to the sixth, tenth, and
thirteenth sections They should be under
stood by all before voting for or against the
bill.
We are well aware that certain persons are
opposing this Poor House question through
prejudice 70 Bloom township. Why this is
we cannot exactly understand. Its true, this
township has, what might be considered by
some persons, large Poor debt, but the tar
poyers of Bloom s0iE be obliged to pay their
oscn debt and not the county, as has been cir
culated by individuals who ought to have
known better if they did not And, as to
the number of Poor being supported in this
township at present, it is no larger in pro-
portion to our population, than that of any
of the other townships in the county.
Besides this being the case, when we come
to remove them to the Poor House, there
s0iU not be one half the number sce uoso hare
to snpporti At-least this has been the ex-
perience in other counties where they have
Poor Houses. On this point we were cred
IDLY informed, a few days ago, that when the
Borough of DanviIle came to remove her
poor, FoRTY-NINE IN NUMBER, only NINE
were conveyed to the House of support and
employment of the Poor. This single point
speaks columns in favor of County Poor
Houses. 1t is conclusive argument that the
people should erect one in every county
Not only in towns viii the number of pau
pers be less, when they come to be taken to
Poor House, but the same result will be
experienced in the country districts. When
the paupers throughout the county, or at
least many of them, find that they are oblig-
ed to enter place of employment, they viii
prefer maintaining themselves, outside of
the Poor House. There are at present per-
sons being kept in certain districts in this
county, who could maintain themselves were
they obliged to do SO, but so long as they can
be kept free from labor they will remain
town charge.
There are some townships at present pay
ing no poor taxes, and these townships, we
are told, are opposing the Poor House, for
the reason that if they support it, they viii
be taxed to keep the paupers of other town
ships. This should not be the case, as it is
the intention to make the Poor House farm
maintain the poor without levying and col
lecting any taxes for that purpose THIS
can be done. There are dozens of farms in
this county, the income of which would sup
port twice the number of poor kept in this
county, besides paying all necessary expenses
to conduct the operations of the institution,
such Is employing Superintendent, Physi-
clan, Matron, and necessary help upon the
farm. Instead of the institution being a
burden to the people, it can be madea source
of Revenue to the county. In many of the
lower counties this is the case. The system
works so well in the counties of Lehigh,
Chester, Philadelphia, Clarion, Montour,
and others, thatthe people of those counties
would not think for moment of falling
back upon the old system of maintaining
their paupers by townships. They now
have system that works well, every one
seeming to be satisfied besides they IRE nd
of al the annoyances connected with the
present township arrangement to which our
people are now subjected.
In point of economy, much can be said
for this plan of supporting paupers. They
wiz not be scattered all over the county, but
kept at one place, and all eat at the same ta-
bic, at uniform pricesEbe attended by a
regular Physician medicines purchased at
the lowest wholesale prices clothing pro-
cured IN lots upon the mostreasonable terms
and all necessary articles for their main
tenance win be bought at much lower rates
than are now had under the present system.
The people Of Columbia county, upon the
whole, we think, should accept this bill
We say 80, because we sincerely believe it
win be an advantage to them In many ways,
besides, be establishing system of support
mo o71r r,osrr,c,. ,>o~,-,lo<f~~, +I,< ~-.U L.