Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-05-16

@O4o@-@048 S04AsJ = 0S4 A40~A3Ss
By reference 10 our advertising columns it
viii be seen that we are publishing an Act
providing for the ptfchasing Of farm and
the erection Of buildings for the employment
and support Of the poor in the county of
Columbia. The people of this county viii
have an opportunity on Tuesday, the 5th
day of june next, to vote upon this matter,
and decide by their ballots whether or not
they viii accept this Act Each township
viii decide this matter for themselves IF it
appears upon counting the vote polled in any
| township or borough, that a majority of the
votes so cast arezfer the Poor House, the
matter is then settled in the affirmative so
| far as that township or borough is concerned.
This is a matter that the people should
consider well, view it upon all sides, and act
understandingly, and not allow Prejudices or
a want of information to have anything
whatever to do in deciding upon this i'm
portant question A great deal can be
said in favor of a County Poor House, while
on the other hand, argument could be used
against such an institution. But after all,
the question resolves itself down to this:
''Willitbe cheaper and less expensive to the
taxpayers Of the respective townships and
boroughs in the county to keep their poorin
County Poor House, erected upon farm
purchased expressly for the employment and
support of the poor of our county?"
For our part, we think it will Tobe-
sure, it win be the means of some town
ships paying a small tax, year or two, that
now have no poor taxes, for the payment of
the farm and buildings This property will
be taken care of and improved and will
always be worth its money So there is
really nothing lost in that investment. And,
as to keeping paupers, they can be kept
cheaper in County Poor House for the
reason, that Overseers are not compelled, as
they often are, to pay t,co prices before they
can get family to accept their paupers and
board and clothe them. Then on the other
hand, great deal can be saved in the EN-
ployment of physician, one who viii be
regular attendant, when necessary, at fixed
amount per year. Their clothing viii be
purchased in quantities to suit the demand,
at wholesale rates, not from slop-shops, at
high protectire tariff prices. This is no
small item, when it is closely examined; if
you take in the amount of clothing that is
now being bought for the paupers of the
whole county. Another point, which might
be argued, is this: You viii find that there
will notbe one-half as many paupers support
ed by the taxpayers, when they find that
they must enter house of employment, as
the people are supporting to-day, in dirt, rags
and idleness, at much greater expense
than there is any necessity for.
There are several other points which we
will present from time to time, before the
election, to prove to the people of the county
that they will make mistake If they re-
fuse to come into the poor house arrange
ment We will show how the matter viii
operate upon those townships that stay
out; how it has had the effect to lessen
the number of paupers in counties where
Poor Houses have been provided; that the
farm viii produce revenue to the county
instead of its being burden upon the peo-
pie, and that the tax levied and collected
for the purchasing of the farm and erection
Of the buildings viii not amount to any seri-
Gus sum to any one. The bill will not adj
NIT of over one per cent. being paid to the
dollar. Atther rate property is taxed in this
county there are re7yteac farmers that would
pay over twenty dollars. 1t may be neces-
sary that they pay this amount for two
years. Much depends upon the Kind
Of property purchased. These same men
are paying twice this amount yearly to sup
port paupers, at present, in many parts of
the county.