Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-06-18


sublecs.
EDITOR OF DENoCRAT:-The present con
dition and practical operation OF our pauper
eystem has been so repeatedly shown To be
. disgrace TO sll principles Of humanity and
proprie'y, that oil good citizens should
feel an earnest interest 10 its improve
ment. Grand Juries have described its de
tecis, and the Board Of Supervisors has dis
cusseJ and postponed the subject. il being
svtdently beyond their comprehension.
Meanwhile the nuisance continues, and
promises to be greatly increased before and
during the next winter The expenses since
January last have already exceeded ten
thousand dollare, and will Seach moro than
twenty thousand before the end Of the year.
Notwithstanding thesc facts, no step toward
Improvement has yet been made. The sub.
j-ct appeals to our sympathics ~ Christians.
and to cur pockets as Taxpayers. Now, in
order if possible, to set the ball Of reform IN
motion, l oiier prize OF fifty dollars for
the best practical essay on the improvement
OF our pauper system. The essay 10 be
governed in its tone and suggestions, first
by the ,rde principles Of charity, and seconds
ly, bv the financial economy of the system
It recommends. 1t my include references
TO the impostors who obtain our charity,
and to the necessity of q hospital and dis
pensary. The recommendations must be
circumscribed by the existing laws of the
State, but May make suggestions of changes
10 be asked for Of the Legislature Essays
may I've completed and delivered on or before
the first day of August, 1867, at which date
they will be examined by committee con-
sisting OF II. X. Claussen, ID. $. True aud
Dr. w. +. Peck. The prize TO be awarded
To the essay that shall by this committee be
deemed most practicable In its suggestions.
and shall by the committee bo recommend
ed to our citizens and to the Board Of Su-
pervisors, at the September session, for the
adoption and practical operation Of the sys
tern it suggests.
G. s. WATKINS.
REAAsks.--Here we find the beginning Of
something practicable, as Mr.. Watkins ssys
the subject has been ''investigatsd and post
poned" until We have ceased to concern
ourselves about the action and non action Of
directors, trustees or grand jurics. The
above offer Mr.. Watkins makes hoping that
from these essays plan Of seform and Re.
trenchment may bs cleaned. Surely some
Of our financial theorists, political econo-
mists and practical reformsrs after duly in>
vestigating the subject can give Ms some
thing that may. in part. remedy tns exist
ing evils complained of. 10 will require
study and careful investigation Of the work>
ings Of the system Of charity heretofore
prssticsd, % wsllss an investigation Of the
system itself; . system Of relief to the un-
fortunate end destitute that shall be practi-
cable for the psesest financial condition Of
the county . system that wnl al The bill.
and ono that can bs endorsed BY reasonable
tsx>payers who are not inssnsible to the ap
psals Of Christian charity.
The amount of the purse offered 10 sufic
lent to pay for the time and trouble Of
writing these essays; and the award Of the
committee gentlemen al we'll known will
be perfectly just. 40 the successful essay
must be presented TO the Board Of Super>
visors. If we have any practical rsformers,
or reeonstructionisss for home matters, let
10 heA from them now.