Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-08-27
THE COUNTY POOR-AousE.
Letter From Squire eOodlett on the Sit.
uatI0a. -.Somethlng Should be done
Immediately.

The following communication from Els.
quire Goodlett explains itself. A perusal
of 1t will show u citizens the necessity
of having some provisions made for the
sick and destitute poor, who in all civil.
lied communities are taken care of by
the authorities at public expense. The
utter neglect with which suffering hui
manity is treated in Memphis is a dis.
| grace to our fair fame as a city, and to
Shelby county. We would suggest that
the city and county appoint a commission
who shall meet and arrange some plan by
which this crying shame and disgrace To
our civilization shall be remedied. II
should be done at once-every days de-
lay is an outrage on our humanity. Not
a day passes that there is not some fla
grant case OF utter ENTHUSIASTICALLY
and we.hoIe that the authorities of the
city and county Will in this thing act
promptly. The following is Squire Good
lett's letter and inclosure:
MEMPHIS, TENN, August 26, 1870.
Editors APpeGLI0n the 25th inst. 1 adj
dressed q note "a copy of which is in
closed to YOU to Hon. John johnson,
Mayor of Memphis.
My object in doing so was to ascertain
the duties of each in regard TO the poor
sick unfortunates who throng our city.
AS his honor has thus far deemed it un-
worthy of notice, and having failed to
answer, l ask, in justice to myself and
my associate Poor-house Commissioners,
that you give the communications a place
in your valuable paper.
/ l will say further that almost every
day there are sick men and women sent
to me from the MAYORS office who are
not entitled to the benefits of the poor
house, and who claim to be residents of
this city. The county has no hospital, and
the Mayor has been advised of the fact.
Please publish this and the inclosed and
let the people know whose fault it is that
the helpless are uncared for.
Yours, ETC., J. II. GOODLETT,
Chairman Poor-house Commissioners,
Shelby county.
[~CoPY.l
OFFICE Poor HOUSE COMMISSIONERS,
SHELBY Co., MEMPHIS, Aug. p, 1870.
Hon. John johnson, Mayor of Memphis:
Dear Sir have the honor to address
you in regard TO the poor unfortunates
who daily apply to me for admittance to
q hospital, and who generally are, in my
opinion, deserving its benefits. By refer
ence to section 1907 of the code of Ten
nessee, you will see it says:
mo person shall be admitted into the
asylum who has not been an inhabitant
of the county by actual residence in it
for one whole year next preceding his APP
plication."
This is the law under which 1 am act
ing, and which l am sworn to comply
with. 1t is memorable, and admits of no
construction extending it's provisions.
1 have been often told by applicants for
admission into the poor-hOuse by citizens
of this city, and who had not lived in the
county the time required by law for ad-
mittance, that they were told by you to
come to me and get a pass to the hospital,
and when refused admission to the poor
house (the county has no hospital) with
an explanation of our power and duties,
they have often again applied, stating
that they were sent back again by you.
Please inform me of the limit of POUR
powers and extent of your duties, and
let us see if we can arrive at any under
standing that will enable both to ascertain
and perform his part without reference to
the other.
The numbers of sick and destitute who
live here certainly require attention, and
if provision is not, should be made for
their relief.
Hoping an early response, 1 am, yours,
etc.
lSignedl j. II. GOODLETT,
Chairman -~Poor-house Commissioners,
Shelby county.