Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-03-02
State Chafitie to Local Institutions

The action of the Assembly on the 2lst,
on the question Of appropriating money
from the State Treasury for the support
of local sectarian charitable institutions
at Milwaukee, speaks much for the hon.
esty and good sense Of that body. We
have always opposed the giving of State
money to these Institutions, but hereto
fore they have generally managed to Sc
cure appropriations from the Legislature.
The bills killed by the Assembly this
year provided for an aggrerate appropri>
alton Of $4,000 1t was supported
strongly by the Democrats, and opposed
generally by tho Republicans Several
speeches were made for and against
Among the speakers opposing the appro-
priation was Mr.. Curtis, of Brown coun,
ty, who spoke as follows:
Mr.. Curtis said he felt embarrassed in
coming to decision, the question being
one of humanity. lie had no doubt as to
the benefcent character Of the insttu
tions. He could not question what was
confirmed by the united voice Of all
who had visited them He thought the
city Of Milwaukee could not do better than
to make liberal contribution to their sup.
port, But they were not o proper charge
upon the State Treasury. 1t is sonnd
doctrine that the government should not
do for the people what the people can do
for themselves. A certain class of unfor-
tunates which cannot be relieved by pri-
waite and local benefcence, such as the in.
cane. the deaf and dumb &c, are provided
for in large and expensive institutions.
Their peculiar inhrmities require buildings
and appliances aud scientific management
which individual and local charity cannot
supply The charities covered by these
bills are for the relief simply of those who
are f3ieaaiesS or poor or sick or sailors. All
these persons Of course need relief, but it
must come from the local quarters. The
State has not yet adopted the policy Of
making the relief OF pauperism, orphanage
sickness, &c, charge upon its treasury,
because these evils can be remcdied IN the
counties where they exist He thought it
would be hard for son.e gentlemen to ex.
plain to their continents why their money
was voted away to an object purely local"
to Milwaukee. We are told this is the
cheapest way to maintain these unfortu.
mates. Undoubtedly true, ana an adj.
,nrable reason why Milwaukee should make
appropriations to these charities. If not
maintained by those institutions, these
poor people would become a charge on her
city treasury. The whole people of Wis.
mn.
$4,000 is Just 80 much Substracted from the
State Treasury for an object which is not
and never can be Legitimate charge up.
on it,
A vote being finally had upon the bills
collectively, they were indefinitely post
poned by the following vote
dyes -Mcssrs Allen, Atwa.er. Avr.s,
Bacon Bailey, Brown, D. w. Briggs, i. T..
Briggs, Chambers, Cheney, Coons, Cousins,
Curtis, Dana, Davis, Field, Hammond, IIar-
ris, Hixon, Holloway, J, w. Hoyt, Hmm.
phrey, Judd, kuntz, Marvin, McMll, Mer-
rIiam, Merrill, MihiIls, Morgan, Moulson,
Nichols, Pengra, Peterson, o. s. Powell
J. I. Powell, Rood, Rounds. saadcrson,
Sherman, Smith, Swain, Torgerson and
MT Speaker, Smith--{a.
Moes-Ball, Dick, Eastman, Fitzgerald,
Freeman, Fryer Galaghan, Heimdell,
Huxley, lIoye, keenun, King, Knoll, LIN.
ergan, Maxon, Mccormick, Mcdonald, Ne.
lntosh, Montgomery, More, Ockler, Etlinc,
Hesse, Rankin, RhoeeS, Richards, Richter,
Rusch Samuelson, Seminar, Semple,
Thorn Trumer, Wagner, Watts, Wells, j,
5. White and S. A. White-3s.
We hope that this action of the AS
sembIy will serve as n precedent to all
future Legislatures Of Wisconsin.