The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-05-23
THE AIMS HOUSE RING.

Is us tnat tie affairs OF Cecil County Aims
House are conducted more for the advan-
taera of those having the institution and its
affairs in charge, than for the comfort of
the inmates, or with an eye single to the
best interests of the taxpayers. Contracts
are not made for supplies, nor are the sup
plies purchased IN large quantities at time,
but instruction is given the overseer to deal
at the several county stores, in North East,
Cherry Hill, Mechanics Valley and Elkton;
and to patronize the keepers of such stores
who 6eiorg to the Democratic party, under
the rule that the party must be patronized.
Such system of ring rule cannot fail to
compromise the interests of the tax payers.
Our informant, assures us that sugges-
ton, that it would be more economical to
purchase supplies in large quantities, is
always met by the reply that the party Dem
ocraticl will not permitit. In the language
of our informant: "The Trustees furnish
as many of the supplies as possible them
selves, present their own bills to themselves
at the monthly meeting, pass the said bills
and order their Treasurer, who is also a
member of the Board, to pay them, and
order the overseer to 60 to the neighbor-
heed stores and purchase groceries, etc.,
for next month, eat a good dinner, and go
home, to meet at the stated time the next
month and go through the same routine,
without looking at all after the sanitary
condition of the Institution"
This seems to be very pleasant, neigh
borly way Of transacting business. But it
will probably strike the reader of ordinary
com prehension that there is duty expect
ed f this Board of Trustees above that Of
furr ishing stores from their own surplus
produce and eating monthly "good din
ners.'' 1t is much more important these
helpless wards of the county should receive
that degree of comfort and sanitary atten-
ton which the annual liberal appropriations
b. the County Commissioners entitle them
to, and which such an outlay warrants.
Our informant, however, charges that
the sanitary condition of the Aims House
is sadly neglected, and that the Board of
Trustees give but little or no attention to
this important subject. He also says that
one member of the Board supplies fish,
another coal and fertilizers, third beef,
calves, etc., another bacon, corn, hay, &C.,
&c. The keeper, his wife and widow
daughter all receive salaries, and they pro-
badly earn them, but the people would like
hou or IF
reads very much like the history of all cor
poration "rings." The members Of the
Board are the supply contractors. The
keeper provides "good dinner" for the
Board when it meets. The Board pass the
bills of the individual members of the
Board, and the Treasurer, a member of the
Board also, cashes them, and the thing
works as smoothly as we'll oiled machine.
The lame, the halt and blind, seem to be
but secondary object of care to the Board.
A market for country produce at the sell
er's own price, and cash down seem to be
the primary object. For statement of the
condition Of the paupers, our correspond
ent refers us to the attending physician,
bu. we don't understand that to be in the
line of our duty. The County Commits
sioners, it seems to us, would be the pro-
per parties to refer to the medicine man.
There is an anecdote told, illustrating the
manner of supplying beef to this institu-
ton sometimes practiced. A member hav-
ing beef that was unwilling to 60 peace
fully to the butchers to be slaughtered on
a hot July day, was dragged to the place of
execution at the tail of a wagon, and we'll
cudgeled for holding back. The consequence
of this system of droving was that the
animal was SO heated and bruised up that
the butcher refused to purchase the beef,
but agreed to slaughter it for the owner,
who was fortunately a Trustee of the Aims
House. The animal was dressed, thrown
on wagon smoking hot, and hauled to the
Aims House in the middle of hot Sum-
mer day. This beef proved too much for
even the stomachs of those hardy boarders,
and was thrown to the dogs. The thrifty
member, however, presented his bill and
received the price of the beef.
We don't know that these stories, Or any
of them are true. They may be gross
exaggerations, but under the system which
our Aims House is conducted, with Board
disposed to be mercsnary, they might cas-
lily be realized. There is no statement or
proper Report of the affairs of that lnsti-
tuition published or laid before the County
Commissioners. And why does not the
county Treasurer have charge of the funds
of the Aims House, as we'll as the funds
disbursed for other purposes? and the
County Commissioners might very pro-
perly scrutinize the bills before ordering
them to be paid. A Board of Directors
who are at the same time supply contrac-
tors of an institution, do not seem to be
the proper persons to pass upon their own
bills. In a word this Cecil County Aims
House has all the ear marks of a complete
"ring" concern. Would it not be as we'll
for our present Board Of County Commits
sioners, who have shewn commendable
purpose to rip up by the roots the ring cor
ruption which has been practiced by a
clique of Elkton politicians, to take this
Aims House ring in charger If it is SO as
has long been represented, that some half
dozen politicians make market of Cecil
County Aims House for their produce, it is
high time this practice was put an end to-;
and if these scandalous tales are not true,
it is also high time they were authorita-
| lively denied; and a system devised by
which it would be impossible to impose on
the public and neglect the paupers. Let
the County Commissioners put stop to
plucking the fat hen.
The P0stmaster.General in the House.
The Post Office bill was disposed of in
the House on Wednesday. Mr.. Tyner en-
gineercd the measure on behalf of the
Appropriations Committee, and during the
whole of the debate the Postmaster Gen
eral sat at his elbow, with an array Of
papers and documents on q desk before