The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1877-04-19
The Pauper Business.

The pauper matter has become such an impo-
sition upon the County, that the Commissioners
have been compelled TO issue q special order mp
on the subject. This is particularly the case
with regard to doctors bills. We cannot see
vby doctors should be favored more than any
other profession or trade. We cannot 60 to the
County and collect bad subscription bill. Tho
ouiy difference 10, that the doctors trade is a
matter Of life and DEATH and he can choose to let
the sick ones suffer and die, unless the County
Agrees to pay the bill. The County should pay
It, in some Gases; but the thing is being carried
toe far. When many Of the doctors get poor
pstient, of whom they have doubts OF getting
thsir psy, or think they will have to wait long
time, they 70 to the Township Trustee, and get
aim 10 certify to the account - proper and just.
II has come to light that some Of the Trustees
have been in the hsbit Of certifying TO pretty
much anything they were asked 70, without ex-
aminnR it, in order to get clear Of the applicant,
expecting that the County Board would look in
to it, snd reject anything that was not right.
Bat the law makes the Township Trustees the
ovsrsesrs Of the poor. When . Trustee attaches
his eerti6cats to paper, it 10 regarded As having
been done under his oath, and that he has exam
case,
business of the County Board to hunt up evil
dsncs - to the cases. Unless they have positive
knowledge to the contrary, they make the allow
ances on the certificates of the Trustees. The
latter are the ofacers who could, If they would,
save the County thousands of dollars. They
should examine every claim, and certify to moth
ing but what 10 necessary and just. The Board
proposes to compel ali psupers to reside at the
County Poor House, when practicable; but in
many cases, 1t would be hardship upon the per-
sons 10 do 90; and in many other cases, by sx-
tending temporary aid, the pauper will soon fnd
it best to endsavor to support himself, whereas,
il sent to the Poor House, he would be apt to be-
come permanent charge
We mention doctors above merely to illustrate.
We do not mean that they are the only ones OF
whom fault has been found. The same thing is
done in other matters. For instance, at the last
meeting of the Board, among the pauper bills
presented, was one Of over go for clothes in
which to bury psuper! Have they come to
broadcloth suits to bury paupers in; or, do they
put the bills up high, expecting the Board to cut
them downf But this bill was certified by .
Township Trustee, a. necessary and just! 81
shroud would have answered all the purpose, and
go should have moro than paid for coffin, shroud,
and all. But the Board did not allow the SO.
Another bill Of t6 or over was presented for dig
ging . grave for pauper A person who hap
pensd to hear those persons talking about dig
gins grave, asked them what they were plot
ting, an was informed by them, that thoy had
reluatsered to 60 and dig the grave; that the de-
ceased had been . good fellow, and they could
afford to do him this last favor. But it seems
the idea struck them that the County sometimes
paid for such things, and they stuck in q modest
little bill for their valuable service.
But the checklist "put in" that We know Of,
was the Secretary of . certain Cemetery putting
in bill Of $12 or SIS for room in which to bury
paupes iu the Cemetery! 1t has been the custom,
from the earliest ages, even before Christ, for 3
corner Of every buryingground to be set apart
for the burial of strangers and psupers who could
not pay for lots. There is no graveyard without
its "Potters Field" This has always been free,
and tho man who was not able to live, had a
right to . small hole in which to be covered out
Of sight when he died. But this Cemetery had
the check to ask the County to pay for the six
feet BY two of ground in which few paupers
were hid away! The bill was not allowed.
And this il the way gouges are constantly at
tsnpted. 1t requires the closest watchfulness to
avoid them, aud then frequently without sue
cess