Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-10-09

mortgages our real estate. Let there b
patience, and we will have less taxes I,
pay. am going 20 vote the popular ticke
endorsed ''no poo: house"
Respectfully, &C.,
TACITUS.
Editor Sentinel and Republican Sir
1 noticed in your paper, the request
that communications expressive oi
the sense OF the people, for, or against
q poor house be sent in for pIbiica-
ton previous to the day of election
l take you at your wor1, and send
you this article, which l know is but
the echo of the voice of large num-
Der of the people in Juniaia county
on the question of poor house, at
this time.
The poor are always in the land,
always have been, and always will be.
The great Distinguishing peculiarly
of our system of government is that
the opportunities IN life, before the
law, are open alike to all, and the rich
of one generation may be the poor of
the next generation, and the laws
have been particularly framed, so that
those who become real poor do not
suffer. Every year in each township
and borough men are elected to attend
to the requirements of those in un-
fortunate circumstances. In many
counties large farms and costly houses
are kept up for those who cannot pro
vide living for themselves.
1t is now proposed to buy farm
in this county and establish poor
house on it. which would centraiize
the management of the. ioar, take
them out of the respective townships
to the poor house, where they would
be controlled by the poor house man
aSement.
If Juniata county had no debt,
such an establishment might be set
up; but With the Court House debt
to be paid. the large annual school
taxes. road taxes, and the current ex-
penses OF the county, such as do
rightfully belong to civilized people,
the additional debt Of $4,000 to $50
600 is not to be thought Of
The finances of the county have
been managed as well as in the best
places in the Commonwealth so far,
and the Obligations OF the county can
be kept in high favor, and all the cur
rent expenses can be easily met at the
present rate of management. but to
increase the debt another time as
large as it is now, Will be to place
burden on the property owners OF the
county that they cannot well bear.
1t may be great thing to be a
freeman, in the enjoyment of the right
to acquire and hold property. with
costly court houses, in winch to set
tie disputes and keep records; but
when the requirement and the keep
ing up of such property compels a
man to practice rigid seif-deniai the
freedom.may have little freedom in it.
Add $4,000 to S50,000 debt to this
county now, in these times, with the
current expenses, which must be met.
and the property holders will not feel
much ike freemen should feel. Our
county Indebtedness should be nearly,
if not quite all, paid before any more
costly public buildings are put up.
Again, this is no time to increase
the bonded indebtedness of the coun
ty, when the country is full of men
who are advocating the reputation
OF the National bonded Indebtedness.
If they succeed in dishonoring the
National Indebtedness, what is to
prevent tine dshonoring of State and
county indebtedness. There never
has been SO unfavorable a time for
the creation of such an establishment
as the present time, when all things
are considered.
I am in favor of paying good wages,
and in favor Of paying for all Of the
machinery of civilized government at
good prices, but L an against a bur
densome Indebtedness. which viii
bring us down to grind the faces OF
every one, publicly or privately en-
ployed. so that we may build a poor
house, aud pay for it.
Now is the time to consider this
proposal to shoulder another heavy
instalment of bonded Indebtedness,
and at the next election viii be the
time to vote it down. Every man
should go to the election and vote
against a poor house. From $4,000
to $4,000 are the stakes. If you feel
Ike avoiding such load on your
shoulders, attend the election and
vote against a poor house" and that
vote viii help to keep it off Attend
the election. and be free man.
Yours, respectfully,
JUNIATA