Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-07-18
Infamous LeEIslatiOn.

Ohio state Journal.
The more one explores the mysteries of
thework performed by the O'Connor Leg
islature the more one finds out of the in
competence of that body to deal with any
question affecting the relations of the
Stateto the helpless and dependent classes.
Their recognizing bills show this at ev-
cry step. The latest development of this
fact is to be found in the O'Connor bill to
re-organize the Soldiers and Sailors Or
phans' Home, at Xenia; under the law as
vassed by the Sixty-Second General As
sembly, all children residing in Ohio, of
deceased, INDECENT and permanently dis
abled soldiers and sailors, who served in
| the land and naval services of the United
States during the late rebellion, that
were by the Board of Trustees ascertain
ed to be distitute of the means of support
and education were entitled to be admit
ted and remain at the Soldiers Orphans
Home, until they arrived at the age of 16
years, unless for good reasons sooner dis
charged. The O'Connor bill, which be-
came law during the closing hours of
the last session, reads as if it was intend
ed to cut up the institution root and
branch as soon as it could be done, and
eVade the stigma which would attach to
abolishing it by direct act of the Legis-
lature. The sections in relation to adj
mission are as follows:
'FSaid Board of Trustees are authorized
to receive in said Home the INDECENT chill
dren of deceased soldiers and sailors who
! Lost fEaSv SIay
vice of the United States during the late
rebellion, or have since died by reason of
wounds received or disease contracted
while in said service, and in the line of
duty as such soldier, Provided, however,
that no child of such deceased soldiers
shall be received into said Home un-
der the age of Twelve years, during the
life of the mother of said child; and pro-
vided also, that no child shall be received
into said home except the child of a de
ceased soldier, on account of whose death
the United States has paid OF is paying
a pension"
That is to say, no fatherless child shal
be received during the most helpless pc
riod of his life, and especially shall sucl
child be denied admission if from am
cause pension is not paid on account o
the death of the father. But the depth o
meanness is reached in the next section
wherein the Legislature representing tn
State of Ohio, dickering for the pittanc
) paid by the United States, enacts: ''Tha
: after the passage of this act the said Boar
: of Trustees shall admit and continue il
: said Home no child or children, unles
t the mother OF guardian of such child o
! children shall pay over to said Board Q
D Trustees, for the purpose of clothing sal
: child or children, the money paid By q
1 United States as pension on account Q
! the death of said SOLDIER
e We have no idea that any comment wi
add to the impression which plain state
9 ment of the above facts will make upo
the honorable and patriotic people {
$ Ohio. We are informed that at this tim
: applications are waiting the action of tn
f authorities for the admission of over sc
dependent children of the Nations dea
heroes, who are excluded from the bent
fits of the institution by the above quote
q | law