The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-04-04
THE INFIRMARY DIRECTORS

Al.oI IehulnB Gll0 htp' Wo VOuCluuou
to investigate and report. Had we
known to certainty who this "DemO
crat' was in the Rep. we would have
driven out couple of miles, and taken
him with us in the investigation, and
satisfied him that it was "all right" 1t
is unfortunate that these people do not
wish to be informed and enlightened.
They are determined to find the mfr.
mary Directors guilty, whether they are
or not. An honest enquirer after truth"
does not screen himself from view, for
he need not. And if there is anything
really wrong, he need not keep his val
liable person from sight, for, by proving
his charges he would endear himself to
the people, and possibly become so pop
ular as to get an Office himself-perhaps
Infrmary Director.
We take pleasure in saying that the
Infrmary Directors do their business
carefully, and keep a record of every
thing. Their recent report was for the
six months ending March 1st, the law
requiring half yearly reports, which have
been regularly made.
AS to the Incidental Expense" item
in the report, of $2O496, of which the
writer makes ado, any one Of the Direct.
ors will gladly show him or any citizen
the books and vouchers going TO make
up this amount.
For female help $49792; and male
help $365.2O, are also items in the report
that bother and cause labored comment.
The writer supposes that these sums
were for the hired help during the six
months covered by the report. II he
was accustomed to business, or had
thought little, or had called and seen
the books and vouchers, he would have
seen the matter in it's true light. Both
girls and men hired at the Infirmary
have been in the habit of letting their
wages accumulate; and having been all
paid off on the first Of March, these
amounts are larger than usual. One
man had only drawn some $25 in two
years, and two or three Of the females had
good sums TO lift. As the hands at work
putting in the steam apparatus were
boarded at the In6rmary, additi al fe-
male help was required. And, again, we
say the vouchers are all on file, and ev-
erything is straight. These Carpers are
no doubt sorry it is so, but such is the
fact.
Travelling expenses $24 95," is another
bugaboo. Paupers sometimes escape
and get into other counties, and get tenn.
porary lodgment, and when notified, our
Infrmary Directors must attend to the
case and bring them back. These Vouch.
ers, too, are at hand, and any citizen
may inspect.
There is nothing wonderful in the su.
perintendent drawing but 5000 of his
salary during the six months covered
by the report. Why should this cause
suspicion of "tampering ?" Some men
are entirely too smart
Optics sharp 1t needs, ween,
To see what is not to be seen.
For many years the clerk ofthe Direct.
ors has been allowed $125 a year for keep
ing the books, and Mr.. William Slower at
tends to this duty, and does it honestly
and faithfully. The rest of the $1795O
was for services in attending to the poor
and travelling expenses. The salary as
clerk is we'll earned, as is every dollar
the Directors draw.
The physicians services are cheap.
They are employed by the year, one for
the Inhrmary at $l75, one at Massillon,
and one at Alliance, each at $40 a month.
There were small pox cases at the last
named places, last year and this, when,
if the Directors had not had this arrange
ment, it would have cost the county
much more. Experience has shown this
plan the cheapest and bestin all respects.
The writer thinks there are not so
many inmates at the Infrmary as re,
ported. Let him count them once a
week or oftener for a year if he likes,
and then he may see for himself, and
also be able to calculate the daily cost of
keeping pauper.
The winter season, it is proper to say,
is more expensive than summer. Cloth
ing costs more, fuel more, more food is
consumed. This, and what we have
stated before, will show all reasonable
persons the folly of doubling the late six
months bill to estimate the cost for the
whole year.
The items showing stock cold are
strictly correct, being horses and sheen.
one being $276.5O and the other 1927 q.
No horses are kept for individuals for
nothing. The horses kept are we'll and
promptly paid for.
For a long time in the ad Vance Repos-
tory we have observed these mean and
malicious articles attacking the Infrmary
Directors, as that sheet has also the
County Commissioners and other off.
clals. In matters OF this kind no honest
citizen need hide himself behind an
anonymous signature. We despise q
skulker, and believe in open, manly work.
Every taxpaying citizen has q right to
know, and the books and vouchers are
open for inspection, and the Infirmary
Directors dare investigation. Detraction
seems to be the only stock in trade of
the Repository, and it is drawing TO itself
kindred spirits who aid in the foul work.
Some persons delight to think and speak
evil Of others, especially if they can re.
main concealed. Il ought tO be more
pleasant, and surely is to honest people,
to be able to speak good than evil of 9TH
ers. If the Repository correspondent is a |
DEMOCRAT" he takes his wares to peor
market, and seems to delight in detrac-
ton and misrepresentation, just like the |
rest ofthat "ungoodlie" company. Ithe |
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