, 1879-04-17
MMUNlCaTED.

EDITOR ARGUS: Allow ne a small space
IN your paper. as | wish to answer
"Bloated Taxpayers" article in the
democratic Press" dated March 20.
1873, on "Our County Commissioners and
County Poor" He says DR.. L. Il. Mi
NOR, hill tor keeping the County poor is i
one dollar per day, says it is too much,
and that board and lodging can be had in
tile best hotels for that sum; but will the
hotels furnish board, lodging, medicines,
medical attendance, clothing, washing,
and nursing tor the same sum? | guess
not. He also ailndes to the increase of
the poor well sir, Is that the fault of the
Commisstoners9 From where do they
come? Why, Port Townsend has fur
nished four-tifths; ChiInacum district has
not yet sent one since have been Com
missioner; nor for many years before.
Now, sir, for the contracts. John
Barns bid for keeping the County poor
was S21a cents per day; which bid could
not be considered, tor reasons | wish not
TO explain at present; F. W. James BID
was 80 cents Per day, and DIR. II. Y. Mi
nor's BID was Tor one dollar per day. The
Commissioners thought then, and yet
upfo'd, that 1t was cheaper for the county
to take DR.. Minors bid and have the poor
properly taken rare of than to give five
cents per day less and have them placed
ilidIscrlminately in lloyel in the midst of
tile lagoon that "Bloatcd Taxpayer
speaks oi Aud am convinced the larger
majority Of Tie taxpayers of this county
ARE perfectly satisfied with the action of
the Commissioners in awarding the con-
tract. Now, 'Bloatcd taxpayer, you
advise 4 county farm. Do you know
whereof You speak, or have you piece
Of land to sell Or would you like to be the
visiting physician at say 1000 per year,
or would you like to be overeer and your
wife head nurse at say $1,000 per year ?
why. sir, II would not then cost 81 per
day. but So Der day for zach of the poor,
besides buying the iarm stock, imple-
ments ana thousand other things.
Would it then not be tile county treasury
to draw from? No sir. not while | AIN y
Commissioners will the county own farm
il can possibly prevent it. Now sir,
you speak Of abe-bodied help. Who are
the county poor? They are sick aud dis
abled persons not able to perform labor.
You allude 10 "kanaka Jack" and the
little boy. Oh, what iarm team! Whoa
horses There is not II farmer IN the
county that wonld board them for their
labor. Aud II you want the boy as an
apprentice or "kamaka Jack" for his Ia
Dor you can have them with the greatest
Of pleasure. You also say that 1t Is not
the business Of the Commissioners to let
or give contracts in behalf OF the county
poor. Well then, who's basiness is 1t?
You speak Of the taxpayers; are not the
Commissioners taxpayers! Oh no they
have ne taxes to pay. Sir, your mean
slur ON myself care not about, as all
the taxpayers know that they only have
to buy few pounds Of butter FER week
or a sack OF potatoes to get tat county
contract. Come, "Bloated Taxpayer"
and get your tat contract. But sir, |
think you must be mean miserable per-
sOn not to sign yollr name, or let a dead
man rest in hIs grave.
And Mr.. Editor, would like to know
what the gentleman OF the Press" Is go
Ing to do with the poor the three years
while he saves the money to build the
county buildings. He says that the coun-
ty Commissioners are dragging the coun-
ty In debt. But he knows that the heavy
cases decided against the county at the
last Court are going TO bring her In debt,
and he would like to saddle the blame Oh
the Commissioners. What great loss to
the county that the gentleman is not a
Commissioner. VIM. BISHOP.
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