The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-08-09

charge of all matters in relation to the care
and support OF the county poor The law
simply says that the County Board shall have
the p0rGr to do it. It's not duty imposed
by law upon the County Board, but simply
u discretionary power, to be exercised or not
at pleasure. The County Board might posi-
lively refuse to appoint such agent and their
acts in that respect would be legal and valid,
neither could they be compelled by law to
make such appointment. And as to how or
in what way they shall manage the business
of the county poor rests entirely with them,
provided they do not abuse the trust imposed
in them. They may do it through their pau,
per committee, or they may appoint spec
ial committee for that purpose, or they may
entrust it to an agent appointed by them.
The legal authority Of the Pauper Com
mittee to take charge of the County Asylum
and the county poor in case Of the death or
resignation of the County Agent independ-
ant of any action of the Board of Supervisors,
is not entirely clear The nature and charac-
ter of the business entrusted to them could
only Ike used as an argument suggesting the
fitness of the committee for the position. |
do not think the committee, contrary to the
wishes of the County Board, in case of
the death or resignation of the County Agent
would be authorized to make contracts to
bind the county. The County Board how
ever, has the power to ratlfy any act perform
cd by the committee within the power con
fered on the County Board IN relation to the
county poor; or the County Board may by
resolution authorize the Paupcr Committee,
III case of the death or resignation of the
County Agent, to take charge of the County
Asylum and county poor and provide for and
manage said institution and report It's action
to the board for approval. In case OF such
ratification or in case the authority is con
terred by resolution, such committee would
become the agent of the County Board, sub
iect to their control, and could not be held
amenable to any other authority unless for
an abuse of the power conferred.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
HENRY MAYO,
county attorney.
Supervisor Flaherty moves that Drs. Hard
and Macarthur be employed as county ply
sicians at a salary of three hundred dollars
per annum, in place of DR.. Petit, resigned.
Carried.
Supervisor Lewis presents the following
resolution, which on motion was adopted:
Res0lued, That III case any vacancy may
occur in the Office of County Agent or the
warden or matron of the County Asylum, or
county physicians, the Pauper Committee
shall have power to make provision for fill
Inc such vacancy until the next subsequent
meeting of this board.
Supervisor Cheever presents the following
preamble and resolution:
WHEREAS La Sale Co. jail has become no.
torious, and acquired an unenviablc rcpu-
tation over all the state As a place unfit to
confne human beings and
WHEREAS, The court house has had its
day and answered the purpose for which 1t
was intended, but is now old and in an ire
parable condition, and has neither rooms or
accommodations to transact the business OF
this populOus county: and
WHEREAS, All material and labor can be
purchased at less price now than for the
last ten years, and probably less than tor the
next ten years to come, and by building now
saving of many thousands Of dollars to the
county would be realized; and
WHEREAS, 1t Is reported that the location
of said Jail and court house Is the only OBJ
stacle about which the opinions and interests
of many are divided, and which thus far has
prevented buildings; and
WHEREAS The county is out of debt and
abundantly able to bald and therefore,
Resolped, That the Board of Supervisors Of
this county cannot afford to listen longer to
these contentious about location, but proceed
at once and take measures for the erection OF
jail and court house at a cost not to eX-
coed $4,000.
Res0lced, That the selection of location
for said Jail and court house shall be deter
mined by vote of the whole Board of SUI
pervlsors after having examined the various
lots which may be offered for such location.
S. w. CHEEvER.
Supervisor Beach moves that further action
on said resolution be postponed to the next
september term of this Board. Carried.
Supervisor Lewis, chairman of the special
committee to define the duties of the county
agent, warden and matron, presented the fol
. lowing report, which on motion was adopted:
To tie Board Of Supervisors IF La safe
Connty: GENTLEMEN-Your committee to
whom was referred the matter of the respcc
tive duties of the county agent, and the war.
den and matrOn of the county asylum, would
respectfully beg leave to report:
That the members Of the committee Tex
cept Supervisor Flaherty, who from feeling
of delicacy declined any action in the mat
teri met in Ottawa on July 2Sth, and IN
company with the county agent proceeded to
the county asylum, where a lengthy inter
view took place between your committee,
the county agent and the warden and matron
of the asylum. Your committee were anX-
ious to ascertain, if possible, wherein any
conflict of authority would be most likely to
occur, that they might be enabled to recon-
mend some plan that would obviate such
difficulty if possible. Referring to such IN
terview it gives your committee pleasure to
be able to state that the most full and free
expression of opinion by all present took
PLACE and developed the fact that there exist
ed no difference of opinion among those
most interested, and that the ideas of all three
upon the subject were in entire harmony
with those of each member of the COM
mittee.
Your committee find ii impossible to do
more than generalze-it being out of the
question to prescribe the duties of each in
detail. Concluding, your committee would
recommend the adoption Of the follow
ing as embodying as nearly as possible their
well considered ideas, and being In entire
harmony with the expressed views of the
county agent, the matron and the warden.
4 -Ii Al a. a =.