Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-05-07
FULLGRORN @ ORPHAN

In casting ABOUT 1Or an oplcct upon
which to exercise that stern public
economy which the disastrous condi-
ton of the State finances demand, the
Legislator is confronted with the So
called soldiers orphan" school" as a
system of paternal aid that has GER
tainly outlived the aim of the practical
and patriotic beneyolence in the spirit
OF which it was founded. The original
gift of $4,000 by the Pennsylvania
road which laid the foundation of this
system, and its subsequent further.
ance and liberal support by the State,
were commendable and made Pennsyl-
vania's generosity and her respect to
her soldier dead and care for their
families monumental among the States
OF the Union. In its original plan it
was proposed to complete its work on
the 3lst of May, 1879, and Superin-
tendent Wickersham, in his annual re-
port for 1875, referred to its close at
that date as thing from which "no
great hardship can arise"
A comparison of this date with that
of tho close of the war showed that it
was not a likely thing that children
under fourteen years of .agc, whose
fathers had died prior to May, 1865,
would apply for admission to these
schools after May, 1879. The policy
of their administration should have
been, in all reason, to bring them to a
Igradual winding up about the present
date, and the number of scholars and
schools, as well as the expense of main
tanning them, should have gradually
decreased according to the original
aim of their establishment
But meantime these schools had be-
come matter Of lucrative private
speculation. 1t is notorious that in
several parts of the State those operat-
ing them had fat thing of it; places
have been afforded for fllce-holders in
the maintenance Of them, and numer-
GUS interests combined to secure an
enlargement OF their scope so that an
act was passed in 1874 under which
the children of disabled soldiers, not
deceased, were taken in, and another
in 1875 by virtue of which children Of
disabled or deceased soldiers, though
born since the war, were admitted to
the benefits Of support and education
by the State. By such extension Of
the system, and by prolific abuses Of
even these liberal enlargements OF its
charity, the schools have been largely
increased, and we believe the fact is
that they are more numerous, better
filled and cost more now than ever
they did. AT the time when, under
the implied agreement with which
former appropriations were made, theii
work should cease, they are in ful
bloom, and it is even proposed in The
present Legislature to pass new bill
, under which living ex.soldier, il
, perfectly sound health, can send biz
so,called "orphans," born dozen year,
or moro after the war, to be maintain
!, ed and educated at the public expense
These enlargements from time tC
time are an abuse of patriotism anC
charity, engineered by class of peo
I, pie who would transfer to the Stat,
their obligations to clothe, support anC
educate their children, and by specu
lators who are running the schools tC
profit, and by licc-holders who draw
8 salaries for overseeing them 1t has
been but short time since a most i'm
: pudent job was sought to be forced
) upon the State by one of the clerks o.
{ this department, who got up history
of the schools and tried to get the
State to buy thousands Of copies o.
,, his trash at u large expense. We are
told, too, that o member of the State
Senate has an interest in prolonging
the system to the extent of owning ioui
or five of the schools sought to be per
petuated at the public expense. With
such influences behind them, PROPOSE
tions to keep the SOLDIERS orphan
schools" in operation will be forthcom.
ing as often as there is any danger
that the supply of "orphans" will be
come exhausted. Soon there will be
provision asked TO be made for grand
children and the sisters, aunts and
cousins Of everybody who had rela.
tive in the army. If it is proposed
that the Commonwealth shall clothe
feed and instruct all the children with.
in its borders, let that design be
: made to fully appear, but it IS ridicu
, lous to any longer keep up any dis
. tinction between soldiers orphans
and others. As Republican con
{ temporary, whose loyalty will not be
. questioned, remarks "The children
{ who were entitled to this special boun
ty Of the Commonwealth have receiv
ed il, and are now in a position TO carr
! their own living, with advantages fai
beyond the average of those enjoyed
by the boys and girls OF Pennsylvania
generally" "And the sooner the sal
aries and the dividends of the soldiers
orphan schools are brought to an end
/. the better it will be for tho interests o.
the State."-Lancaster htelligencer.
y lie WILL PROBABLY Nor BE SC
Z" FUNNY NExr TImE.-Republioani
nominated to federal Offices and desir
ing to be confirmed will not feel under
obligations TO Senator Anthony. Al
q the close of the session on the 2stt
ult., the Republicans desired to go int,
executive session, and Mr.. Anthony
. made q motion to that effect, but ou
of a desire to make cheap reputation
for wit preiaccd it with the remark
that "if the chairman Of the varioul