Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-11-22


condltion some poor unfortunates have
been found in, they would recognize the
value Of the State Board of charities and
reform. AS to whether it is not more
economical to keep them than TO send
them away. We are keeping them for
$500 per week under contract, if the
contractor can keep them for that and
make money the county need not lose
money keeping them, and then we get
81 80 from the state each week for each
one. while if we send them away they
viii cost US $500 per week and get
nothing back. 1t does not make the
insane self-snpporting but it reduces the
expenses great deal. We receive each
week 10000 for patients kept at the
county farm. If gentlemen would
throw that away they would manage
the public business very differently from
what they would their own.
MIR. McARTHUR-f do not understand
that our poor have been abused under
the present administration. Ihave heard
no complaint and understood that all
was going along smoothly. What better
doyou want? Why put up building
II We are to have nothing to say about
1t. We do not purpose 10 build and
then turn over all to the State Board of
charities and reform. They cannot take
it from us.
Mr.. WooDHoUsE-I visited the asy-
lun to-day and found everything COM
Portable, warm and pleasant and all
wei cared for in every respect. The
question arises are we to be subjected
to the whims of this State Board, a
Board composed of five or six persons.
We have gone to the expense of building
an insane asylum, costing us twenty
thousand dollars and good deal more
before we get done with it, SO as TO take
care of the insane. The Board now
tells us we must do away with our con-
tract. Does the State Board think they
can take better care of the insane than
we can in this county? ] think that |
would not surrender our rights 10 the
State Board
Mr.. WHITCHER 1t appears here that
you have taken upon yourselves some
thing you know nothing about in APP
pointing 2 committee to make CON
tract; having made it, here comes the
pa'ernal State Board and says we will
take care of your chickens; we will do
away with your contract. Now we do
MOI get anything out of the State ex-
cept what we vote out of our own
pockets, but the State Board comes
along with the Statutory provision Civ
ing them control of this business. Was
That the law at the time the contract
was made? Did they who made the
contract know whether it was or not?
Mr.. RODOLF-We are not bound to
go by that contract, by its own terms
it can be recinded. | wish to hear the
opinion of the board.
Mr.. MCFALL-We have to submit to
the law whether right or wrong. Some
times Board of Directors of a school
district have objected to the examina-
tion OF teacher, saying, we hold our
own money and will hire whom we
please. But the law requires that
teachers be examined. That is case
like the one in hand.
Mr.. KIDD do not rise to defend
the action of the State Board, but TO
say that | believe we ought to conduct
the poor farm in the interest of the in
mates, and the more | investigate this
matter the more | am satisfied that we
are working on the wrong method.
Let us lay aside pecuniary views and all
prejudice against the State Board, and
do as they direct. Our system places
the labor of all those persons into the
hands of a person who can if he pleases
greatly abuse his privilege. 1t is letting
the labor of the poor and insane to the
highest bidder. 1t is almost parallel to
a system of slavery, selling the labor
of men to others; it is wrong in
spirit and in principel, contrary to
tae spirit of our free institutions,
to laws of justice and humanity.
We do not know what we may be
tomorrow; we may be rich to-day and
poor tomorrow. 1t is possible that some
member of this Board may be some day
in one or the other of these institutions
al the poor-farm, or some member of
some OF our families may be sent there.
Now knowingthat the contract system
produces wealth for the contractors; / do
NOT believe IN 1t, and should not like to
think that my labor or that of some of
my near relatives was to be so farmed
out in that manner The Asylum
should be put under the charge of a
superintendent
Mr.. WATSON Two years ago | was
here and heard the statement read and
do not remember that any thing was
said about the way in which the poor
and insane should be taken care of,
neithe' that it should be by contract or
in any other way; and as to the State
Boardof Charity and Reform, think
they will do the right thing in the right
place. We have heard of the cruelty
Ben Batter uncovered in Massachusetts.
| was down to the Asylum and saw the
poor mfortunates and just looked at
the matter in this way: thanked God
that | am paying little taxes to help
support them. Probably they are I'M
fortunate, they may have been impro-
vident but they cannot turn back. 1t
is good lesson to the young to take
them there and let them see these peo-
pie, and learn their history. | like
Petty. The inmates under him are
clean and comfortable. | am glad to
live in such a land of enlightenment.
We read every day of the bad treat
ment of the poor elsewhere. We have
an insane person in the Jail now He
lays there with blanket drawn over
his head and not word can be rot of
him. Suppose we were to kick him
out and take his hide to make mittenS
as they are said to have done some
other places. | would rather the State
Board would let us alone. Would be
better satisfied to leave it to the COM
mittee to deal with the Board as best
they can under the law. | do not think
the State Board will improve upon pre-
sent arrangements. But these doctors
say, we have system and they must
be taken care of according to it. Make
your arrangements to 60 ahead under
it.
Mr.. Arnold think the action of
the State Board is hardly just but they
are our Supervisors, we have an interest
at stake. But we must comply with the
law and | understand the State Board
has entire control and can take away
the insane or send insane here from
other places. We have built an ASYLUM
at great expense. We cannot do other
wise than to submit to the State Board
so let us make the best of it. 1t is no
great calamity to change if we must,
it is at most some inconvenience.
Some one asks, do you know what it
costs.
Mr.. ARNoLD-No, only by what
others have told me.
Mr.. KIDD find that the majority
of counties around us that care for poor
and insane under the superintendent
system, do it as cheaply, and more so,