The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-03-14
The OutpensiOn List.

The civilization of a community may be
measured by the care it takes of lis poor and
helpless members, who without the aid of
organized public charity would suffer for
want of the necessarics of life But this aid
should not be given in II way that would en-
courage idleness, or be extended, as general
thing, to any except those who without such
assistance must go to the Almshouse.
1t is, of course, natural for men to shrink
from acknowledging themselves dependent
upon the public for support, and it has been
found that in some cases with little money
aid from the county, regularly given, poor
persons can, with the help of their friends, be
supported at their homes more economically
than at the county Almshousc. The numer-
Gus applications for pensions and the frequent
addition TO the list of ouipensioners, however,
lead To the fear that this system of supporting
the poor OF the county is likely 10 he oyerdone
and if not carefully guarded, be abused.
AT one time pensions were only sought by
II class OF respectable poor persons, 10 whom
the thought of ending their days in the
"Poor House was insupporiabr, but who
reluctantly accepted aid from the county, il
only enough 10 keep body and soul together
rather than lir sent To The Almshuusc. OF
late years II different feeling has prevailed
The reluctance which used To he felt mt being
known rs G,prnd,n, upon public charity has
ceased to exist, and pensions are sought and
accepted aa something Ia which the recipient
is entitled the snmrn ~ II pension from The
government for millnIv service.
There are now on the =, nsiJn list the
names Of over one hundred persons, Ia whose
support the county contributes annually oven
s., 500 This is in addition 10 the cost OF
maintaining the county AlmshuuSr, whicli
amounted last year 10 about 81 800 more
The lowest pension is $40 year, aud to one
person only, and the highest 800, the aver.
age being about $2j. Several persons re-
ceive sums ranging from $40 TO 500, by
special acts Of the Legislature authorizing the
County Commissioners to make such APP
rOpraions We have no doubt the persons
receiving these large pensions are worthy
objects Of charity, but it would he much
better for the Legislature to throw the respon
siblity Of granting them entirely upon the
County Commissioners. When the Legislt-
turc passes a law 0nttortging the Commission.
ers, in their diScietion, to make such appro
priations, it has always been found that the
county board considers itself free from r..
sponsbiliiy, and accepts the act ofthe Legis-
LOT, .,,,,t,
the Legislature undertakes to grant OF
authorize special pensions, the amount should
be paid out of the State treasury.
1t is not contended that these one hundred
persons could be supported more economi
cally mt the AnIshouse, but it is almost Ger.
tain that all are not objects of charity Sc
needy MS to require public support. In many
cases, it is believed, persons receive aid of this
kind from the county who have relatives
able and morally bound to care for them, and
who would support them rather than see
them 90 to the Almshouse.
A comparison of the levy list of Hartford
and Frederick counties, shows that about
twice as much is allowed to 0utpensioners
in Hartford as in that rich county Frederick
county has an assessable basis of $25 ,000, 900,
or about double that of Hartford, but the
sums allowed there to outpeDsioncrs are
usually $40 in each case and rarely exceed
$50. In no case is there special pension
paid by authority of the Legislature
This branch of county expenditures should
be looked after carefully by the County Com
missioncrs, and pensions should only be
granted in cases where without such aid the
applicant would be compelled to go to the
AlmshOuse.