Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-03-07
Support for the Aged INDECENT.

The San Francisco Past of last evening
had the following reference to matter in
which Sacramento county may be inter
ested;
In framing the new Constitution, clause
| was inserted in the legislative article (Sec-
ton %, Article IV) prohibiting appropria-
tons to asylums or hospitals not under the
exclusive control of the State expressly ex-
empung from its operation any aid which
the Legislature might grant by Uniform
rule 10 Institutions for the support OF minor
orphans half orphans, abandoned children
| or aged persons in INDECENT circumstances.
And in case that such aid might be granted
| BY the Legislature to such institutions. TN
der church or other control, the Constitu-
! ton made it mandatory to grant pro rata
| appropriations for the support Of similar
! Institutions under county, city and county,
or town control. IN changing the Codes in
1880 TO conform to the constitutional re-
! quirements, a bill appropriated SIS per an
nun for the support of orphaned and aban-
| doned children, and this money has been
regularly drawn since by county and city
| officials throughout the State. In the SEES
| sion Of 1928 the Legislature to more fully
carry out the intention Of the Constitution.
| inserted a proVis0 allowing 500 per annum
| for the support of each aged person. sixty
years being fixed in the Act as the age Of
| the pauper 10 be entitled to the benefits of
! the Act, 10 every Institution conducted for
| the care Of such persons.
Somehow the city officials, although re-
ceiying regularly the appropriation for
orphan children, never knew of the ex-
lstence Of the amendment until a few
weeks ago, when Supervisor Kunkler, in
pouring over the statutes of 883, made the
welcome discovery that the city had q bo-
nanza
Yesterday Superintendent Heating of
the Almshouse Went to Sacramento with
the following bill, and presented it to the
State Board OF Examiners:
State Of California to the City and County Aims
house OF San Francisco Dr., under An Act
to appropriate money Tor the support OF axt ID
persons in INDECENT circumstances" approved
March is, 1883
To support OF :Sl$ aged persons in indi-
gent circumstances, tor the half year
ending December 81. 1853. Il
10 support OF 3Ih for half year ending
june g. 1881 II ESQ 81
To support Of 31o for halt year ending
December 81 1915 28
,4s9 Ss
To Mr. Keating's surprise, the Controller
took the ground that the bill was lncon-
sGtutionaI, and, to still further back him
SELF in lis position, expressed the opinion
that the fourth subdivision OF The last sec
ton which was Incorporated to prevent it
being abused, prohibited the San Francisco
Alnsh0use from obtaining any State aid
under the Act The subdivision declares
" That no person under the age of sixty
years shall be deemed an aged person in
INDECENT circumstances within the meaning
Of this Act"
The ground taken by the Controller is
that for any county to obtain State aid for
its eyed paupers it must provide under the
above subdivision separate maintenance
for all aged persons in INDECENT circum-
stances. An opinion ike this is perfectly
ridiculous, yet, after the State Examiners
passed the claim fayordbly, the Controller
refused to draw his warrant for the money |
and, as a result, the city will have to sue,
which CITY Attorney Love says will be done
shortly.
The Controller also refused to draw his |
warrant for the $50 600 on the "leprosy |
fund" for the establishment of lazaretto |
IN San Francisco, claiming that the law is
unconstitutional.