The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-02-10
To TIE Yor1xa TAxpAYERs.

To THE NOrIyG TAxPAYERs.
By an order oft the Court upon the peti-
rion Of 56 Taxpayers you are asked to vote
at the coming election, whether the provi-
sions Of the general law relating to Aims
houses shall apply to Somerset county, or
not
| A short history Of how the poor have been
| kept in this county nav not be ont OF place.
Prior to the wear 1875 the poor were sup
ported by a tax levied by the overseers Of
the poor of each Boroueh and Township, T
there were any poor to be kept. The over
seers sold out the keeping Of the poor once
a year, like cattle in the market. with this
difference. that the lowest bidder instead Of
the highest was the person who took charge
of them for the ensuing year. The inhu-
mauity if not barharity Of such system
was apparent 10 all aud upon consultation
with some Of the prominent citizens after
seeing a number of these unfortunates sold
on the street in Somerset. prepared Bill
which I sent 70 Harrisburg which was there
enacted into law Under this law the poor
OF this county have been kept up 70 this
time In IS7G a general law was passed,
which, with its supplements. is deemed bv
many far superior 70 our special law ofls45
I The poor in 4 number of the counties in
this State, are now kept under the general
law. This law provides for the election OF
five Directors every two years; but only
three can be voted for. giving the minority
two Directors The salary of the Direc-
tors to be 500 year. This increase in the
number OF Directors and their salary, may
be objected 20 by some. but il is SO small
that it should have little weight when the
advantages are considered. With well edu-
Gated men for Directors. and the keeping Of
the poor regulated by system, and with
strict economy, thousands 6f dollars can be
saved every year Well settled rules should
be made as TO the diet and clothing of the
inmates. such is the case in all well regu-
lated institutions of this kind.
The meat bill a, one j. said to exceed that
Of the largest hotel in the county Many Of
the paupers, il properly directed as TO labor, /
can earn enough 20 pay for their own sup
port The Poor House Farm Of Fayette
County, for wears was seifsustainiBg and
sometimes paid surplus into the county
treasury. Under the general law the coun- 1
ty must be divided into five districts, and /
each Director has district assigned to him /
In electing Directors it can be so arranged .
that each district shall have Director who .
resides in IL. which will prevent the Direc-
tors beng imposed upon. as they have been. 1
Somerset township, with few exceptions,
has furnished all the Directors these many
years. Had more Of the Directors been
taken from other townships. money, ifnoth-
ing else. might have been saved
We have had minority representation in
Commissioners, Auditors. jury Commis-
sioners and inspectors. The keeping of the
poor comes fairly under the mead Of Chari-
ties and should not be mixed with politics.
Those who vote tor the general law will
have this pleasing reflection: that they
have done what they could. 10 smooth the
pathway ofthe unhappy poor to their final
resting place-the grave
II the general lsw is adopted, three Direc-
tors must be elected at the fall election, but
the tickets must have the names Of two can
didates only. The present Directors will
hold to the end Of their term.
ISAAC HrsUs.