Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-06-11


Complaints have been numerous to the
board of county commissioners that the charity
bestowed by the county in the nature OF out
pensions is greatly abused, and in very many
Of these cases no charity whatever is exercised,
but that the outpensioa is simply an encourage
ment to idlene>s. Even the keeper Of the aims
house and the disburser of this fund, Mr.. ThOs
NJ WEIGH stated that he WAS confident that
many of the recipients of the outpension soun-
ty were not deserving objects of charity. 1t Is
ell known that before ar applicant is placed
on the outpen>ion list he must forward petit
ton to the board Of commissioners signed by
FIVE reputable tax payers Of the nelghoorheod
in which he or she resides, and upon this evi.
dence alone they are placed upon the list. No"
it is well known fact that those who sign
such petitions do not trouble themselves to ia-
quirs into the condition of the applicant aud
isdeed in many instances are not in the least
acquainted with the circumstances of the per-
son. but to save annoyance to themselves or to
CRAFTY some personal friend who may present
the petition, they will sign it aud thus becc me
responsible for throwing upon the bounty oil
the county persons tho are not really deserving
objects OF charity and whom they would hest
moments time to inquire into the clrcum-
stances of the applicant. OF course this is all
wrong, but it will continue to be doue so long
as there il no check to such proceeding, and
H. Il nd
ally large sum of money on this account VA
necessarily and unjustly. A remedy for such
proceeding has been adopted by the county
commissioners of Hartford county and We think
their plan might be adopted here with success
and large saving Of money to the tax payers.
The commissioners in that county abolished
entirely the list of outpensioners, and ia remAk
ing it required each applicant TO present thea-
selves in person before tue board and submit
to personal inspection and examination, and
after this if they were found 10 be worthy OBJ
jects of charity they were placed again upon
the list. Those who through lnhrmity or SICK
ness were unable 10 come before the board were
required, in addition 10 the petition signed by
tax PAYERS, to have the certificate OF reputs-
BILE praciicng physician teSiityinS 10 his IN
capacity to work and his inahi ity 10 care for
himself, and upon this evidence was placed
upon the list. Notice should be given in the
county papers TO this effect and the saving 10
the county in this connection would be con-
siderable and the burdens Of cur tax payers
much lightened If there are needy parties in
the county who are too feeble to make the
journey to Port Tobacco at this season Of the
year, they are known aud will have no diff
Guilty in procuring neghboring physicians
certificate TO that effect and forwarding it 10
The commissioners. If they fail 10 do this, the
commissioners may fairly presume that the ap-
plicants are afraid TO come and face the ordeal
of a personal inspection, and as fairly reject
their application. The commissioners will
doubtless be besiegsd by personal and some
times by interested friends to suspend the OF der
of their adoption in particular cases. As BUSH
ness men and as guardians Of the county's in
tersst they can not afford to do it. To do so
would stultfy themselves in their own eyes
ty commissioners should be, AMI We believe are
made Of steiner stuff. A rigid adherence 10
their order, if so psblished, will save the ceun-
ty more than a thousand dollars annually, .
saving that is deserving of their consideration
as well as the saving of regulations that will
be lowered BY any departure from any original