Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-01-26
COMMUNICATED.

the questions OF actual and pressing
public policy and less to the indiscrim-
mate kicking against men and things,
and chronic grumbling and fault find
ING from party or personal spite, there
will be a great step taken towards a
better state of things in our public sta
tions.
One Of the most pressing questions
now before our people is the care of
paupers who are a charge upon the
county. 1t is a question, the magnl-
tude of which. few Of our taxpayers
realize, and yet one which ought to be
the most easily regulated, and upon the
rightful solution Of which Inc alculable
good will be accomplished, while from
its careless, ignorant or erroneous So
luton, large sums OF money will be
worse than squandered. and the very
evil which we seek to remedy will be
increased a hundred fold.
1t is an easy and pleasant discharge
of duty for our trustee to give an order
from the county to an applicant for
charity, it is a painful and thankless
duty for him to carefully investigate
each case, and refuse any aid except
that which is absolutely necessary for
the time being, and yet the former
course leads to extortionate demands on
the county, to loss Of selfreiance by
the applicant, and to gross injustice to
those who, by stringent economy and
hard work. endeavor to tide over crit
ical time in their affairs. Why should
they undergo privations and want,
while their indolent and careless neigh
bors are supplied by the county in their
every need? Such state of things
under the name Of charity was former
ly the only way known, until the rapid
ty with which it has encouraged lazi-
ness, lack of thrift and demoralized all
the self-rellance and other noble quail
ties of man, aroused the attention of
earnest thinkers, who by their work and
investigations have totally changed the
methods of public charity in all our
eastern cities until now they are ben
eft instead of curse to the recipients
and to the community. Therefore why
should we who claim to be in the van
guard of human progress, shrink back
from earnestly and intelligently graph
ing with this question, nor carelessly
put it aside as not of sufficient import
ance to warrant the work necessary.
We hatter ourselves that we are IA
generous people, but is it generosity
to hand an applicant quarter without
the slightest indication on his part that
misfortunes or necessities absolutely
requires it? Does it not rather, nine
times out of ten, encourage and foster
a species of preying upon a creoulous
people, and thereby rob those whose
foresight and caution have provided for
the future. for the benefit of those who
have not. During the past few years
| have personally been appealed to for
money ito get something to eat nearly
every week, and when | offered them
instead, an hours work with square
meal to follow, nine out of ten instantly
declined That OF course is but one
class, commonly known as ''tramps'
but it illustrates the principle of all
charity and the applicants therefor.
But to come down to the actual state
of affairs in this city. We have first,
trustee who, upon his own judgment,
issues orders upon our merchants for
such necessities as the applicant de-
mands. We have city clerk who does
the same. There is nothing to prevent
the same person, on the same day, OBJ
tanning orders from both parties, as was
frequently done during the last quarter
Then there is nothing whatever to pre-
vent the merchant from charging any
price he sees fit, nor to prevent the ap-
plicant from indulging in any extravi-
gance. The bills allowed by the coun-
ty commissioners last week included
-four at 81. 90 per bag, when 81. would
buy al excellent grade; 81. 80 per pair
for shoes, when few independent PEG
pie pay more than $3.50 for a more
serviceable article; 90cts. per pound
for tea when 50cts buys as good and so
on through the entire list of bills, pau
pers obtaininga better class of goods
and more of them than the average cit
izen would buy for himself and family. |
Again, family of three in 2l DAYS |
are supplied with SIS worth of grocer
les from one firm. What honest fam. |
lily in Dodge will spend that amount in
that time? Once more, family of 4 /