Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-05
POVERTY.
What Shall We Do With 1t, and How
Shall the Burden be Divided?
COMMISSIONER R. D. M'GONNTGLE.
Suggests the Massachusetts, Plan of Divid-
ing Weight.
UNEQUAL LOAD BORNE IN THIS COUNTY


D. McGonDigle, Secretary of the ALLIE
gheny County Light Company, had been
appointed by Governor Beaver one of the
commission of seven to revise aud codify
the laws relating to the relief, care and
maintenance of the poor OF Pennsylvania.
From remarks and growls heard in various
quarters it would appear fully time that
something was done. There is especial
dissatisfaction in this county, outside the
cities of Allegheny aud the boroughs of Nc
Keesport, Bradhock and Sharpsburg, the
reason for which being given further along.
Mr.. McGonnigle was asked to explain
what was expected to be done, and he stated
that the trouble IS that the State has out
grown its swaddling clothes since the gen.
eral law for the management OF the poor was
framed in 1885, the DEVELOPMENT of the last
56 years, and the special acts that have been
passed for the management of the poor IN
various counties since, having made crazy
quilt patchwork of the matter. The law OF
1886 made provision for the settlement OF
slaves and apprentices, for instance, and now
both the slave and apprentice systems are
things of the past and the environment is
otherwise changed. When that act was
passed there were less than half dozen
almshouses in the State, pauperism being
almost unknown. From time to time as
certain counties grew in population, they
had special acts passed granting them
power to build poorhouses, and these acts
not only conficted in many cases with the
general poor law, but with each other, and
at the meeting of the Association OF Poor
Directors held in Uniontown the Governor
was asked to appoint the commission for the
purpose of
PROVIDING UNIFORMITY
and this commission is expected to formu-
late something more in keeping with the
present time. The preliminary settlement
OF paupers was by the act of 1886 confided
to two justices of the peace, but in some of
the special acts one justice is only neces-
sary and the methods of distributing relief
also vary and lead to unending conflicts of
authority and jurisdiction. This commits
sion is required to report to the next session
of the Legislature, and for its ex-
penses $1,000 have been appropri-
ated. The persons appointed must meet
at the Office of the Secretary OF the Com
monwealth in Harrisburg within one month
after their appointment and organize. 1t
has power of adjournment as to time and
place, and each Commissioner is allowed
5000 salary, and its clerk is to have sucn
reasonable compensation as may be approved
by the Governor. 1t has power to examine
the books and papers of Poor Directors and
to examine under oath any person in rela-
tion to the affairs of the poor districts, and
can imprison any one refusing to attend
when summoned as a witness. The COM
mission will probably meet on the 14th
inst, as the Association of Poor Directors
holds its annual meeting on the 18th. It is
of two or three lawyers and the
rosf of tho m N, haru me vvh ho he ovpo-
rience in the management of the poor.
IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
Mr.. Pugh, of Lackawanna, is a member. |
He was member of the Constitutional |
and was Presidential elector |
last year. He has had large experience in
the management of paupers. Mr.. Nc
made a practical study of the |
question for many years also.
The matter is specially interesting in this |
county outside the two cities. There is !
much growing in the country districts and |
in most of the boroughs regarding the prac-
tical working OF the County Home. 1t is
claimed that not only 80 per cent of its in
mates are Of foreign birth, but that nearly |
all OF them are sent by McKeesport, Brad |
dock and, Sharpsburg boroughs, and that !
the tax paid by the rest of the rural portion |
Of the county is almost solely for the benefit |
Of these three towns. Said complainant:
81 lived for 20 years in township that |
only sent one pauper to the home, and sent |
him but few years, and yet it paid taxes
On valuation of $500, OO0." As paupers can |
be maintained for 500 year, it will be |
seen that had this township kept one in the |
home all that time, it would on the present
millage have paid about five times whatit |
costs to keep pauper, and the complainant ]
states that in all that time it paid about 30 |
times as much as it got back. If the matter
were analyzed, it would be found that the |
bulk of the agricultural districts and |
boroughs fare equally as poorly in the dis |
tribution.
This man complains that the Home is
managed and has a SUPER
fluffy OF officers, luxuries, etc., but Mr..
states that some people whom
ne knows, people competent to judge, tell |
him that the County Home appears to be
we'll managed, and he states that they are
not partisans of either of the warning fac
lions that have of late years struggled for
supremacy in its management.
A CHARGE DENIED.
Mr.. McGonnigle referred to the Massa-
chusetts system of almshouse management,
and it contains a suggestion that may be
worth some study. Massachusetts is divided
into what are called towns, as on the West
srn Reserve in Ohio, corresponding to our
townships. Each town is made pay for the
boarding of its own paupers, and when one
Of them succeed in efecting settlement
it is very difficult matter ever after to dis
odge him, but the angry controversies and
lawsuits that accompany such settlements
1ere are under the Massachusetts, regulation
pretty generally avoided. The Yankees of
The Western Reserve brought their
New England customs with them and tine
financial circumstances of new comers were
generally investigated with close scrutiny.
Years ago some of the wealthiest people of
Ohio could recollect when they had been
warned out" by the town supervisor.
There was nothing to hinder him from serv-
ng his warning on any new conner. and if he
lldn't like new arrival'he was very apt to
i've him possible pauper's welcome. The
Varning was for the purpose OF preventing
he incomer from becoming burden on the
own in case he proved to be ripscallion.