Morning journal and courier., 1889-11-27

yated by the committee. It was found that about March, 1889, postal note for between b4 and % was sent to the superintendent by 0. s. Leete & O., from whom the town was drugs at that time. Subsequently another postal note for $3.87 was mailed by Mr. Sperry to Mir. Sanford. Both notes were returned to Mr. Sperry with the statement that he (Mr. Sanford) was not in that kind of business. The committee are of the opinion that no other person connected with the firm of Leete & Company or in the employ had any knowledge of these transactions. The committee do not And that other commis- sions were ever delivered to Mir. Sanford, although there are reasons for thinking they have occasionally been hintsd at by parties whose names the committee could not pre- cure. None of the evidence gave any ground for believing that any commissions were ev- CT accepted by Mr.. Sanford.
 THE NIGHT wArcHMAN KEPT BUSY.
 Among the regular employes at the alms- house is night watchmau named George H. Lansing. Daring the months when his dials were examined he was not on duty more than one-half of the time between 12 p. m. and 4 a. m. The principal explanation given was that he was called on for 50 much day work during the absence of other officers, that he was often unfit for night duty. As the work of the night watch man, when properly performed, affords an important protection to life and property. he should not be called on to discharge conflict ing duties and he should be held to strict account for his own service.
 DILAToRY CASH BALANCES.
 There were several instances in which g part of the cash balance, which should have been paid over to the town agent at the close of the month, was retained at the alms- house. Repeated attempts were made by the committee to learn the cause of these deten- tions, but no satisfactory explanation was found The cash book was kept by the almshouse clerk until January l, 1SSS. After that time it was kept by the superintendent. The balances detained were in all cases final ly paid over to the town agent.
 ooMMHNpAToRY.
 The committee further says: It would be unjust to the superintendent of the alms- house not to commend him for those features of his administration which have been found to be thoroughly good. The committee then speaks of the important mental qualities, wis dom, discretion and administrative ability required of man iu such position, and the committee finds that ''the discipline is good. the building clean, the bedding, clothing and food suitable and sufficient, and that the in' mates are humanely cared for." The com mitteo also finds the management of the female department to be good. The vicious and immoral are kept separate from the worthy poor. The thirty or forty old ladies in ''the old ladies' department" are well cared for, and the committee comments "Mrs. San ford, the matron, as lady of much ability and experience and exceptionally well fitted for the place she holds."
 THE OUTSIDE POOR ACCOUNT.
 The committee after explaining the meth. cd of keeping a record of these accounts says: "The records and testimony prove to the eatisfaction of the committed that in some cases orders were issued and paid by the town which were charged to per- sons whose deaths had been reported at the town agents office some time before the or ders were issued; that in other cases orders were issued and charged to persons who did not receive them and who were known by the town agent or his assistant clerk not to be in need of such assistance when these or ders where drawn.
 The assistant clerk, John J. Clerkin, usu ally gave out these orders and made the charges. He has been indicted for embezzle- ment, and the evidence supporting the charges against him has been thoroughly worked up and is in the possession of the attorney for the town, who is assisting the State in the prosecution. He has properly reserved his explanations and defense to be presented in court, and the committee does not deem it proper to express any opinions on the merits of the case against him."
 TOWN LABOR.
 Under this head the committee, after much enquiry and fruitless attempts to fath- om the much mixed accounts on the time books, pay rolls, stubs of the order books and orders actually paid, say that the condi- tion of these records is such that they are unable to make any specific finding on this matter. Sometimes the errors seemed to favor the town; and the fact that many en- tries, apparently irregular, have been ex- plained, tend to show that there has been ne intentional wrong doing. On the other hand there are cases where all explanations have failed.
 MISPLACED CHARITY.
 "The committee has given careful consid- eration to the subject of the distribution of almshouse. These are subdivided into two classes: First, those who receive direct as- sistance in money without return of service; and second, those who are given employment by the town upon the roads, the town farms, during the past five years about $260, ,O00. During the year ended November 1, 1888, the amount SO paid was $60, ,000.
 In the opinion of the committee Q large part of this expenditure may be termed mis- directed charity. Many undeserving and unworthy persons have been thus partly maintained at public expense, who are capa. ble of self support, and who are not proper subjects of benevolepce. Hundreds of men and roads to whom wages have been paid at the rate of q. 50 a day, whose labor has been compaI atively worthless. Evidence has been given which shows that a considerable part of this class of labor is expensive at any price, and that fifty cents day would, on the average, be . sufficient remuneration. The temptation to rely upon the town fol support, instead of seeking employment from private parties, is thus continually held ur before a certain class of shiftless laborers and the public is made to contribute heavily to the process of educating men to become chronic mendicants and ultimate paupers No thoroughly searching examination appears to have been made into the condition and circumstances of those who have thus sought work from the town. but their own unsup ported statements have been accepted appar 0nCly without question.
 While we cannot charge that political in. huence has been enlisted to any considerable extent in behalf of aid to this class of mendi cants, it appears that 1t has been the habit oi some selectmen to send such applicants fol aid to the superintendent of the almshouse with request for their employment, witt room for the inference that compliance would be esteemed to be @ special favor. II also appears that in some cases Influence has been brought to bear upon the towr agent to restore to the roll of recipients oi charity names which had been eliminated therefrom for reasons which to him seemed sufficient.
 There is certain temptation constantly presented to the town agent and to the SC lectmen to foster political forces by catering to the wishes and the good will of those who thus seek public aid, and of their friends. I, is hardly possible to divorce political consid erations from official action when brought into such close relationships as are found 1T the administration of the charity funds o the town under existing methods. Wher the offices of town agent and selectmen may be filled or vacated by votes shaped or de. termined by the measure of charity meted out by these servants of tht public, there would seem to exist grave reasons for Q change of methods which shall remove temptation which even the best o men may not be able wholly to resist. The committee would recommend that the plar adopted by the authorities of Hartford b, introduced here in the matter of giving worl to applying laborers; which is, to give con. stant employment to all such applicants a the uniform rate of fifty cents per day. Un, der such conditions none would apply excep