The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1890-01-18
RELIEF.
Gard from Commissioner Helgeson-
His Plans.

S6xu XIO0 SOO"1691OA0E AoA8oSoA~
His Plans.
The number of cases # destitution
in several counties in North Dakota
necessitates systematic effort in re-
lieving the suffering, in order that
public charity may not be abused and
that the sup ,lies contributed may
reach those in need of them. The
department Of agric ,lturs and labor
has been charged with the duty of re.
ceiving aid from all sources and
properly distributing it to those in
Iced: In order that this may be in
teligently done, Il at moe than
needed BE- not sent to some localities
while others are lef: to starve, it is
necessary that all contribt tions come
through the commissioners ha, ds.
he has, to tn hest Of his ability. or.
gani7ed 9he counties needing aid, and
hopes to cor stantly have full reports
from t EN- in order that he may give
each county its share.
The department cannot Of course,
deal with individ lals in the distribu.
ton of supplies, as there are at least
1000 persons needing aid, nearly all
Of VIII m are unknown personal to
thu commissioner and he would be
Utterly unable to distinguish between
the actual needy and the imposters
that always come to the front under
such circumstances. The only wa.
o avoid fraud and prevent a porto !
Of the supplies from falling into hands
that do not need aid, for the commits
s;oners of eacl, county to have entire
charge of the distrib ltion of supple
in their respective counties. They
will appoint sub.comn ittees in differ
ent portions of their counties, and
ne ke every effort to see that the de-
serving poor a:e reached and tn It tbs
$ ,pplies he not gobbled up by Sc fish
parties that are able to take care ot
themselves.
The county commissioners will fully
i lform this office Of he numbers
need, in sh sir respective counties,
and what their particular need, are
whether for clothes, -four. meat, feed
or whatever may be wanted, and how
much Of each.
This office will then receiv, what
ever supplies hay be contributed and
divide each class Of articles amo g the
Counties in prop rtit1 Of their needs.
The county commissioner, will re-
ceive such supplies from this fee
.nc pro ,erly distribute them among
their own people.
is earnestly tope1 that there m ~
be no abuses arising from this arrange
ment: but should any such occur.
should any needing and deserving
help fail to get their share, or should
a ~ ofthe supplies be distributed to
the unwort ~, any person knowing of
such abuses will confer great favcr
by reporting all the facts to this
Office and investigation will be prom
pity made.
1t is recomm ended that the fullest
publicity be given all the acts per.
tanning to the distribution of aid
believl ,g that such publicity is the
bs st preventive of fraud
The county commissioners are eau
ito ned against making extravagant
claims for their counties, IS the act
ual needs will probably exceed the
supplies. This department will do all
III its power to procure aid for tt e
deserving poor, and the amount of
aid contributed from, abroad will OF
course depend som -. hat on the fide-
lity and honesty with which the early
supplies are distributed.
All contributions from whatever
source, should be addressed to North
Dakota Relief Ass ,ciation, care of
the undersigned.
North Dakota par ers, especially in
the districts needing help, please
copy. E.~.
e. Respee fully,
H. T. HELGEsoN,
Comm'r. OF Agriculture and Labor.
Grand Forks. n. D.. Jan. Id. 1890.