Telegram-herald., 1890-12-27
IT WAS ALL TALK.
Ne psoaiss Essstt - as Essehsd - tbs
teaa1sittses Lasa Egeslnk

teasaitttees Las4 AyealnS
Last evening Rss eouncd committee
evening, but not committee showed
~ exceps the committee on Poor 4nd
tae Comm ttee ou Charter Amend
menls. Tue Poor Comm ittee and the
Charter Amendment Commttee had
engaged 10 hold joint meeting 10 dis
cass the recommendation uoS before
the COmm0n Council for union Of the
poor and health Offices. under COM
mon board. tbs recommendation Is
part ii the report II the Charter
Amendment Committee 70 the com
mon Council. ltTose out Of a general
CONCESSION taat the working of the pre-
seat system ot administering the cty's
poor tuaI IS extremely unsatisfactory
Many amusing situations In the poor
office have been revealed by recent in-
Yeslgauons. lt mas transpred that the
c.Ly IS helprg many families who 10
not need nor deserve assistance. Some
ot these paupers have shown their
ability 20 teach the boss barnacle OF the
sea lessons IN hanging on. At the
meeting last evening", one case was
mentioned where a man owns and
draws rent from twO houses and draws
a weekly stipend also from the city
poor fund. Several Instances were
cited OF persons who had been on the
books for several years, and 10 lnyestl-
CATION OF their condition seems ever 70
have been been made by the director OF
the poor. Alderman ODOnnell told
ot one instance which may prove 10 be
an isolated case, il the records are
closely investigated. 1t appears that
when q family first comes under the
charity OF the city, It's general condition
with reference 10 tine numher and ages
OF the members Of the family, etc, are
all carefully noted and recorded. In
the instance alluded 10, Mr. O'DOnneN
SAYS that fifteen years ago, family
with several children, ranging from the
infant 10 the boy IN MS teens were
recorded somewhat as follows:
May. infant, 5 months; George, | year
and 10 months; Lucy, 3 years; Lena,
/ years; Andrew. years, and 80 on TO
/ the pedigree OF the whole family. Now
/ that family have been drawing a heb
/ dOmadal income from the city during
! all these years, and there they stand on
l the books Just as they stood fifteen
years ago, although tine infant May Is
about to be married 10 man who
earns his own living. That family still
I draws It's ratiOnS, because the members
I of 10 are: May, 5 months; George, ]
/ year and 10 months; Lucy, 3 gears;
Lena, years; Andrew, years, and so
| on to the pedigree of the whole family.
/ IL IS this condition of poor admins
/ tTatiOn that has stirred up the council
/ 20 undertake Is reform. But on the
I details of that reform, there are ex-
3Ctly as many opinions rs there are
+ members the charteramend
mlttee. The recommendation now be-
/ fore the council has been hanging fire
I several weeks, ON account OF q holy
/ terror which many people have Of
I boards. IL was freely stated at the
/ last session OF the council that the re-
v.sad charter ought rather to abolish
\ some of the present star chamber Ir-
+ responsible boards than 10 create
\ more Of them. Notwithstanding, there
T is Il strong feeling that the Office of d.
I rector of the poor ought 10 be appoint
! i've rather than elective; that the pecui-
I lar qualifications required 20 I'LL we'll
\ the Office are not 50 likely TO be Oh.
I tanned by the ordinary methods Of eau
I Gus nomination.
Mayor Jhl was present At the COM
I m,ttec meeting last evening, and joined
I in the discussion for about an hour.
Z No CONCLUSION was reached last even.
I ing, and the Common Council Will have
/ 70 take I'D the matter just where it
/ dropped 10, for the committee can lend
no assistance in the present divided
state OF opinion.
/ The closing hours OF the session last
I evening were sDcnt in agoncral n discus
7 son Of she extension OF the city limits,
+ but nothing detiu tc was reached.