Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-01-19
mo LONGER PAUPERS
- Wivss snd Widous q Uniea
ooaAioRu
10 HAVE COST 0oITlcE lnlE


Hon. !. W. Hayward. at this city, hes
given notice 70 the Houso cf Represen-
tatives a The Introduction Of hall. OF
which he i The suthor. 20 provide for
the construction Of cottages adjacent 20
tie 6oldiers Home for The widows ana
wlsss Of the soidisrs at the lals wsr.
Who we're wives during the time Of
their hustnnds' service The hill v yet
in crude state and many Of the im-
portant provisions hare not - yet hsen
drafted.
THE purpose of the act" said Mr..
Hayward 10 the TEz-EaRAn-H EEAIp last
evening. sis 10 lessen the hardships lm-
posed upon the wives Of soldiers. who
are in the home. The way the matter
now stands. when poverty oompsls an
old veteran tc enter the home. hls wife.
if living, is Obliged 70 live On the char.
ity Of others or go TO the poor house.
This evil the bill 10 attended 10 sbate.
Ii comprehends the building Of neat
and substantial cottages adjacent TO and
upon the grounds belonging to the
home, in sufficient number 20 accom-
modate the widows and wives OF coll
diers who were wives during the war.
IL is Impossible 70 estimate with any de-
gree OF accuracy how many such viii be
required, until further statistics are AT
hand. The bill wilt carry the necessary
appropriation 70 put IL into practical
| operation"
sit is . fact" he continued, sthat
many OF the wives and widows of the
soldiers are reduced 10 pauperlsnl and
supported in poorhouses. III tLls hard
| ship and humiliation 10 too great for the
soldiers themselves, il is too great for
| the women who were as loyal and
patriotic aud submitted 10 As many rae
rlfices as did they. These cottages will
be open to ali soldiers widows In indi-
| gent circumstance, where they will lie
led and clothed by the State, on the
sac,e plan as that now IN force 1T the
home. The wives Of soldiers already
IN the home viii also be entitled TO .
home In these cottages, where they and
their husbands may spend the declin-
ing years OF their lives an peace. The
only qualification for admission 10 that
the widow or wife must have been the
wife OF the soldier while he waa IN the
war. A soldier who married eubse-
Quent to the war, and who 10 now an
inmate of the home, will be denied the
use OF cottage and support for he
| wife. IL is Intended TO generously pro-
| vide for the noble women who eacrl-
feed their husbands and endured the
awful suspense with brave hearts and
loyal adherence to duty, during the
rebellion. The number OF such ia
fewer than would he supposed, but few
as they are the bill proposes 10 remove
them from the poorbouscs and give
them cheerful home.
'sThe bill will also contemplate the
Capitalization of all those who share
the deserved bounty Of the State. In
stead of liberal laws authorizing coun-
ties TO act, law general IN character
and still more liberal will cover the
| whole State. IL will not he an arbi-
trary colonization, but will establish
community of itself composed OF the
soldiers, their wives and widows IL -
said that . similar bill lie IN force In
Wisconsin, but ! know nothing OF il
and this measure ie entirely original
with me. Ii will be two or three weeks
yet before the bill is perfected and
ready for introduction
II think under the broad provisions
Of this bill, one or two other bills will
he rendered superfluous. The bill
passed in 1852, making it the duty OF
supervisors TO levy q tax of one-tenth
OF mill for the relief Of soldiers and
honorabiy discharged INDECENT soldiers,
outside Of the home, will be repealed
and any money or moneys raised under
it and now on hand applied to the pur-
poses Of this bill.
Mr.. Hayward 10 very earnest and en-
thusiastic over hIs bill and believes that
its broad and generous provisions will
commend themselves to the legislators
and secure its passage and approval by
the & oyernor-