Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-02-24
CARE OF THE POOR
The County Superintendents
Discuss Methods
HOW TO DEAL JUSTLY WITH ALL
Mis- d'Arcsmbel Of the Detroit Houae of
Industry Prouinens Figure
st the Convention.

Rev. Campbell Fair.
President Alexander Mcmillan in his
address said: 1--WE are met 70 direct
the attention Of our members and the
people generally to the great question
OF the amelloration and bettermsnt OF
the condition of that class Of our
brethren, who, by means OF the several
statutes enacted. may demand for their
relief sufficient supply OF the neces-
saries of life from the more opulent
part OF the community. Our deliber-
atons would seem TO be properly con-
nned TO the correct practical appllca
tons OF the laws that are enacted and
IN force, together with an interchange
OF views based on othcial aud individ-
uai experience"
In the absence of Mayor Uhl. Wm.
w. Taylor, clty attorney, made the ad-
dress OF welcome, saying that IL he
had 10 go 10 the poor house he wouldn't I
ask to be placed IN the care of any bet
Ter looking men than were before him.
In the name or the city OF Grand Rap
ids ne babe the association kindly aud
true welcome.
j. s. stockwell. superintendent o
that the association appreciated the
hearty words Of welcome that had been
spoken. A prominent citizen of Grand
Rapids had told him there was very lit
tie pauperism IN this city. For this he
was thankful, anu wished the time
might come when that would be said OF
the entire state.
Mrs. Myrtle koon Clergyman then
recited, IN her usual happy manner,
MARY Elizabeth"
ID. c. Fuller. of West Millbrook,
superintendent of Mecosta county,
read paper on THE Superintendent:
His Duties and the Difficulties Attend
ing the same" He said: "The super
intendent is
a Creature OF the Law,
made 10 by Howeli's statute. Superin-
tendents must be discreet persons. and
capable OF knowing how to perform the
duties laid upon them. They have
complete control of tho poor fund be-
longing to the county, may appoint one
Or more keepers of the county house,
may make rules for such house, must
vIsit il rs often as convenient or neces-
cary. and must know enough about the
inmates to be able to take the best pos
sgble care Of them. They should take
an intelligent care Of funds entrusted
TO their care,-not be niggardly with
them, but apply them To their best use."
The difficulties of the superintendent
were exemplified by severai experiences
OF the speaker in dealing with both the
worthy and unworthy poor. Inteinper-
ance and the use of tobacco were. he
ilevedgby him TO be the chief causes Of
paupersm.
Dr. Campbell, of Sault st. Marie, had
found the difficulties of Distinguishing
between the wcrtny and unworthy poor
very numerous. In his opinion, it
would be better to err on the charity
side. than TO deny help on the mere
suppostlon that the subject is uuwor-
thy. He then gave few OF the meth
DDS adopted by the poor directors of
Chippewa county
The doctor believes that q certain
amount Of suffering is needed for some
men. Ii men 20 beyond the line of
good behavior, aud spend their money
for drink. and then come for help.
charity with them ceases to be virtue.
Speaking of Tramps
VIM. n. AngelI~.of Ottawa county
said:
"When . man reports to me that he
hasn't mad anything to eat that day. i,
doesn't make any difference whether
he has been = tramp or what the Cir
cumstances are, | give him = bed !,
which costs twenty-five cents, and a
loaf of bread or five or eight cents
worth of food"
A Lady's suggessios.
Mrs. l.. Arcambel, of the Detroit
House of Industry. did not like Mr..
Angels idea of giving the tramp twen-
ty-five cents worth of lodging and i've
cents worth of food. She had found
that If man was hungry and was re-
fused food that he became the most
dangerous beast on earth. She would
rather spend the money for moro food ,
for the tramp would ind some place
10 crawl IN and sleep. Her experience
with the 500 tramps or discharged pris-
oners that had come 10 the home dur
ing the last four years had taught that
VI II was desired TO keep men from des-
perste deeds 10 was better to give them
bread aud posk rather than lodging.
She thought that tramp laws and tramp
houses we're most unfortunate for any
city.
Mr.. Whitney of Calhoun county told
of his experience in handling the oues-
ton Of the unworthy poor. His exper-
renee would go % show that many peo-
pie do not know how to live upon the
amount of money provided by the
wsge-earners of the house. and are
xrossly extrsvsgant. He believed that
cooperation between the superintend-
ents Of poor and the charitable boards
of places could be made TO yield great
benefit
Dr. Hull OF Lansing. had found that
unsorthv poor would 60 from socIeyy
20 society and from board 70 b1ard un-
hl they had squeezed out all the help
they could get. The isdes of Lansing
have formed ladies' aid society, and
there - . unity 0f acton between u
aud the director Of poor. IL the ladies
find q family that need q little tempor~
srv relief. they themselves take charge
ef the case: the permsnsnt poor, the
regulars. many OF whom can bat wtli
n.ss work. are taken care OF By the a..
rscfors As soon AZ . fsnssly q placed
on the paupsr IIst, 10 may generally -
sepended upon that u vii remain
there. some are bound 70 ee psapsFs
snvvsv. put msny are kspt from the
hst ~ sforalng them . litti~ s~ngof
sry relief
Dr. es-spsess Pair Wssssd - H.~w
IA mthce cot fund wss - sed hy syesT
rguuty ta satisfy the wants 81 81 ths
worth peer. lie slso asked tie
sur~rintsnasuts found Tendency ~
aeipsnE tie peer - fesfh poitss
saers the posf would not sss lsf nssfs