Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-08-04
AN UNPOPULAR ORDER.
The County Court takes Away Aid from Outside
Poor-Must Go to the Poor House.

The County Court of Jefferson coun-
ty met at the alms-house last week
and elected Mr.. Heidwahl superln-
tendent of that institution, in place
of Mr.. Littleton, who recently died.
Mr. Hiedwahl is a son-in-law OF MIR.
Littleton, and has been living there
for long time. Consequently there
will be but little change in the excel
lent management of the alms-house.
An order was passed by the court
that hereafter no aid is to be extend
ed to outside poor-no help given to
any person unless that person will 20
to the ain. s-house. This order is re
garded by many persons as penny
wise and pound foolish policy. 1t
costs, according to the most accurate
estimates that have been furnished
the court, about sixty dollars a year
to support an inmate of the aims
house. There are a number OF pen
sioners outside that institution who
have been helped by the county at
half that sum and less than half.
The order has created great deal
of Indignation in Shepherdstown. In
this place there are two worthy per
sons who have been receiving aid
from the county, one thirty dollars a
wear and the other fifteen. These
modest sums, with what they have
been able to earn and the help given
them by friends, have sutliced to keep
them comfortably outside the aims
house. John Lamb, one OF these pen
sioners. has been getting 81. so a month
from the county. He is totally blind
and Of course unable to earn his Iiv-
ing. although he does all he can to
help. Whatever has been lacking
has been cheerfully contributed by
the people of Shepherdstown. Now,
that county aid is withdrawn he would
have to 90 to the poor-house unless
his friends here make it up. This, Of
course, they will do He is an humble
Christian man, worthy of aid from
anv source, and if the county refuses
10 help him our people will take all
the burden on themselves The other
case referred to is also meritOrious.
The court should congratulate itself
that it has been doing what charity
demanded for $40 n year, when if
these persons had been compelled to
20 to the alms-house the cost would
have been S120. Does it congratulate
itself that it will escape these Just
burdens altogether by saddling them
on someone else.
Mr.. q. II. Licklider, the excellent
overseer of the poor in this district,
has also been able, by judicious help
to the needy, during the winter
months especially, to tide over diff
culties with few dollars that would
otherwise have compelled persons to
90 to the alms-house aud become,
perhaps, permanent paupers upon
the county This has happened time
and again. The withdrawal of such
aid is a most unpopular measure-not
TO those who have received it, partic-
ularly, but to those who will have ad-
ditional burdens placed upon them
both as tax payers and as charitable
persons.
1t will be remembered that last
wear the court refused to employ
physicians to the poor at the yearly
salary of S2j, prefering to pay stated
bills when medical attention was Civ
en- paupers. We do not know wheth-
er this has proven saving of money
or not, but we do know that in Shep-
herdstown one case alone has cost the
county 81 and physician is still
attending the same sick person. The
bill will doubtless reach S25- enough
to have paid the salary of phy~i-
elan for II whole year for one dis
tlict.