The herald., 1893-02-06
THE CARE OF THE |ND|GENTS,
Supervisor Forester Favors a
Charity Commission.
The Board Not Hampered by Parlia-
mentary Law Red Tape.
Business Expedited by Want of Too
Much Formaiity-The County
Pauper Question Con-
sidered.

parliamentary rules are somewhat
OF an unknown quantity in the delibera-
tions of the board of supervisors, Mr..
Forester" remarked HERALD re-
porter to that supervisor. "Could not
business be dispatched more promptly
If there was more order about the pro-
ceedings ?"
Mr.. Forester assumed thoughtful
manner, and proceeded to give quite an
interesting statement upon the subject
propounded, and others, from a super
visorial standpoint.
81 have been a business man all my
life," said he, "and the multifarious du-
ties that belong to the position OF su-
pervisor OF Los Angeles county, are
more onerous than many people I'M
aginer
"With reference first to your ques-
tion, [ don't see how the board could 90
strictly by parliamentary rules. l know
1t is frequently stated that they should,
but Just think moment. This county
has an immense area, and there are
men constantly before the supervisors
from all parts of the county with mat
Suppose the supervisors put more red
tape into their sessions and went rigidly
under parliamentary rules. The men
who travel long distances from their
homes, and whose business might be
dispatched by the exercise of little
formality, are detained in the city an
unreasonable time"
"Take another instance" continued
the supervisor. "There are only five
members of the board, and they not
only look after the general interests of
the county, but each supervisor, by the
last legislature, is encumbered with the
road matters in his district, which
duties were formerly performed by the
overseers.
"When you remember that people in
tefested in road matters that require
immediate attention are constantly
coming before the board, and that
strict observance Of parliamentary usage
would often delay these matters for days,
unless they can be informally discussed,
it is another reason against such formal
tiles. Then the board is constantly
making visits to different parts of the
county to investigate a proposed road
here, or a school house there. No, l
really think that the more red tape
there is about the proceedings, the less
business will be done, owing to the Pc
culiar nature of the duties of the super
viHore."
81 notice reference in the!HERALD.to to
the increase of the INDECENT business in
this county. This is branch Of the
duty sof the supervisors that is little
understood and is becoming such an
onerouH burden that some means will
have to be devised to secure a more sys-
tematic man agement Of the fund. 1t
can not be done by the supervisors with
that care necessary. owing to the press
of other business on their shoulders.
There have been propositions from
various benevolent and charitable So
cieties to take charge of this matter and
undertake to distribute the funds now
distributed by the board. am not in
clined, however, to favor such plan.
1t would place this important duty into
too many hands, and it is difficult to see
how an equitable distribution of funds
could be made amongst the different
societies. 1t needs compact body and
q head in order that the needy poor
can be cared for properly, and the funds
not be improperly dispensed. AS it is
now there is very little responsibility
in this matter, except such as the
supervisors themselves make. Before
these last two years very little attention
had been paid to record of the cases
helped by the county, refer to money
and provisions furnished to persons out
side the county hospital and county
farm-but 1 have had books made
where an absolute history is now given
of every case of assistance. Any one
can by consulting these books now see
just what help has been given to any
one, and for what reason. Such
record is not required to be kept, but
for our own protection we made that
provision. Very frequently it ls imne-
diate assistance which is required. and
then the large latitude given the board
is very benefcent.
I think the time has arrived, how
ever. when this branch of public duty
has become so extreme that, like other
cities in the east, itEhould be put under
an independent board, and the funds
guarded by restrictiona not now
placed about them. am also OF the
opinion that such board should be
non-sectarian and put upon an exact
business basis, 30 that the needy poor
may be more carefully provided for,
anu many uohoINlux Cbece uOU uOW
reached will receive attention.
There is larger class of this kind of
people in Los Angeles county than
would be supposed. Sick people come
out to Los Angeles, and through some
misfortune are rendered penniless.
Sometimes they have friends in the
east to whom they can be sent,
and rarely do they have friends and
relatives in the county. All such cases
require personal investigation, which,
with all his other duties, the supervisor
cannot give.
In the matter of aged indigents. it is
astonishing how many of both sexes
have been kept from starving by the
application of the state law upon the
subject, whereby the county receives
back certain amount for all such per-
sons assisted.
3 "Could such a board as you have
mentioned be created, Mr.. Forester,
without legislation
81 am not prepared to say certainly,
but think it could be managed. be-
lieve, however, that it would be very
much better to have systematic legisla-
tion upon the subject. 1t is matter
have given considerable thought to, and
know it ia one of such Importance that
It deserves careful consideration by all
who are interested in the care of our
poor. am not welded to any plan. I
only raise these questions that they
may be discussed and public attention
directed to what deem an important
puhlic function. And nv colleapues on