Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-16


Mr. NOllinger-I think the Board viii
do al 10 can, aud in this emergency It
ought 10 do IT, have always done what
could TO afford relief. but there are some
cases where the applicants are not worthy.
Mr.. Richards-I would like TO ask the
Prosecuting Attorney for his interpreta-
ton Of necessities Ia the Section OF the
State law-rhe words shall be provided
for as lar as their necessities shall re-
Quire,n What does that meant
Mr.. HOWard-My opinion upon that at
present would only be an individual opln-
ION, such as any OF YOU might form.
have only given It a brief examination, and
will not attempt to lay down rule. / can
only give now such an opinion as any one
else might. This law as TO aiding the poor
has as its foundation the humane aud char
table idea that if a man is so overtallen by
unfortunate circumstances as to want the
necessaries Of life, hepublic will not stand
by and see him sJarve That idea is the
foundation Of the law. II don't mean that
the man who is embarrassed, and who mas
not, perhaps, all the things hewould hketo
have, IS 70 be aided. That isn't the idea.
But families in want must have fires and
their table supplied with necessary food.
That, Mr.. President brings me 10 speak OF
q question of policy, which, l admit, isn't
70 Oe deemed portion Of my opinion as TO
what is the law. But as a citizen, having
the same interest In this matter as all OF US
have. desire 70 give expression TO this
thought If YOU ask me what is the law,
say that If aman is in need Of the neceSsa-
ries of life the public will relieve him, out
OF the public money; but the question or
policy is whether IL is best 70 relieve this
general distress out Of the county treasury
or by means Of some public work. There
On a. hoo 40 -.
the first time an applicant gets dollar IN
that sort OF aid he is q paUper under the
law. That means something. IL
deprives him Of some of his rights
as a citizen when he descends to
that unfortunate strait Although we find
relief today, through the Board OF Com
missiOners, under the law, the people who
are engaged in this laUdable work Of AZ
fording relief should not lay the ttatterlng
JUNCTION to their souls that the law is all
the remedy that's required. That law re-
quires man 70 give up certain rights: Gou
can give aid, but those who are charltaoly
inclined will see the necessity of prevent
ing this lapse of citizenship. There should,
therefore, be prompt action IN devislng
permanent relief oy work, while applying
The law TO the present emergency. This IS
not q new question. 1t has confronted men
lu all ages, and its operation has tended
strongly in the direction Of making pauper-
ism respectable. The idea loses its abhor'
renee by familiarity. 1t teaches too plain
~ the lesson that the people may rely too
much on the public and not enough
on themselves. In other words, II A
receives public aid, b don't see why he
shouldn't get il, and If 3 gets it, G thinks
he is also entitled, and ne applies, and so
10 goes and grows. All these things ought
20 be considered by the members or the
Board and others. The longer the list
grows, and the more liberality is shown,
the faster il will grow. j only reply thus
generally on the matter OF policy In reply
TO Mr.. Richards question, as understood
It,
Mr.. Richards ought, perhaps, have
been a little more definite in my question.
What ! wanted 10 get at was that the
Board might extend aid now, but would IL
ia the future! That is, indefinitely. Or
recurring to what has been said, would 1t
ultimately come to point where the Board
would have to provide the county with a
larger inhrmary.
Mr.. Hart had been in conversation
with Mr.. Cruise while Mr.. Richards was
speaking, and resuming his place, he
said
The question which had in mind, and
which suggested 10 Mr. Cruise to put TO
Mr. Howard, has been largely answered
0y Mr. Howard, If correctly understood
him. but would like to have more light
for il is germane to the point of pauperiz-
ing men who are only temporarily en-
barrassed. If the Board can give relief,
can't the Board give IL in the form OF en-
put this as legal PROPOSE
lion. think the Board can find this en-
plovment. For instance, if John Smith is
TO be given aid to the amount OF six dol
lars, why not give him six days work at
dollar a Gayt'
Mir. Howard-The Board has the right
under the law 70 construct roads and
bridges. A tunnel would come properly
into this, If on the line Of present or pro-
posed county road, and work could be done
in that way, but only in the line of legiti-
mate road and bridge work, under the gen
eral law. That would eliminate the most
dangerous feature Of making pauperS OF
men.
MIR McGregCr-The county work must
be let by contract 10 the lowest and best
bidder. and all the details Of the law would
have 70 be complied with / am inclined
to think that public work by the county
would be impracticable for this reason.
Then, again, most of the work on roads
would be miles away from the city and
would be very incOuvenient. As to the law,
as it has been interpreted, I must confess
that my idea of it has been wrong, but l
don't think that necessarily changes the
attitude of the Board. The Board could
give one order a month, as IL has been do
ing, but 70 keep that up, 70 all applicants,
for any considerable time would bankrupt
the county. i would De glad TO see the
county give work, if il can, butt don't see
how it could be done under the contract
system.
MIR. Cruse-The idea OF contract work
is simply 20 get cheap work and good work.
This work would be cheap. There is no
law requiring stone TO be broken for the
roads bv contract AS to distances, it
might be a hardship to have mea walk if
teen miles to work. but 10 would not be so
great a hardship TO 90 to the east end Of
street, or up to SlacktOwn,
or elsewhere close to the city. Stone, for
instance can be broken without a contract.
Mr.. McGregor-I think all the stone
which the county could use within two
miles OF the city could be broken by twenty
men.
MIR. Gruse-That would give twenty men
employment, and would help that much.
Nlr. MEG regor-I am in favor of extend
ing temporary aid, aud let the city provide
work.
Nlr. MAXWELL think Mr. Howard has
given a right Interpretation Of the law, and
for one am willing to do al / can TO ex-
tend aid / can't see that there will be
much county work, however.
Mr. Richards-It was not the pur.
pose Of the Committee to have
an immense pauper list created. That was
recognized as bad thing. But the condi-
ton of many OF our citizens must be recOg- /
nized They are not in a condition to as.
sist themselves, and must be aided The
first method of extending that aid is
through the Board of Commissioners, and
they have accordingly been appealed
to. As Councilman, 1 would say
that the city is not in a condition
to afford instantaneous relief IL
viii take time. IL wouldn't 90, for in
stance, TO suddenly food the city with or