Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-22
1T WAS NOT LEGAL.
Each Town and Village Must Support Its
Paupcrs.

After . long drawn out session the
board of supervisors has adjourned.
Little business VA done yesterday
morning, except TO adopt the report of
the committee on members pay. The
prosecuting attorney reported that the
resolution introduced few days ago
To make psupers VINO have been IN the
poor house one year county instead VI
township charges, WAS not legal.
The committee on buildings reported
the following from the prosecuting at
tOrney as the form of ballot to be used
IN submitting the question Of raising
$50 900 with which to build jail. This
is the ballot: "Shall the board OF gu
pervisors of Kent county. Michigan,
spread upon the various assessment
rolls Of the townships and wards Of
said county for the year 1898 the sum
Of twenty thousand dollars (S20, OOO)
for the purpose OF repairing and en-
largipg the Kent county jail?'
The pay roll of the board was sab
mltted and adopted.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ward
submitted the following report on the
question Of the legality of the resoIu-
ton making persons who have been in
the poor house one year county
charges. Atpresent the inmates sent
in are charged up tn the village or
townshlp from which they are sent.
The resolution would, if passed. make
the village, township and city charges
all taxable to the county after they
have been i'll the poor house one year.
The report reads as follows:
1--WE assume in making the report
that the language used was intended
to apply to future charges as we'll as
those now at the county poor house
who have been there one year and up
wards, although the exact language
used does not seem to cover anything
beyond present conditions. Would
such q resolution be valid? The statute
provides that any persons who have
no. obtained q settlement in any town.
ship or city shall be supported At the ex-
pense of the county. and when the dis
tinction is not abolished between county
and township charges, these persons
who have obtained q settlement are
chargeable to the townships or city
when they have their settlement The
effect of this resolution is to charge the
| county after the first year with sup.
port of poor persons who are legally
1t might be that such action would
occasion no difficulty and no question
| would be made of it, but as to whether
it Is strictly legal, we think i. a very
close question. The statute authorizes
the board to abolish the distinction be-
| tween county and township poor, but
way and not abolish the distinction
| ID III tho
| burden not distinctly specified in the
statute? The question is not entirely
| free from doubt, but to cay the least
the authority of the board to do this ls
not clear. The resolution and the re-
port were accepted.
A resolution thanking Chairman
| Paige tor his fairness IN welding the
| gavel was adopted.
A resolution to give Judge Perkins .
| copyist at $40 per week was adopted.
Mr.. Smith moved to rescind the &C.
| ton of the board which allowed Super
| intendent Donnan to certify TO the bills
| Of janitors in the court house. There
was some debate to the effect that Mr..
Benjamin should certify to the bills al
chairman of the building committee
| Some one asked how Mr.. Benjamin
could testify TO the janitors' bills when
he did not know now many days OIL
how many hours they had worked.
Mr., Benjamin would certify to what
Mr.. Donnsn told HIM anyway. The
chair assumed the liberty of ruling the
motion out of order, rs there were not
so many members present as when the
resolution was adopted. The chairman
and clerk were authorized to sign
checks on the county depository until
| the cnairman's successor is appointed
Register Gould and Custodian DOMAIN
passed candy and cigars and the board
adjourned sine die.