The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-04
POOR LITTLE WAITS
There Are 20 Destitute Children at the
Women's and Children's Home.
CROWDED AT TWIN BRIDGES
Absolute Orphan Infants Are In
Demand-Fathers and Mothers
Anxious to Place Their
Young In Good Hands.

Silver Bow county Is maintaining 20
destitute children at the women's a
Children's home on South Montana
street at an expense of IS a month
for each child. The question has often
been asked why the county does not
send the children to the state orphans
home at Twin Bridges, and several
letters on the subject have recently
been received by the Standard, one
from a well-known Butte lady, en-
closing a letter from George Comfort.
superintendent Of the state orphans
home. dated Oct. 10. In which he says:
I'VE now have Al inmates in the home
and can accommodate about Is more
very well. All children under IL years
OF age who are destitute county
charges. sent through or by the board
or county commissioners, will be re-
ceived into the home, unless they have
friends who are able and under law
should provide for them. Our children
are all well and the older ones learn
Ing finely. We have a daily school of
&c."
Assistant County Auditor wynne,
who acts as overseer OF the poor, was
asked to give some reasons why the
county did not send some Of its desti-
tute children tc the orphans home,
planned in a very few words. The
facts are. he said, that not more than
a few weeks ago the board of trustees
or the orphans home refused to re-
ceive two boys sent there by the COM
missioners Of this county and returned
them with a letter stating that no
more children could be received. No
particular explanation was given, but
1t Is understood that II was on the ad-
vice of the attorney lgeneral, as the
appropriation VIII not permit the
state to assume the care of a larger
number OF children than are now at
the home. Silver Bow county has at
present eight children at the home,
none Of whom are absolute orphans ex-
cept the boy. Thomas Keefe, who says
he knows nothing about his parents
or relatives. Silver Bow county could
alone more than fill the state institu-
ton with children II the board of trus-
tees would receive all that are entitled
to admission, under the provisions of
the law which says that all orphans.
or destitute children are to
be admitted.
OF the 20 children at the women's
and ChildreRs home, kept by. the
none are absolute orphans but
In nearly every case they have either
been deserted by their parents or are
children that had been dependent upon
a poor, struggling mother who could
not support them and herself also. Be-
side the 20 paid for by the county there
are often from Is to 20 others who are
kept at the home and maintained near
ly entirely on the money paid for the
20 county charges. There have been as
high as 40 children at the home at one
time. and 1t is more than likely that
nearly all of them would be charges on
the county If 1t were not for the home.
Many Of the children are left at the
home by mothers, so that they can go
out to work. Mrs. White asks but 81 a
week from these mothers, but II Is sell
dom that she gets even that. and many
pay nothing. The result is now that
the home is running behind financially
and is now $500 or $500 In debt.
A sample case of the class of child
rem sent to the Womens & Children's
home was sent down yesterday. AL
with three children called at
the auditors office and said that they
we're all in danger of starving or freez-
ing unless the county would take care
Of her children while she went out and
found work. She said she had a worth
ess husband, who seldom drew a sober
breath, and provided nothing for his
family. She could get employment In
\ laundry and would be able to pay
part of the expense OF keeping the
dl the lney were sent /
Town to Mrs. White, and If the mother
s not able to pay the cost of their
keeping the county will have to. There |
ire five or six little babies at the
home for whom 1t is necessary to have
nurses. l,le county has no trouble at |
LII with absolute orphans. for the de- |
nand for babies for adoption is greater |
han the supply. Recently little wait |
vas left at the home and passed around |
rom one family to the other and was /
inally left at the auditors office. A |
ady living on the West side heard of |
{ and the child has been legally adopt |
ID by her. Some weeks ago the moth |
n OF the somewhat notorious Gill boys |
lied and their father with six little /
children came crying to the auditors |
,ffice. He had no home for the six /
little ones. and could not leave them |
ilone while he went to work, so he /
isked the county to help him find a /
ZONE for them. They were temporarily |
placed with Mrs. White. the father |
to pay their expenses. So
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