The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-08
PRAISE FOR DIRECTORS
Auditors Of the Poor District Say
They Are Faithful Servants.
NIX. rULLrK's RESOLUTION
1t Called Forth q Most Vigorous Protest
from MIR. Gibbons but Ncvcrthc.
less II Passed by Four
TO Three Vote.

The directors of the poor and the Of
fcials and employees of the district have
just cause for pride in the commenda-
tion given their work by the auditors
in the report submitted to the poor
board yesterday.
They commended the very business
like method in which the affairs of the
district have been conducted and as
sured the taxpayers that they are re-
ceiving careful conscientious work
from both the directors and officials.
The amount of The item for outdoor
relief the auditors thought might seem
large, but, TO use the words of the
report. 1--WE believe 1t fully justified
and that 1t was expended In cases
where he relief was absolutely needed.
Considering the sufferings Of the poor
and the growth OF the district during
the past two years. we do not see how
outdoor relief could be more judiciously
given Further on in the report the
auditors say:
We would recommend that the following
portion OF the act Of May 10: isas, oe "a auop, nd",
director of hny poor district VINO Is OF
shall be appointed by the court or quar-,
ter sessions. may at his discretion anu
without order or certificate from justice
Of the peace or alderman, enter upon the
poor book, grant relief to. or admit 10 the
Door house of his proper district. any
by the law of this commonwealth to such
aid or relief, and in no case shall such
order be required or fees allowed TO any
Justice or Justice, or or ,bis asaei r.
It can be legally advocated. as We believe
| the directors are the best judges or the
need of the applicant and that obtaining
an order from two magistrates Is mere
form and useless waste OF money.
Paid Visit to the Farm.
abe "a
and found everything in first class Or
der and their investigat tions theres led
them to express their opinion that no
| Institution in the state Is more care
| fully managed and at no other institu-
| tion do the inmates receive better treat
ment. The report was signed by w.
j. Costello, c. II. van Storch and Frank
| r. Okell. auditors.
The following resolution introduced
| by Mr.. Fuller brought forth warm dis
| sension and roll call vote
| Resolved. That In order that the routine
work and management al the home and on
| the farm may not be interfered with dur
| ing the secular days of the week. here
| after all religious services shall be held
| and conducted on Sunday. in the follow
Catholic denomination; next following
| Sunday by the Methodists; next follow
| ing Sunday by the Catholics; next follow.
| ing Sunday BY the Presbyterians, and so
| on in the same alternate order of sue
| ceSsion.
| Mr.. Gibbons strenuously objected to
| the measure on the grounds that II
| would greatly Inconvenience the
| Catholic clergymen, who had charge
| of the station: possibly il might be 90
| inconvenient that he could not attend
! to II and consequently the inmates
would he deprived of the great boon
which they have enjoyed for the last
ten years. He explained that the priest
who visits the farm has comparatively
| large congregations which demand his
| attention on Sundays and tnat unless
| he could be allowed to conduct services
on some week day he might not be
able to visit the place at all. Then MIR,
| Gibbons cOmbatted the statement OF
Mr.. Fuller that the work at the home
| would be materially interfered with
by an occasional week day service. In
| answer to Mr. Gibbons question, Su-
perintendent Beemer stated that Mr.
| rulers contention was quite true
| Whenever mass Is celebrated at the
home on a week day. the routine of the
place is disarranged for half day.
| RcsOiutioM wss AdOp,ol.
| Nevertheless Mr.. Gibbons insisted or
| consulting the convenience of the
| clergy if 1t does cost the district a few
| pennies. They ought to have little
time for prayer" said Mr.. Gibbons. re-
| ferring to the inmates. There's none
| of us who have too much time fol
| prayer Mr. Gibbons moved to lay
| the matter over till the next meeting
and promised to see Bishop O'Hara in
| the meantime to ascertain II priest
| could be sent from Scranton on Sun
days. Mr.. Murphy seconded the mo.
| tion and urged the board not to deal
| with the matter hastily. but the mo.
! tion was lost and resolution passed by
a vote of to 3: Ayes. Fuller, Shotten
Swan, Langstaff; nays. Williams. Muir
| ply, Gibbons. "rhe solid four" re-
| was announced.
| Secretary Lynett announced the re-
| ceipt from the state department of q
| warrant for s5,72l.O9. which is the
| states contribution to the care o' in
| digent insane In this district for six
| months This is the beneficent result
| OF the law passed by the last legisla-
| ture through the instrumentality Of the
| Scranton board and its aggressive Sec
| retary, f.. j. I.ynett.
Superintendent Beemer reported l6t
| persons in the almshouse. During the
| month of January sixteen Were admit
| ted, nine were discharged and -four
died. DR.. Ben r. Evans the resident
| physician. reported having treated N
| sane and a. insane patients during the
month. During January eight patients
| were admitted. and on A eb. l there
were remaining In the asylum l6o pa
| tients.
| An Increase Of Sa'arv.
| Mr.. Shotten, acting for the finance
| committee, recommended that the sal
ary Of Bookkkeeper John +. Williams
be Increased from $50 TO $I5 month
| but the matter was laid over OWING to
| objections on the part of MIR. Gibbons
| and Mrs. Swan, who considered SIS q
| month and board as pretty high
wages for a bookkeeper. The fact that
| Mr.. Gibbons and Mrs. Swan had final
| ~ found Il question on which they
| could agree, no doubt influenced the
| board in it's action. Mrs. swan will
suggest al the next meeting that the