The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-28
SOMETHING IS WRONG
The Recent Action of the Orphans
Home People Is a Surprise.
CHILDREN NOT ADMITTED
Applications Are Formally Made
Out and Presented. and Manda-
mus Proceedings VIII Follow
There's Room Enough.

hduQdiHuS proceedings VIII unuOuDl-
edly be resorted to to determine IL the
board of trustees of the State Orphans
home, by resolution, can override or
aorogate a very plain provision of the
statute regarding the class and charac-
ter of children that must be received
at the home. That course was practi-
cally decided upon by County Attorney
Wines and the commissioners yester-
day. The commissioners instructed the
auditor to make out proper applications
for the children who were brought
back by Mr.. Carney, president of the
home, Saturday night, so as to conform
in every respect to the rules of the
home. If the children are not received
mandamus proceedings will be insti-
tuted.
Assistant County Auditor Wynn,
who took the seven children to the
home last week, denies that they were
received by the matron under protest.
Not the least objection was raised to
them, but the matron said there was
question of the orphans home was the
proper place for the blind boy, Charley
Erickson. All but two of the seven
children had proper applications in,
and the little girl, Bessie Palmer. who
was brought back by Mr.. Carney, was
taken down after the board of trustees
had acted favorably on her application
and the county officers are at loss to
account Ine dCllOH VI UUt DOdtu VI
trustees. Silver Bow county has been
put to no end of trouble through the
alleged inconsistent actions of the
board of trustees. Nearly a year ago
the trustees, on the advice of Attorney
General Haskell, made an order that
none but absolute orphans would be re-
ceived at the home. On the strength of
this the county commissioners sent no
more children to the home, but paid
for the care of the county's foundlings
and destitute children at Mrs. Whites
home. Then there was a great deal OF
complaint and people said that such
children should be sent to the state
home, where they belonged. The COM
plants were referred to the officials OF
the orphans home and a letter was re-
ceived saying that there was room at
the home for all the children Silver
Bow county could send.
Upon the strength of this statement
three or four were sent to Twin
Bridges and they were promptly sent
back, the children being compelled to
walk nearly the entire distance. They
were not received, 1t is said, because
they were not full orphans. When the
county commissioners recently were
considering the proposition of conduct
ing an orphans asylum of their own
there was another loud protest from
several quarters and County Attorney
Wines gave IL as his opinion that all
the county's charges under the age of
IL were rightfully entitled to admis-
mission to the state orphans home and
he offered to bring an action against
the trustees to compel them to receive
the children. The matter was again re-
ferred to the officers of the state home,
accompanied by eight applications. 1t
brought an answer from Superintend-
ent George Comfort, in which he said:
I'm reply to yours received to-day,
with applications for eight children to
the state orphans home, would say I've
seen a quorum of the board of trustees
who say, Send on your children Mat
status of applicants, being just what
the law Notwithstanding orphans
or destitute'-as entitled to be received
at the expense of the state. The board
have resolved to thus follow the law.
Any number you might have is entitled
to be received. We don't care how full
we become of lawful subjects. Enclosed
ind additional blanks in case you may
need to use them, which can accompa-
ny the children, If desired"
In accordance with the above, Mr..
Wynn took the seven children to Twin
Bridges and the people at the home ex-
pressed surprise that he did not bring
more, as they had expected about 20.
For two of the children, Florence Lind
say and Charley Erickson, applications
had not been filled out, but Mr.. Wynn
was told that he could send the appli-
cations on his return to Butte, and 1t
would be all right. Mr.. Wynn was
naturally very much surprised when
he read in the Sunday Standard that
Mr.. Carney had returned three of the
children to Butte, including one child
for whom proper application had been
made and who had been officially de-
clared, by the board, entitled to admis-
sion to the home. Mr.. Wynn says that
of the seven children sent tothehome
the three who were returned were the
most deserving of home at the asy-
lum. The three children have been sent
to the poor house.
Mr. Carney told the Standard that
they had no room to accommodate any
more children, but II is claimed that
there are only about so children at the
home while the building is large
enough to accommodate at least $50.
The building is a large one of three
stories and a basement and eleven peo-
pie are employed to run the institution.
The women's and children's home in
Butte, with quarters in a small build
ing, has had almost as many children
at one time as the state home has. and
two or three women took care of them
and did all the work.
Silver Bow county has a score or
more destitute children who are being
cared for by the county, but who, Mr..
Wines claims, are under the law enti-
tied to admission to the state home,
and he intends to see that they are re-
ceived.
The commissioners yesterday re
ceived a communication from the trus-
tees of the home notifying them of the
fact that three children were returned
and calling attention TO the fact that
the board had an established rule that
applications must first be approved by
the board of trustees OF the home pre-
vious to the admission of the subjects.
The communication also alleges that
the three children were left at the
home by Mr.. Wynne under the protest
of the maltron. The letter is signed by
President P. Carney. Secretary John r.
Comfort and Trustees ]. NJ. Page and
NJ A. Loft.