Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-01-27

For the Poor.
First-The Almshouse system is th'
cheapest.
The net cost in Mercer county is but
a trifie over one dollar and fifty cent
per week per capita with an average o.
| one hundred inmates. With larger
number of inmates the expense PEE
capita would be smaller, as the fixed
expenses, fuel and light, Steward ant
Matron, Eegineer, &c, would be little
| if any more for two hundred inmate.
that for one hundred. Of course witt
less number of inmates the PEI
capita expenses will increase
In Schuylkill county the cost PEE
| capita in 1894 was S1.79 per week. Ii
Cambria county county it was S66. .,
per year. In Crawford county so. 6i
per year. In Chester county $50 pei
week. In Adams county s.. 90 PEI
week. Allegheny county l.42 pei
, week. City of Allegheny S1,9O pei
| week. Beaver county $500 per year
Berks county 800. 90 per year. Danphir
S11547 per year, Franklin S56.21 pei
year, Luzerne St01 per year and Somer
set "a per week.
The above table gives some of the
highest as well as some of the Lowest
averages in the State, and is probably
enough to give the people of Butler
county tolerably correct basis of what
it will cost them if they sec fit to build
an alnishouse.
As this article must necessarily be
brief | will not enter largely into de
tails, nor give long lables of dry figures
but will briefly state that in a careful
and elaborate comparison OF the ex
penses in counties having the overseel
system. with counties having the Aims
house system, the cost of the overseel
system runs from 6 per cent higher IN
the lowest case, to 200 per cent III the
highest, with an average of over 100
per cent against the overseer plan.
Clearfield county, which recently
built an Almshouse, reports that the
cost of keeping its poor, will not exceed
500, 900, while it formerly averaged
about $50, 900.
thus submit the testimony as to
cost and speak very briefly of other i'm
portant phases of the questions lnvolv-
ed.
The advantages of the Almshouse
system over the overseer system are IN
part: The inmates are kept clean.
They are well fed and comfortably
clothed, they are re gularly attended by
a good physician at nominal cost; they
are in a position that they must labor
and thus contribute something to their
own support; they are under control; !;
the vicious and degraded, the drunkard
and the harlot cannot use their evil in
huence in polluting society and drag
ging Others down to level with them
selves The above statements are facts
and cannot be controverted, they are
facts that the writer has met face to
face, many times in his own experience.
In strong contrast with the.above lssthe
overseer system, as we know 1t from
experience.
We had one woman sent to Us from
an overseer district, who was ragged,
filthy and convered with vermine; She
had lived in wretched shanty for years,
with a little assistance from the over
seers of the poor.
She was known in the community as
an unalterabley vile woman of the
most degraded class.
Our people cleaned her up, they de-
stroyed the vermin, they keep her un-
der watch and ward. She earns her
living in our Aims house, and is placed
where she cannot do the public any
harm.
That is one case, I will give one
more and let that suffice.
We received boy fifteen years OLD
from an oveseers district.
He had enough graybacks on him to
pollute regiment.
They had eaten holes in his skin in
many places as large as half dollar;
He was emaciated, pale and cared for
nothing; our people slaughtered the
graybacks, they healed his sores and he
brightsned up, and is now doing good
work ia country home.
Under the oyerseers system the pau
per is sold, (yes SO Id to the lowRst bid
der. and that bidder expects to make
some profit out of the transaction
They bid for the keeping of these poor
wretcbes that they may grind out a
few dollars for themselves, out of the
helplessness ana woe of their fellow be
ing.
Our county spent vast treasures IN
money, and untold, wealth IL the blood
of its sons to strike the shackles from
the limbs of four millions of black
slaves in the south, and yet we have
this wretched system OF white slavery,
a relic of barbarism, existing at oqF
doors.
1t is a blot on our civizilation, spot
that is disgrace to our Christianity,
1t obscures the glory Of the flag that
made us free.
Then dear brethren of Butler county
we hope that you for the honor of the
boasted freedom in which we live, fol
the honor of the civilization of these
last years of the 10Th century; for the
sake Of the God you worship and the
Savior who redeemed you, wipe out this
stain.
j. NJ MONTGOMERY,