The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-06


homes or institutions ........ 29i o
Drugs and medicines. Il I
Miscellaneous ...... ........... 545 s
Total. 49,. ...............$ 22, 739 g
a decrease beneath 1896 of $500 Sc
The only direction in which an in
| creased expenditure has been incurred Il
in connection with the cost for care anC
maintenance of the poor at the county
poor farm.
For 1896 the cost was. $40 139 o.
For 1S9I........ -. -. ....... 1873 3
| An increase for 1897 of.........$ $50 2:
IT may be proper here to take some.
| what into account the fact that the cost
OF maintaining patients at private insti-
| tutIonS for 1897 is S19912 less than for
| 1886, which, if given full credit, would
reduce the increase III the whole cost
! incurred in this direction to $451.13 for
| the year. In estimating the decrease in
! the cost of transportation for 1897,
! S659.97, one disadvantage the office has
4 experienced should be taken into ac-
! count During the past year the county
| has been obliged to pay regular or full
! second-class fare for all transportation.
| while during the first six months, or
/ Whereabouts. of 1896. the county enjoyed
! the concession of one-half of first class
rates from the railroad companies. 1t
! would not be fairly comparative. how
ever, To claim that the withdrawal of
| this concession had increased the county
expense to any very considerable degree,
because. We're the lower rate still in
vogue, the county undoubtedly would
issue more transportation orders. My
opinion is. with the old rate in vogue
again, the revenue aecruing to the rail-
road companies would not be very ma
terially reduced. while the concession
is one which would be of great benefit
to the county in other directions. After
an experience OF year in this Office and
in view of the results obtained, perhaps
/ may venture "A few suggestions with
out being misunderstood with reference
10 certain reforms. administrative in
character which could be introduced
although they differ in character from
the recent methods your honorable
board recommend
Il would recommend as a task for the
next legislature the passage of "A law
which would associate the offices of
county auditor and superintendent of
the poor, and the creation of the latter
Office independently With the work
conscientiously performed, there is
volume of il large enough for both Of
fees To engage the whole attention indie
pendently of two men and with Jurlsdic-
ton and responsibility especially as TO
the care of the poor Explicitly defined.
my judgment is results more agreeable
" iiltil plllNfl anu lllbit satisfactory ~
the taxpayers would be the result, al
though it deny the commissioners the
satisfaction and exercise occasionally of
little brief authority In my iudg-
ment it viii not always subserve the
best interests of the taxpayers to con-
inue condition Of things where the
knowledge of this officer gained from an
experience which requires close and
conscientious investigation, as well as
the endowment PERHAPS of an average
amount or judgment, is IN danger perpet- I
ually OF being set at naught by a superior
body whose judgment is very often
formed from mere euTsory knowledge
at most Of the facts and circumstances.
Seeing no other way to obviate this diff
fculty. and approaching its gravity. |
therefore offer this suggestion to the
taxpayers for their thought and inves-
tigation
Furthermore. and with regard to the
conduct and cost of the poor farm | /
would inform the taxpayers that the I
list OF permanent residents or benefi- /
charles is continually increasing, and /
that this condition must inevitably COM
Llnue. This list of permanent beneficaries I
Is made up of two classes of persons
those who are SO enfeebled by old age,
pr crippled by accident. as to be rem
lered incapable of self-support in COM
petition with the world, but who could
be made nearly, if not quite. 50. under
favorable conditions. As the farm is
new conducted and in its present situa
ion, no such opportunity is afforded.
There are sites within the county boun-
iailes, however, Offering these adVan-
ages, and ones, which | am satisfied.
'ould be procured at a cost that would
Justify the investment. That individual
llso, the chronic poor farm habitue is |
10 myth. | have formed his acquant-
nee. In his finely affected humility
md in the eloquence of his assumed
innocence, the fraternity is discernible.
ND Vet 1T requires something more than
slight experience In penetrate tho gloss
II his accomplishments and detac- tie
,enus, which fact may account To- some
Ntent Tor the increased number of pa
tents AT the poor farm under ths H.
luence uf he new regime for the past
month. Wee the conditions such as
would aifpti hin! an opportunity To ex-
END his Forge IN 4 mere physical iirrc-
ion ] am satisfied he would ofteutiries
ind sene "thel locality more eo:.s snial
% his tastes.