The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-01-12
HARD TO DETERMINE.
The County Owns and Maintains . Good
Home for Poor People, But the Coun.
ty Commissioner Are Almost at
Their Wits' End How 70 Draw
the Line in Certain Gases.

The action Of the county cont mission
ers IN outing of the support given TO
INDECENT people OF the community by
the county, and requiring all persons u
go to the poor farm where they will be
we'll cared for, is causing considerable
talk ia local ~c,rcles. The criticism.
where there il any, is not directed
against the commissioners 80 much IN
this instance, as they appear to have
adopted only q very sensible rule OF
business which Ia followed by nearly all
counties having Experience 10 the mat
Ter OF almsgiving. out :hat IN carrying
out this ri e OF business It should fall
heavily upon certain ones whom the liner
sense OF the people dislike to see re-
duced to the necessity Of going to the
poorhouse. A case in point il that OF .
soldiers family which has been receiving
aud ut home from h county, the hus.
band now being q soldier at Manils
The family consists Of q wife and SIX or
seven children IN very needy circum-
stances. The mother has been receiving
g a week from the county aud working
hard to earn the rest to support her
children. She will 10 necessarily com.
PEELED to now go - the poor farm where
she would be we'll cared Tor, and while
II woulJ be q distinction without any
difference from the Hratuity che IL now
receiving from the board, yet the patri-
ot,sm OF the community somewhat r..
bells against the thought OF such 4 thing.
4 soldiers wife, whose husband ,s at the
front fighting for h,s coun ,r!, and who
has made a heroic and hard struggle TO
support her children hy honest toll,
many feel ought not TO be permitted TO
undergo the humiliation OF going 20 The
poorhouse. And II the community
, should become thoroughly sensitive TO
the reflection !. casts upon It's patriot.
ism, it will not permit this needy family
to bs % treated. While = poorhouse
may be q good provision Tor old or GRIP
p.ed dependent people. 1t cannot be said
it 10 the best atmosphere to instill pride
aud s~elt-respect into growing children.
It may cast al odium upon their bring
ing up that will be . sting TO heir feel
ings and pride through life. We believe
the community will take this matter up
and sss,st this poor woman to support
her large family at least until her hus-
band returns. The county commission
srs are acting conscientiously in the COO.
duct Of the public business relating q
the pool and have recently placed the
residence on the poor farm in good re-
pair Tor their comfort, besides making
substantial investments for cultlvat.nG
the farm.
In connection with the support Of
soldiers families during the ab
senoe OF the former Mt the front, II. B
Schriner OF this city has y very gooe
suggestion which he has proposed to GU
legislators aud asked them to Garry mt
effect by an appropriation. and that is t
make such needy families wards OF tn
state and not allow them to beOom'
county paupers. An allowance from tn
state with what they . earn them
. selves. would thus enable them to main
. tain sn honorable position in . com
. mun,ty until the psrsnts' return. LIE
everyone help the suggestion along b.
writing to the legislators to push such
. bill through.