The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-01-12
HARD TO DETERMINE.
The County Owns and Maintains q Good
Home fox Poor People, But tho 0oun-
ty Commissioners Are Almost at
Their Wits End how TO Draw
the Line in Certain Gases.

The action OF the county commission.
ers IN cutting of the support given to
INDECENT people OF the community by
the county, and requiring all persons to
go to the poor farm where they will be
we'll cared for, ia causing considerable
talk in local circles. The criticism.
where there is any, ia not directed
against b commissioners go much IN
this instance, as they appear to have
adopted only q very sensible rule OF
business which IL followed by nearly all
counties having Experience IN the mat.
ter OF almsgivlng, but :hat IN carrying
out this I'll e Of business it should fall
heavily upon certain ones whom the finer
sense OF the people dislike TO sec re-
duced to the necessity OF going to the
poorhouse. A case in point is that OF .
soldiers family which has been receiving
aid at home from the county, the hus.
band now being a soldier at Manila.
The family consists OF u wife and six or
seven children in very needy circum-
| stances. The mother has been receiving
| S3 a week from the county and working
hard to earn the rest TO support her
children. She will DO necessarily com.
PEELED to now 60 to the poor farm where
she would be we'll cared for, and while
II would be q distinction without any
difference from the gratuity she 10 now
receiving from the board, yet the pstri-
otism Of the community somewhat re-
bells against the thought Of such a thing.
4 soldiers wife, whose husband is at the
front fighting for his coun ,ry, and who
has made a heroic and hard struggle to
SUPPORT her children by honest toll,
many feel ought not to be permitted to
undergo the humiliation OF going 20 the
poorhouse. And il the community
should become thoroughly sensitive to
the reflection II casts upon Its patriot
ism. it will not permit this needy family
to he 80 treated. While u p%oorhouse
may be q good provision for old or GRIP
pied dependent people. 1t cannot be SAID
it IL the best atmosphere to instill pride
and s~elf-respect into growing children
Il may cast an odium upon their bring
ing up that will be . sting to .Le'r teel
ines and pride through life. We believe
the community will take this matter vi
and assist this poor woman to supper
her large family at least until her hus
band returns. The county commission
, ers are acting c~onscientiously in the con
duct OF the public business relating :;
the poor and have recently placed tn
residence on the poor farm in good re
pair Tor their comfort, besides maxim
substantisl investments for oultlvat.n
I the farm.
!, In connection with the support
soldiers families during the at
sence OF the former at the front. II.
. Schriner OF this CITY has q very GOO
: suggestion which he has proposed to on
: legislators aud asked them to carry I'M
!, effect by an appropriation. and that is
make such needy families wards OF tt
state and not allow them to beoon
county paupers. An allowance from tt
. tate with what they can earn theu
!. aslvee. would thus enable them to msi'
tain an honorable position in . cor
). muu,ty until the parents return. l.
% everyone help the suggestion along
q ritipe to the legislators to push such
: bill through.