The Portland daily press., 1900-05-26

as he had just appeared before this board.
The subject of the outside poor was
next called up by Mr.. Gowen, who stated
that during the past month he had found
that. the city had for some time been fur
nishing aid TO quite a large number of
singleswomen many Of whom, Mr.. Gowen
believed, were able to look after themselves.
Secretary Baker has said that in certain
OF these cases there were brothers and
sisters who We're well able to care for
these unfortunate relatives. Mr.. Gowen
thought that it was time to shut down
on helping these single women and that
hereafter the board should not help them
unless they were willing TO be sent to
the almshouse.
Mr.. Ross thought that the change sug-
gested would be a pretty radical one and
that it would perhaps work 10 the disad-
vantage of single women who were
worthy. 1t was rather hard to absolute
ly refuse aid to these persons and to send
them to the almshouses Possibly good
might be accomplished by threatening
these women that they would be sent
out to the house if the city had to keep
sending help to them,
Secretary Baker said that Mr.. Gowen
meant only those women who were re-
.ceiving permanent aid.
Mr. Goudy had much sympathy with
the plans of Mr. Ross. OF all cases these
of the permanent benefieiaries were the
most worthy. These women should be
supported much more than the heads of
drunken families who spend their
money in rum He had received many
anonymous communications, in one of
which it was claimed that the city was
supporting a family on Fore street which
consisted of a man and two sons who
kept team. One of the sons earned s.
a day and the "old man" made good
money by going ont in the country ped
ding. This was rich jew family, so
the person who had written the commu-
nication claimed, and owned house
MIR. Cloudy explained that in the future
he should not pay any attention TO anony-
nous communications and that he want
ed 1t to be known that all parties who
gave information TO him in this manner
should sign their names
Then Mr.. Gowen said that he didn' {
believe in the city giving help to any
body mother. He knew that this mat
ter was being abused.
From business standpoint it was bet
ter that the city should help these women
in this way by sending them to the aims
house, sIid Mr.. Ross. Secretary Baker
remarked that when he first came to
the board the city gave help TO nobody
outside of the almshouse and that this
plan was followed for several years after
wards
"There are lots of worthy cases" said
Mr. Ross. 1T would be hard TO send
these people as last resort out to the
almshouse
How do they pay rent?" asked Mr.
Gowen. I've as much sympathy as any
body else. 1 only intend to shut off Ger
tain cases and accordingly modify my
motion so that all cases be Investigated by
the monthly committees and Secretary
Baker. don't want to shut of every
body and would be the last member of
this board to deprive any aged or infrm
person.
Mr. Cloudy favored this plan and Secre-
tary Baker suggested that it would be a
good idea if single women should be
helped only once n month. ..Hhe talk
switched back and forth and was con
cluded when Mr.. Ross enlightened his
oonferes by explaining that all cases
should be Investigated if the board was to
live up TO its rules.
Mr.. Goudy brought up the question re-