Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-26

system to strictly township relief, each
township caring for its own poor. In
Ohio the adoption of this method eff
fected saving of 3 per cent in eX-
pense and reduced the number of APP
plicants by one-half. 1t was also sug-
gested that there should be one county
overseer of the poor, or supervisor
Dr. Paterson severely arraigned the
system of appointing men to supervise
the poor farms, and pointed out how 1t
is possible for there to be inefficiency
there. He said:
THE prime qualification for the over
seer of a poor farm is his ability as a
farmer. Naturally he must belong to
the proper political party. for 1t is We'll
nigh impossible to make democratic
grain yield satisfactory on the poor
farm Of republican county. In the
course of this investigation some nine
ty-three counties have reported, and
but one of all this number mentioned
efficient care, while in several instances
productivity of the farm was comments
ed upon. Barring political uph+avals
and the absence of the hog cholera or
dry seasons, any good farmer continues
we'll equipped to look after the moral
and physical welfare of those whose
tired minds will not rest, or the weak IN
mind and body who will not grow
strong"
But criticism is not directed alone at
the men employed to supervise the poor
farms. but at all parts of the system
in vogue in Iowa. Continuing DIR. Pat
terson said:
In the study of this subject dis
tinct effort has been made to secure
competent criticism, not only of outdoor
relief in general but of the several
methods discussed. In this but partial
successes has rewarded the effort. The
form of RELIEF is but little discussed, but
the township trustee or overseer CT the
moor is the common point of the attack
The thought is not SO much what Is
given as when and how. To summar-
ize the criticism passed upon these OIL
Gals is to repeat what has been SAID as
to the superintendent of the poor
farms. They aresoften graduates OF the
road supervisorship, and while this ls
nothing against them, the fact Is not
particularly eloquent as to the fitness
to put our taxes into circulation thru
the medium of the worthy poor let alone
capable of handling of the professional
pauper. The salary paid Is usually 700
meg ger to command a trained man. but
large enough when in the form OF a
nolitical plum to be attractive to the IN
FAINT politician. 1t thus becomes sort
OF kindergarten department In the
school of politics and partakes OF the
nature of politics rather than charity.
Permit the quotation of few phrases
taken from personal letters, written by
those who have made this work
study:
".our trustees are too LIBERAL
".Luxuries are constantly furnish
ed
".The poormaster is not a very wise
or efficient almoner of the city poor
funds
An applicant is never turned Gown
"Yet as with the superintendent Of the
poor farm, so with these officials, some
are efficient but it is clearly evident that
the charity workers of the state are>of
the opinion that they are no competent
offered as to the methods OF outdoor re-
offered as o the methods of outdoor re-
lief are quickly summarized. Where a
general store is kept the tendency is for
the oyerseers to be too liberal; II option
al orders for groceries are given, GER
tain dealers make efforts to have paup-
ers move into their district; and u cash
is given 1t is unwisely spent.
So much for the necessity for re-
form of the present system. 1t will be
\ ~, tn
brought to attention. DIR. patterson
closed his paper with some suggestions
in regard to remedies, and after refer-
ring to the suggestions made BY others,
he said:
almost without exception the sug-
gestions are worthy of studious ccnsid-
Grafton: they embody the best thought
of those who have made the subject
practical study Beyond question some
of the various plans, il adopted. would
lessen the number Of applicants for aid
and diminish the amount expended Tor
moor relief. The problem, however, is
not SO much which Of these 1t is most
advisable to adopt, as how 1t may be
placed in such general operation as to
secure the best results. We can make "
q crime for the husband to desert the
family. hut how shall the supervisors OF
many OF our counties be convinced that
the keeping of paupers as they are now
kent is an outrage. How the overseers
Of the poor and the township trustees
can be taught to give aid that does not
pauperize /? The medium of the press
will not suffice. as editors thems elves
must first be taught. Il we are TO ac-
complfsh these ends we must adopt the
plan already used by the state In other
lines. We have railway, pharmacy.
dairy commission. commissioner OF
labor, a board of health. superinten-
dent of instruction, board of control;
might we not with equal ,propriety nave
a state superintendent or board OF char
|sifies 1? The interests at stake are sufha-
GENTLY vital. submit that the care OF
the paupers OF this state touches as
very welfare more intimately than do
the Interests represented by many OF
the commissions now supported by the
state. An interest which requires the
.gratuitous' outlay OF $500, 600 in; e
single biennial period demands consul
Grafton; a cause so vitality related tosthe
defective and delinquent classes and up
on which the ultimate welfare ct the
state is so dependent is worthy Of ev-
cry citizens thought. The Idea OF q
state board of charities is by no means
new one: the plan, modified to SUIT con-
ditions. has been repeatedly tried ana
proven beneficial. Several states sim
ply require the inspection of aims