Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-01

inmates OF our county poor houses.
And in this criticism 1t must be adj
mitted the doctor has the majority
with him, the writer belonging to a
minority. who do not appreciate figures
showing how small an amount 1t costs
to support our" county poor.
49,
The doctors figures may be ac-
copied as trustworthy. For instance in
SO counties with 2,76l inmates 1t costs
s746,347.15 or to figure in round num-
beers $270 year for each man woman.
and child. This of course includes
all expenses, food, Clothes shelter, heat,
medical attendance and probably fun
eral expenses. The writer has friend
who pays more than that for the board
and care of his horse at a city livery
stable. Some other figures are inter-
iesting. The per capita expense in
Adams county is $50 cents; in Poca-
thontas county, 1912 cents. These fig
much older settled community, the
other has for inhabitants much
younger set of people and by implica-
tion more able to take care of them
selves Other counties where the ex-
ipense is 80 cents per inhabitant" the
writer having personal knowledge of
how it is spent will refer to later. The
writer's claim is that 1910 year is not
too much for q self respecting COM
munity to pay for its worthy poor. That
at the present time we are not getting
the worth of our money is the added
argument. DR.. Patterson's paper seems
to prove 1t.
Some of that which follows is an
account of what the writer saw two
years ago in some of our county poor
houses. Some of 1t comes from reli-
able sources. For instance, in one
building there was former lady school
teacher. A lady of refinement, culture
and education. Sane in many respects,
insane on the subject of electricity.
This woman cost each taxpayer 60
cents year. She was confined in a
building, having for a neighbor a wo-
man also insane. who daily and nightly
talked a volume of filthy words. which
would bring blush of shame to a
hardened mans face. She had for an
attendant man who had free access
to her day and night. This educated
to eat her means in the company OF AZ
sane and idiotic women. She had to
battle in their presence. In a word
she lived life OF mental torture and
shame, costing each taxpayer in the
county 60 cents a year. The writer Is
glad to add the appointment of the
board of control has remedied some of
these things.
In one of our county poor houses
there was (and the writer is told the
following is still the condition) an
epileptic man who had got into the
condition Of the lower order of ani-
mails, this referring to bodily functions
His clothes emitted an Understandable
odor in a steam heated hall and build
ing. This man had the run of the
building. For neighbor he had the
son of a farmer, also an epileptic.
The latter had received good educa-
ton, was brought up in clean, whole
some family, read daily paper, in a
word, was man like the rest of us.
excepting his terrible malady. These
two men had to eat, sleep and room
together, costing each taxpayer 60
cents per head each year.
In another county, and this came
from the county supervisor, a woman
was sent to the poor farm. She lived
there two years and during that time
became the mother of two illegitimate
children. This occurred in one of the
counties where 80 cents represented
the cost to each taxpayer.
In another county, and this the writer
saw, running at large was a big, burly
crazy man, who insulted every woman
who CHANGED to come on the premises.
He cost 60 cents a year.
These disgusting details the writer
feels forced to mention, for the very
purpose of offsetting the effect of DR..
Patterson's argument that we are pay
ing too much for our county poor.
Since the board of control came into
power, and their system Of inspection
was introduced many crying evils have
been remedied. But as go cent" tax
payers we must do more. DR.. Patter-
sons paper is sure to attract public
attention. II 1t results in bringing
about reform, In the way of spending
s745,OO0 q year, something will be ac-
lcomplished. But IL it results in
spending less on our state wards, less
while present systems are In vogue, so
much the more to our discredit and
shame. The members of the board OF
control and the men in charge of of
our public benevolent institutions 1t
"a safe to assume will agree on the fol-
lowing: First, a state epileptic in
urinary should be established by the
next legislature. and every epileptic
nerson now in our county poor houses
should be sent there, as we'll as all UNI
fortunates who in the future become a
public charge. Secondly, all insane