The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-07-03
Township Poor Relief 10 1907.


According to the reports OF the
township trustees, who are overseersI
Of the poor, the cost Of out door
poor relief in Indiana for the year
ending December 81, 1902, was
$3.50, S76.9 90, says the Indiana
Board Of Charities. The whole
number Of persons who shared in
this relief was reported as AZ, SAY.
This is an increase OF $50, l52 80
over the amount Of aid given IN
1901, and . decrease Of 1882 in the
number Of persons who participate d
in the relief. The principal cause
Of the increased amount OF relief
given was small pox and other cpl
denies. Leaving out this feature,
the report on the whole, is an en-
couraging one. There has been a
continual lessening in the number
Of persons helped, until now less
than 2 per cent. Of the population
share 10 the relief given. While
here and there trustees seem to neg
lect their duty, most OF them appear
to be conscientiously following the
law.
The theory Of the law is that the
trustees, as overseers OF the poor
shall administer such temporary re-
lief as is necessary to the poor O
their townships, and that those who
REQUIRE permanent relief shall DC
cared for in the county poor asy
lum. Notwithstanding this TACT, o.
the sum expended last year for out
door poor relief, $124 ,SOl.t', o
almost so per cent. was to great
or or less extent permanent aid.
The number of females aided o.
the townships is greater than tn
number OF males. Last year Their
were Of the former 25 GIL and OF tn
latter %, 1888. This is in contras
with the figures on the populatio
of our poor asylums, in which thel
is an average Of two males to on
female.
The reports Of the overseers
the poor show a lessening OF II
number of persons who receive
public aid. Based on the census
1900, 1.9 per cent, or one in ever
fifty-one OF the States populatic
ehared in the relief given by Il
township trustees. This does n
represent the total number OF pc
sons who partook Of this relief. y
ten the trustees omit to give denim
information as to the number OF pc
sons who share in the aid give
Children aided under the compu
sorry education law are often reFo'
ed without q statement OF the exa
number 80 helped. In addition
this, the large number OF perso
given medical aid by the townsh
physicians are not reported.
The proportionate number OF p
sons aided varies greatly in the q
ferent counties Of the State.
one Who compares the figures a
studies them on the map for the ii
time, they are startling. The
cord for having the lowest prop
ton Of the population aided by
township 10 1907 goes to Washi'
ton and Dubois counties. In ca
of these one 10 every l2S Of the p'
ulation were recipients OF he
Other counties which have g
record are Ohio one in 12l; Han
ton in lis; Crawford, one in II
Ripley one in 80. The highest p
portion Of the populrtion receivI
aid is found in Knox county,
10 IA; this is largely accounted
By the epidemic Of small pox. I
next highest in proportion Is I
tholomew county, one in TWEEN
i've. This county has held
highest record for pauperism
several years.
In some townships there has b
an encouragement to pauperism
past years. Well intentioned r
dents Of the township have thong
lessly encouraged them in this,
they have come to look upon
poor fund as an amount OF mo
10 the hands Of an official for 4
benefit.
OF the l,Ol5 townships in
State. no levy for poor relief
found necessary in 1Sl townsh
! In Gil townships the rate was
than 5 cents; 10 1874 townships
than ten cents, ia 80 totnsh
. =