Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-01-16
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION

AN IMPORTANT QUESTION
REGARDING BRATTLEBOROs SHARE OF
THE THOMPSON FUND.
Is the Income Being Distributed Strictly in
Accordance with the Terms Of the Decree2
Two Instances Which Point Toward
Negative Answer Need of Representative
Board of Administration.
In another column of this issue ap-
pears table of figures compiled from
the second account OF the trustees OF
the Thompson fund. In view of the in
terest taken in this fund by every per-
son in Brattleboro and adjoining towns,
and the discussion which its mention
arouses The Reformer believes it is
voicing the sentiment of many when it
asks the question: Is the income being
distributed strictly in accordance with
the terms of the decree? Under its
terms the chief beneficiaries are poor
seamstresses, needlewomen aud shop
girls who may be in temporary need
| from want of employment, sickness or
misfortune But it is also provided
that "if the whole of said income is
not needed for the relief of the classes
above named said trustees shall apply
such surplus to kindred charitable pur-
poses. The Massachusetts, Supreme
court specifically defines them:
! /, The erection, equipment and carrying & on OF
n hospital in which persons of the classes above
! named shall have the the first privilege OF ad-
| mission and free treatment and II after sucn
persons have been accommodated therein there
Z fIrn nth
| sons NAV be received as may be convenient PREF,
erence being given first to persons - from ne sans sa
from towns in the vicinity
sons of said classes in home for that purpose
either by itself or in connection with hospitai'
3 The care and education of children of the
classes above named, including kindergaIIen y, ~
! other schools and If there shall be room IN sucn
| schools children of other poor persons shah DC
| admitted, or assisted.
| a such other kindred charity for poor and dls-
abled persons as said trustees may determine
In the above provisions the court
certainly gave a broad minded con-
struction to the term kindred pur-
poses - and it behooves the persons
who have charge of the distribution OF
the funds to be equally broad minded
in their duties. Is the work being car
ried on in Brattleboro on as broad
basis as it should be? Many people
would give decidedly negative answer
To this question, basing their reply on
personai spite or prejudice. Others
would investigate the matter first, and
base their reply on the result of their
Investigation. The Reformer is not IN
a position to answer no to tins ques-
tiop, but instances have been brougnt
to its attention which seem to point
toward the negative side.
There seems to be decided oiHer-
epce of opinion in regard to the ooJect
of 1.-The Hemlocks, p" which is serving
as ID temporary hospital until perma-
nent one can be erected. Some have the
idea that its free treatment extends
s;,nn,y II seamstresses, needlewomen
and shop girls and that all other pa
J TENTS should be obliged to pay for
=, what they receive. This question is
explicitly answered in the decree. 1t IS
frst for the seamstresses, needlewomen
and shop girls, and afterward for sucn
worthy persons as may be convenient
ly received, preference being given
first to persons from Brattleboro ana
afterward to persons from towns In the
, vicinity.
II was only a few weeks ago a
Young colored boy living Just outside
6 the town limits fractured one leg.
, His parents were poor and ne was
& working for his living when the accl-
: dent occurred. Application was mace
for place for him at The HemlocRs,
The reply came that the boy would pe
cared for at s1l week, no less, ana
3 he was sent home instead Only two
weelxs ago an aged women, who had
! fallen and fractured three ribs, made
8 annlication for admission to the hospl-
tai and was told that it would cost her
sll week for treatment. She was TO-
! tally unable to pay this amount and
q was finally taken at rate OF 81, really
o much more than she can afford to pay.
: These are only two of number or
Z instances which have occurred but
thev 90 to show that the local manage
6 ment has wrongly construed the terms
: NJ the decree. There has been no time
6 since 1.-The Hemlocks' was fitted as
= temporarv hospital when it was so filled
= with seamstresses, needlewomen and
o shop girls that other worthy patients
% could not be cared for conveniently,
. The Reformer does not intend TINS
article in the sense of carping criticism
V of the methods of those VINO nave
charge of the distribution OF the
Thompson income locally. 1t SIMPLY
questions their methods in the behalf
OF the tOWHSptoHlc. "ho -" " %
l. to know how the funds are being spent,
and points to incidents which tend to
e show how matters are going. 1t is true
o that anyone who attempted to act as
e distributing agent of this money would
b be a subject of severe criticism from
It some quarter or other. Perhaps the
:. estimable women who are now acting In
# this capacity are doing as well as any
: one could: undoubtedly they are doing
S as well as they know how. But is 1t not
! equally true that society like the Asso-
y ciated charities, which has been work
n ing along the same lines for years, IS
l. apt gradually to fall into rut that be-
q comes narrower and narrower as time
h In order to serve the best interests OF
r everyone in Brattleboro the admins
n tration of Brattleboro's share OF the
IS Thompson fund income should be
IS placed in the hands of board num-
!. bering among it's members representa-
IS of all denominations. With such
/ committee at the head of things every
h application for help would be treated
II with absolute impartiality and no
y claims of discrimination could fairly
: be made.
= HOw,s This!