The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-11-09

Second: That it becomes their duty
to provide for the mature and irma-
ture who have not the means where
with to provide for themselves, or who
have not relatives who are able to
provide for themselves, or who have
not relatives who are able to provide
for them.
Third: That the board of county
commissioners are authorized by law
to exercise d large discretion as to
the manner of caring for and main
tanning the county poor.
Fourth: That for the purpose of
caring for, and providing them with
employment, they are authorized to
build work houses, or they may cause
work houses to be built or they may
provide for such purpose
If this section 3S5, which provides
in substance that the county commits
sioners may for that purpose, cause to
be built or provided in their respec-
tive counties, work houses for the ac-
cOmOdatiOn and employment of pau
pers, is broadly construed, it means
that Che board of county commission
ers, if they think proper, may provide
in such way as their judgment may
dictate, work houses for the accOmoda
ton and employment of paupers. 1t
is apparent then that if they contrib
ute of the county funds ten thousand
dollars which will secure to Walla
Walla county the 'esta blShment of the
Stubbefield home, they have provided
that which will result in the establish
ment of work house for the accomo-
datiOn and employment of the paupers
and that which will maintain and ed
ucate those paupers and make of them
useful men and women.
We, therefore, conclude that this
section cOntemplates that the board of
county commissioners may assist in
the establishment of the Stubblefeld
home by contributing of the funds of
Walla Walla county sufficient money
to cause the same to be established
here. The Legislature of the state of
Washington has not only made the
foregoing provisions for caring for the
poor but has provided by law (session
laws 1903, page 339) for the levying of
taxes for county current expenses. |
Hence it is apparent that not only has
the Legislature provided for the car
ing for the paupers, but has provided
a means whereby the board of county
commissioners may raise sufficient
revenue with which to carry out the
provisions and intent of the law re-
spectlng the county poor. This con- !
clusion as to the power of the board
Of county commissioners to contribute
to obtain the Stubblef1eld home is sup
ported by decisions of the courts Of
other states. In Lund VS.. Chippewe
county, ct al, Wisconsin case, the |
court of last resort Of that state held |
that county in that state, to secure the |
establishment Of a home for the county, |
training and educating of the feeble |
MINDED, eplleptic and idiotic, had au-
thorlty to contribute for that purpose |
the sum Of twelve thousand seven |
hundred dollars. The court in pass
ing upon the case was urged to hold |
that 1t was against the public policy
or the county to contribute money or
other security for the establishment
and building Of such a home but it re-
FUSED to do so and expressly held that
II was in consequence with good pub
lie policy to so act. It was urged
that the legislature had no power
against a municipal corporation to
compel 1t to contribute thus for To-