The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-22
HOUSE FOR POOR
ALMOST CERTAIN
FINDS GENERAL FAVOR.
COMMISSIONER MOORE THINKS
THERE SHOULD BE SUCH A HOME.

Acting Mayor Dixon Is in Thorough
Accord with Mayor Myers Sug-
EestiOn on the SubJecf-BeIieved
That Matter should BE Taken Up
with County and Necessary Ar
rangements Made-Mayor Myers
Expected Home Next Week and n
Committee viii BE Named by Him
at That Time-The Mayors Plan.
Although no plan has been mapped
out it is believed that arrangements
will very shortly be made between the
city and the county whereby a poor
house will be established.
Mr.. A. b. Moore, vice chairman of
the County Commissioners, believes
that there should be a poor house in
the county. Mr.. Moore does not ques-
ton the need of such an institution,
but in the absence of any denite prop
osition from the city he does not care
to go into a discussion of the subject
as a county officer.
Acting Mayor James NJ. Dixon is
heartily in favor of establishing a
home for the INDECENT of the commun-
ity. He not only believes that much
good would be done. but that the city
would save money as we'll. The
amount of money paid out of the city
treasury annually for charitable pur-
poses is considered unusually large and
is increasing. The Acting Mayor is in
thorough accord with Mayor Myers
plan to establish such an institution at
the earliest possible time.
But nothing will be done until Mr..
Myers has returned TO the city. He is
in New York. but is expected back next
week. Mr. Myers stated that he will
appoint committee to take the matter
UP with the county and push some plan
to a speedy elimination.
Poor House Badly Needed.
Each year the necessity becomes
more apparent for some intelligent
handling Of our mendicant classes. as
well as those who are in destitute cir
cumstances. but unwilling to become
beggars." Acting Mayor Dixon said in
discussing the subject. Hardly a day
passes during the year that the Mayor
is not called upon to assist persons
who are in a deplorable state. Some
wish to leave the city while others
want food and fuel, only until en-
plOyment can be secured.
Another and rapidly increasing
class is composed of those who from
age or infrmities are unable to work,
and who are without friends willing
or able to provide them with means of
subsistence. Societies connected with
the various churches of the city do
much for the relief of these people,
but they are unquestionably unable to
completely cope with the situation.
Has No Regular Fund.
The Mayor has no regular fund at
his disposal and is compelled, when
investigation shows the case to be one
where immediate aid is required. to
draw upon the Incidental appropriation
ty, too, gives relief to men,
dicants living outside Of the COR
porate limits. 1t would seem that if
the city and county were to enter into
an arrangement to maintain a poor
house. say on the county farm, much
good could be accomplished. The
county as well as the city would have
to make an annual appropriation.
There are manY persons now beg
6lik Oh the Streets dependent en-
tirely on public charity, who could be
gathered at such a place and support
ed at much less expense than the city.
county and general public are now
subjected to-"
Mayor Myers Idea.
Admission could be restricted to
persons who have been residents of
the city or county for one year or long
er, and in many cases the parties could
be employed at some useful occupa-
tion," Mayor Myers said in discussing
the subject before he left the city
such poor homes are in existence else
where and / believe one would ma
terially assist in solving the problem
as to what Savannah and Chatham
county are to do with the worthy in
digent.
with such an institution in exist
ence the Mayor could readily dispose
of beggars coming here from other
points by deporting them. as provided
under the laws Of the state and city,
or by sending them to jail. and thus
relieve the community of what is fast
becoming an intolerable nuisance, as
well as burden on its people. The
charitably inclined could then concen-
trate their attention on those VINO are
merely in need of a temporary tiding-
Hver r@s.,isiTE from iiiUegz mr. lark ~