Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-02-15

County Commissioners VIII Restrict
Payments on Charities.

tereste, but the interests OF the de
serving poor. who must have public
aid, the county commissioners and
their auditing officer, the county at
torney, have Issued the following
letter Of Instruction 10 the township
aud city authorities:
Columbus, Kansas, Feb. 2, 1908.
To oil mayors of cities and trus
tees of townships In Cherokee coup
~, Ksnsas:-
Gentlemen: After consultation
with the board of county commits
sioners OF this county I desire TO re-
spectfully call your attention to the
following provisions OF our statutes
10 relation 10 the caring for and
maintenance of the poor In this
county.
All above named officers will
Kindly read carefully chapter No. 10
Compiled Lave of Ksnsas, 1901, and
Ia connection Herewith also kindly
read section $500. same volume.
This will give clear understand
ing of the present law In regard to
the provisions under which relief IL
to be extended to the persons needy
and destitute In our county.
II will hereafter be the rule of the
board of county commissioners, al
least the present one, TO grant relief
to outside poor only in case of the
most urgent necessity and then not
to residents of this county, except
as provided by above statute in re.
lation TO the caring for soldiers OF
the late war.
Residents of this county who de
sire relief will have to be provided
with same at the county farm as by
law provided, and while Il 10 not q
thing that 10 pleasant to suggest
that persons be taken TO the poor
farm, yet they must not expect this
county to spend the money Of the
public for relief at their homes.
The law plainly provides for re.
lief of transient persons who hap
pen to be taken i'll or become tenn.
porariiy destitute in our county,
and all officers to whom this letter
10 addressed will understand that.
Looking over the REGENTS &C.
counts presented to the board OF
county commissioners for allow.
ince find such items az eggs, to
oacco, saur kraut, potted ham, mo-
,asses, sweet potatoes, canned
goods, and many others not neces.
stiles, nor can they be construed as
such necessities that this county
should pay for them to be given to
the poor.
The laws intent is plain that per.
sons, who. either through sickness,
I'D age or misfortune. are COMPEL.
I'd to asx aid or relief at the expense
1f the public. shall receive only
those necessities of life az common
humanity and public charity clear.
~ dictate, else the public funds OF
our county would be speedily de.
pleted, and the paupers of other
counties aud states hearing OF the
iaxity Ia the allowance should
choose to take up their abode with
ne and share In the distribution OF
public funds.
Again, all claims for allowance
for aid of outside poor must be
made upon blanks Hs provided BY
the board of county commissioners
and no claims presented in other
form will be allowed.
No one lie better acquainted than
the writer with the fact that certain
persons who are not deserving are
continually demandinE provisions
from those who are supposed to be
able TO provide them at public ex
pense and It 10 hoped that with this
letter showing clearly the intention
of this county to curtail the allow.
ance for outside poor that all Off.
cers may be fortified in their desire
to keep the expenses of this count,
down where Il reasonably should
be.
Claims not presented in accord
ance with above instructions or for
relief in cases not authorized will
not be allowed, and IL will be need
lees to present them for action.
AL. r. WILLIAMS,
County Attorney.
Approved this 7th day Of Feb, 1905.
r. A. Beggs,
John Collins,
]. F. Pinson,
County Commissioners.