Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-11-12

last week in the Circuit Court for this
county. They are of interest to our
readers and we print them in full.
In presenting this report to the Hon.
orable Court for Worcester County we
wish to call your attention to the fact
that never before have the tax payers
OF the county been so much interested
in the affairs of the County Aims House
rs now.
This interest is caused by the passage
of law at the last session Of the Legis-
lature empowering the County Commits
sioners to sell all or part of the Coun-
ty farm at such a time as they deem
proper, provided that notice of their
intention of sale be printed in the pa
pers of Worcester County for three con-
secutive weeks before the date set for
the sale.
In this inquiry we do not pretend to
make an exhaustive report, but in the
short time allotted, we have tried to OBJ
tain facts that will be Of interest to the
tax payers, and we recommend that our
report be followed by more exhaustive
and expert inquiry before the County
Commissioners allow the Aims House
property to be sold.
Notwithstanding the fact we have a
law on our Statute books giving the
County Commissioners power to sell the
Aims House property, we doubt the
feasibility of the plan, as we find the
County has a valuable asset both in
growing timber and the gradual increase
in valuation Of farm land in Worcester
County.
II has been said the County is not in
the farming business. In answer to this
we can cite numerous instances where
the most up-to-date institutions of like
nature to our Aims House and large
hospitals are on farms, and they are
proving that the farm can be conducted
on a paying basis and that surplus can
be accumulated over and above the act
ual running expenses.
Under this new law, which went into
effect January LIST. the County Commits
sioners are to maleSsuch rules and reg
ulations governing the conduct of the
Aims House as they see fit, the ''Trus-
tees Of the Poor no longer having the
care of the property.
We suggest that the Commissioners
adopt set of rules and regulations for
the inspection of the tax payers, and
obtain a special book for these accounts
of the Aims House as the law provides.
Your Committee found no rule gov
erning the appointment of a keeper of
the Aims House, but suppose the rent
contract is in lieu Of such a rule and
regulation.
The keeper, Mr.. Atkinson, receives
twelve dollars a month for the care of
each of the seven inmates, four white
and three negroes. This sum does not
include supplying beds and bed cover
ings, nor dishes for the tables of the III
mates, and other furniture.
We found that Mrs. Atkinson had
been using some of her china for the in
mates.
We suggest that the County Commits
sioners use white enamel ware instead
of china or porcelain, and that each in
mate be supplied with plate, cup and
saucer, small bowl and other table uten-
sils that Mrs. Atkinson may suggest.
At this point we wish to congratulate
the Commissioners upon their selection
of keeper. We know that Mr.. Atkin-
son is practical farmer. and we feel
he will render a business-like admins
tration.
Too much cannot be said in praise Of
Mrs. Atkinson. 1t is evident that she
has the love and respect of the inmates
and that she is doing all she can do to
make the inmates comfortable with the
meagre supplies she has at hand.
The lack of dishes for the table has
already been spoken of. The most glar-
ing need we noticed was the lack OF
chairs for the inmates. We found Mrs.
Mary Blades. an old woman of eighty
six years. sitting on an old stool chair,
which, under the most favorable cir
cumstances, would be uncomfortable to
person of twenty-five years of age.
We recommend that comfortable chairs
be purchased for the inmates at once.
The supply of beds and bed coverings
should be burned, and in their place sin
gle iron beds be installed. Instead OF
the cheap quilts we recommend blan-
kets that can be washed and disinfected.
Some of the bed linen is in good condi-
ton. and we advise the Commissioners
TO consult with Mrs. Atkinson before
purchasing this commodity.
A room should be set aside for sick
ward. Under the present system sick
inmate is compelled to occupy the room
used as a sitting room for the inmates.
There is absolutely no privacy under the