Norwich bulletin., 1910-09-21
THE CHARITIES OF NORWICH.

CONTINUED from Page Five.)
giving up the charity work a good one
He contrasted the difference between
the towns of the east with the new
and growing west. He doesn't think
there can be just administration of
the charity funds while they are in
politics. He commended the present
town administration, however, and
thought the funds should be handled
by mon who do it without fear or ia
prudently. There should be a scientific
and careful investigation of cases an6
the charity fund should be taken from
politics.
could all be handled in the seiectmen's
office if the three members of the
board were given an equal salary and
all were there and attended to the
work, and not leave it for one.
A. S. SpaIdins Explains.
Declaring that he was out of politics,
although he had been in the game
A. S. Spaiding stated that while once
selectnan he is now clerk in the office
his salary and that of another clerk
coming from the first selectman. He
spoke in high terms Of both the first
se1ectmen who preceded and followed
him in office. The year preceding his
election there was spent for outside
poor $4,000. In his first year this was
cut to $4,000. the next year it went to
$4,000, and the third year to $4,000, a
difference in three years Of $4,000 for
outside poor. The investigation in that
term was full in every sense, and a
record was left of every case on his
leaving the office.
He stated that he was defeated on
his fourth nomination because those
who were cut off, their friends and
relatives, the merchants who received
f17o of
sympathetic with the poor. There was
not a case cut off but what a reason
could be given for it, and when he cut
off the gift of charity funds he knew
he was right, and knows it now. APP
plause)
There is the same investigation now
as. there was ten years ago. ; There
may be some who get it who do not
deserve it, but they get it until it is
found they are not deserving. You do
not want to find fault with the. present
administration if it is lower taxes
and the squandering- of less money you
desire. The town for the year Just
ending will give the best showing in
years. He declared that there is too
much politics in Norwich for the good
of business. Hes appreciated that he
was grossly misrepresented by those
who were hit when ne left office. but
there are lots of charitable people in
Norwich when they are giving away
other peopls' money. (Applause.)
He declared in closing that this town
is $4,000 better off today than it was
a year ago, which met with more APP
plause.
After a short discussion it was vot-
ed that the chair appoint a commit
tee of three to confer with the select
men and report to a future meeting on
some line of action this board would
recommend in connection with the dis
pensing of charities of Norwich.
1t was also voted that it is the sense
of the meeting that the report of the
selectmen in regard to the economical
administration of the outside poor ac-
count the past 9year be commended and
that the sefectnen be requested to
avail themselves of all the information
presented to them or available in re-
gard to the applicants for the outside
relief.
The session then adjourned to the
banquet hall for a buffet lunch, and it
was about IL o'clock before they dis
persed.