Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-31

In her annual report to the board OF |
supervisors, covering the work among
the poor during the year 1909, Dr. Rosa
Liebig. overseer of the poor, covers an
exhaustive field and tells many inter-
esting facts as TO causes OF poverty. DR..
Liebig places strong drink as the lead
ing cause contributing toward poverty,
and Of eighty families helped, in fifty
six liquor was used either by the, head
Of the family, or both husband and
wife. Inefficiency and early marriages
are given as secondary causes.
DR. Liebig shows in her report that
the majority OF people having help are
of the american mixture variety. and
not foreign born citizens DR. Liebig
sniftlessness among people who are be-
ing helped by the county, and declares
that in some eases where the father
earns good money. and provides a roof
over his family's head and enough 70
eat. spends so much in the saloons thai
he Is not able to buy shoes. The over
seer says that some Of the shoes she
has on exhibition should shame a
wooden man.
The practice of assisting resident
mendicants is discouraged by the over
seer. The report in full. together with
several illustrations that have come un-
der the actual observance OF the over
seer. Is as follows:
MY understanding Of the duties OF
the office Of overseer OF The poor is that
+, is not intended 10 encourage idle
ness. and 10 keep Tor years al the pub
lie expense the heads of families who
are 100 shittless 20 work, or who spend
what they do make for drink o. other
vices and lei the family suffer, but %
assist those who are in distress until
they can by their own efforts get upon
their feet
BY our aid TO prevent pauperism
and dependance: 10 discourage beg
ging. and the giving OF aims without
adequate Investigation: 70 expose fraud
and deliberate inposture: and in every
case 70 Develop al the possibilities Of
salt help: 70 maintain a careful thoro
system of confidential records. 50 -ha-
al The essential knowledge obtained,
regarding needy families. may De IN
madiately available. in confidence. for
gi-iuata charitable interest
-Relief Of sorne kind has been given
during The past year 70 almost every
ta,sl;l, who have applied ana efforts
have been made 70 assist in such q way
a 20 enable -he applicants . help
themselves. if hey vE.ll and prevent
children from growing up as paupers
Every case mas been investigated. and
studied carefully Unnecessary aid Is
refused: employment Is secured. and
when -ha-e are able bodied persons II
me family. who ara not working they
are required 20 come 20 the Office 70,
he supplies. instead % sending tht
children. who while often physically
unable 70 carry home -he supplies the.
ask for, when given them. become 81
| accus- onled 10 asking for aid. that the-
forget 70 even say good morning o.
thank YOU. and thrust a paper con
-ainirg q list Of what they want at III.
overseer. with the air OF one who de
u7ands rather than asks. Such polio
/ reduces the giving Of material aid :.
The lowest point. Many persons vii
| not come themselves for aid. and If IN
Children are not allowed 70 come vii
whine about among the neighbors an
the charitably inclined people in an
1 our Of the church. because they ar
allowed TO suffer.
Inquire into the Cases.
in nearly every cas-. aid is give
upon the first application for assis-
allce. giving the applicant the benef
Of the doubt and then inquiry begin
The applicant is questioned as to VII
3 these conditions exist; how long the
have existed; how long they have re
h sided in the county and from whenc
7 they came, Later personal inspectio
4 Of home conditions is made, TO be sal
isfied that the case is a worthy on
q Inquiry is made as to the size of II
& family. ages Of the children. conjug
& conditions, occupation Of the rnernbe,
= Of the family, wages received, and II
habits of the wage Garner.
Little Aid For Foreign Born.
The number of resident families q,
sisted during the year 1909 is eight
The number Of persons 1855. In the Ii
OF those VINO have received rnateri
; aid there appear but two swedi!
families, one Of these old people unab
to work, the other in poor health. The
were two Norwegian families include
In one Of these continued illness of t
father had brought them to need: L
other, widow with small childre
Two coiored families were assisted. al
the remainder just American raixtu
Twenty-eight of these families we
without male bread winner, either
desertion or death.
Booze Large Contributor to Povert
The greatest number of persons
any one family was ten, eight childr
under IA years of age Three fanil
with nine children each; some W
none at all These latter are
nearly all cases the man and wife, cit
er childess Or forsaken by their Oh
dren, who live alone till old age con
on and their earnings become so SC;
that resort must be made to char
The average number of children
families was four OF the eighty far
lies in fifty-six liquor was used by
father, and in some instances by
mother also. At the beginning of
u year thirteen of these families had b.
n pensioners Of the county since /!
r. seven since 1905, and several for ter
of from two to three years.
Illustration Of Chronic ShiftIessne
One of these families was aided
the county from whence 1t came
- this county before coming here,
has been aided by this county 81
1902 The youngest child is now