The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-10
URGE A CHANGE IN
D0L|NG PAUPER
FUNDS OUT
Associated Charities Subject
Brings Out Interesting
Facts at Meeting

a Forks has not the powers of
a municipality in dealing with cues
of poor relief. Legislation is
necessary to give this city that very
necessary power and 1t is high time
that a move looking toward such leg
islation is made. This was the gen
eral continent at the open meeting of
the Fortnightly club held last evening
IN n public library auditorium. The
e subject of discussion for the
n was the Associated Charities
and two very interesting addresses
were given, one by President F. L.
McVey Of the university, in which he
pointed out the fact that Grand Forks
has no local self government in the
matter Of poor relief. and the other
by Dr.. j. NJ. Gillette on the subject
of Causes of Poverty"
City Supervision.
The addresses OF the evening were
followed by a decidedly Interesting
discussion In which conditions now
existing were handled without gloves.
President McVey in his address point
ed out that while Grand Forks makes
its own levy for municipal business
generally, the sum levied for poor re-
lief Is spent not under the supervis-
ion of the city authorities but by the
county board of commissioners, In
other words. Grand Forks has no
voice in handling this matter. As an
illustration of the homogeneous situa-
ton that arises from this deficiency
IN the city charter. President Mcvey
called attention to the fact that while
the city has a health officer who
looks after general questions Of
health. the county physician is the
person who looks after cases Of sick
ness. President McVey stated en-
p~hatically that it was plain that the
city health officer should have the
power and be paid for taking care of
cases inside the city limits. He stat
ed that there was spent last year in
Grand Forks $4,000 for poor relief,
and called attention to the fact that
this was dispensed not through an
agency of the city but by the county
board OF commissioners. President
word OF the board, but simply called
attention to what he characterized as
a defect in the system.
All Urge Improvement.
Many Of those present discussed the
problem. among them Rev. ]. K.
Burleson. Dean v. p. Squires. Attor-
ney H. A. Bronson. Prof. L. E. Bird
cell. Prof. Burleson, who has beer
actively connected with the Associat-
ed Charities work in the city, showed
the defects Of the present system in
an interesting way. Don Mcdonald
also gave some facts and figures and
without exception the speakers ex-
pressed the opinion thai a condition
exists which ought to be bettered.
The City of Grand Forks as it grows
and develops will confront in the
handling Of poor relief a problem
which. II the proper means in the
way of adequate legislation is pro-
vided now. a be properly handled.
II the present method is pursued, the
problem only grows larger and more
difficult Of solution in the growth of
the city.
AS a result of the impetus given the
movement last evening it is probable
that the matter will be taken up by
the Associated Charities with the city
council and commercial club looking
toward legislati-A at the next session
Of the legislature to give the city
power through its agencies to spend
the money collected in it by taxation
for poor relief.
Poverty in North Dakota.
DIR. Gillette's paper on the causes Of
poverty was interesting and instruct
i've. and those present were treated to
some interesting facts regarding pow
erty in North Dakota. Concerning
this matter DR.. Gillette said:
While / am dealing with the ex-
tent of pauperism I must not forget
to mention the extent in North Da-
kota. A great many persons have the