The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-31
A CIVIC DUTY.

4 1t Is 10 be hoped that the city COM
| missioners will see their way clear
to meet the recent suggestion of rep
resentative citizens that a special tax
| levy be made this year to assist the
Provident association in carrying on
! it's valuable and necessary work. The
| commissioners have been urged to fix
| this levy at five-hundredths of a
mill. That would provide a fund of
approximately $4,000. And surely
this is a modest sum for a city of the
size of this one to appropriate for the
purpose of helping the needy within
it's confines.
AS a matter of fact, Topeka, gov
ernmentally speaking, has been lax
this long time in giving assistance to
foot the bills for the care of its in
digent citizens. All such charity has
been and is now dispensed by the
county through it's poor commission
er's department, and by the Provident
association, which has been supported
in the main by the subscriptions of
individuals. 1t is as much of a civic
duty for a municipality to help pro-
vide for the poor as it is a proper
function for q county. The bulk of
the activities of Shawnee county's
poor commissioner is concerned with
extending aid to poverty-presSed To-
pekans. And there is nothing partic-
ularly equita BILE in making the prop
erty owners in the rural sections of
the county pay their share to
county poor fund which is mostly
used to alleviate suffering in the city.
The municipality itself should bear
the brunt of this burden.
And in the Provident association
Topeka has the best possible agency
to discharge it's obligation in these
premises. Its plant, which the peo-
pie of the city possess through the
munificence of a former citizen, is
most adequate for its purpose. The
association is an organized charity
that is entirely familiar with the
needs of the city's poor. Its expert
ence of years in this field is invalu-
able. 1t is in a position to dispense
charity to the best possible advan-
tage. And it is entitled to at least
partial support from the city govern
ment. Certainly the city could not
set up a poor department of its own,
without spending a big sum of mon
ey, that could compare in any way
with the effectiveness of the Provi
dent association, and its facilities for
not only giving assistance to the
needy but also helping them to help
themselves, which, after all, is the
wiSest of charities.
Economy is most desirable in the
conduct of a city's affairs. and es
pecially in these days of grace when
the tax rates in all directions have
the tendency of the thermometers in
the summer time to go ur and Up
and W.. But there is EUtnIng at ali
righteous or commendab1e in n mu
nicipal economy that shifts burdens
to other shoulders. And to get right
down to brass lacks, d city should
bear the entire i5runt of caring for its
POOR Then the burden would be
distributed amoEs the whole people
according to their individual means.
That, however, is not now being
asked by those who are interested in
the Provident association, as all To-
pekans should be. If the city Civ es
the aid 70 this institution that has
been suggested. it will not mean that
the charitably disposed Topekans will
withdraw their support from it. |
That is out of the question. For they
recognize in it the best possible me-
dunn for the dispensation of their |
charity. They know that contribu-
tons to the association can be made |
TO Go more real good than could even
larger sums distributed individually |
the poor and at random.
The city is merely being asked to
asslst in carrying on the excellent |
work of this institution. 1t is a most |
reasonable request and should be !
granted.