McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1914-10-02
To the Hon. County Court and
Taxpayers OF McNairy County

At the beginning of this year there
were nineteen paupers in the McNairy
County Poor House; since that time
five have been added, and one has
died Ia Mrs. Morrison), leaving
twenty-three there at present. There
are four children there, their ages
ranging from two to six years. An
opportunity has been offered me to
let two of them out, but for want of
cooperation of commissioners, they
are yet there, and taxpayers are pay
ing $500 for their support. The
mother Of two of them, cher age given
at thirty years.; an opportunity was
given to get her out this summer but
when it came to Che showdown, she
was sick and did not feel like going
Her name is Mary Lacefed. Some
of you magistrates know her a
much stouter woman than some of
your wives. think she is fully able
to earn a living, if she will properly
conduct herself.
The poor house was not intended
for laborers but for those only who
are not able to labor, but it is run
quite different now. On the lst
Monday in September of the present
year a man applied to me for Wyley
Sheffield "a colored boy six years old,
the party agreeing to feed and clotbe
him. agreed for the party to take
him, and issued an order to that eff
feet and presented it to one of the
commissioners, but he would not sign
the order and the man failed to get
the boy.
Further will say, there are per-
haps three or four men in our poor
house who are able to earn a living
by their labor. There is one Mathew
Dempsey; he is twenty-five or thirty
years old. He is stout and able to
do farm work, and makes hand in
the field every year. Any farmer
would do we'll to take charge of him
as laborer.
The present superintendent rents
land and works him to make cotton,
instead of them making something
for themselves. Cotton raising is
dollars to him instead Of raising peas,
potatoes and vegetables generally.
The present superintendent is very
much of lawyer, and tells parties
applying for children that the COM
missioners have no right to take chill
1ren from their mother, and proceeds
to infCrm parties that they must go
to the county court for an order.
Would suggest to your Honorable
body that if the present management
is to continue, IT might be a good idea
to cut out commissioners entirely.
At the October term of this court
one year ago, put in report show
ing that other men had put in bids to
keep and care for your paupers at
$500 per mouth. The difference in
these bids and what is now paid
would amount to $3.50 per year. This
amount could have been saved to the
taxpayers of this county. | have sew
eral bids now to take care of your
poor for next year below what you
are now paying some as low as
$500 per month.
Another thing | have opposed is
paying full price for board and care
of children born in your poor house
at the same paid for grown people.
1t has been the custom for superin-
tendents to bury paupers who die in
the poor house without extra expense
to the county except for coffin, but
for the last four or five years an ex-
ira charge has been made. When |
was appointed commissioner | made
enquiry Of all the merchants in Sell
mer, what they would furnish shoes,
dry goods, tobacco, etc, at. G. l..
Anderson put in the lowest bid and a
contract was made with him to
furnish the goods, but | find an ac-
count which has been allowed for TO-
bacco bought elsewhere to the amount
of $3.50.
The expenses for running your
poor house for the last eight months
is as follows:
For Board S156S.3 sc
" Making Clothing, tobac-
co and Soap. ......-........... 10S.3C
+" G. l.. Anderson acct. 6S05
I" | coffin by ]. A. Gooch SOC
1885