The Idaho Republican., 1915-01-22
THE WIDOWS PENSIONS

Two years ago the legislature of Idaho enacted bene
for the protection of the homes where the mother
left alone the result of death of the husband imprisonment
the penentay 1t provides for pension of dollars for
the oldest child the of fourteen and five dollars for each
other child up fourteen that age the allowance for
such child
The arguments advanced favor of the bill were that
made possible to maintain the home against breaking up that
cheaper and better maintain the children their
home than send them the Chdren home Boise be cared
for at the of the county, that the money expended
in pensions would in relieve the necessity for making
appropriations the Institution Boise; that relieves the
don which prolific of sin and vice where families were
lett destitute he matter placed the disposal of the pro-
bate Judge of each county, and is his privilege make the
owance the facts and conditions attending the within
the limits prescribed the pensions He given wide
OF discreonhe may allow he MAY daow after anvassng
the suato and the commissioners pay what he approves
and allows
since the plan began operate this county has paid about five
thousand dollars PENSIONS and has been asked also
its appropriation to the Chdrens home which done
According to information that being collected the SUBJ
already pensoned this county, appears that there are
number of deserving widows who maintaining their homes by
the aid of the allowance from the treasury and thus carrying into
effect the purpose of the that there others who
welodo and laying up money by of the allowance
made tor the purpose OF keeping them from that there
oherbut the hand aers and the lips close against uerne
words that would alter the conditions and must not reflect upon
the pure and the innocent.
When the drafted was thought best by some
to have apply to wives and families who had been deserted
the husband and father but argued that the this
would be tempt hf leave their families so they could
receive the income and deseon included in
hus the wife who the love and LOYALTY of her hu
band and the children of such marriage 90 on without
relief
An effort made to make deserion punishable by mprson
men but failed of passage and being presented again at the
present session.
marked tendency of the widows pension act to make all
widows feel that they have something coming by of being
widows that because certain other widows receive allowance
when not absolute need that follows that all others shall apply
and get the pay roll for simply being widows appears that
the letter of the law followed and applicant hides her con-
science behind custom and legal fiction and regards her
statements lightly almost any widow get the pension list
Therefore depends largely upon the discretion the probate
Judge and widows determined down and come to want
the purpose of securing the pension then they can
the most searching inquiry of the official In that event becomes
matter tor the conscience Of the individual adjust and the
measure OF ones distress befxed by the question: Have
and my knfoks done all supply my needs and still
taed! If each pensone would ask herself that question and
answer honestly and then herself planning and working
to become self sustaining, believed that some of the names
would soon off of the pension list the public burden be
ghened the individual her pride and independence
and funds be available for those who help themselves
Only one county the state has expended money for
pensions than Bingham and freely predicted that the prv
gs are badly abused for years they have been
the past year. will anagonism that will result in the re-
peal of the law.