Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-14
CHARITIES AND C0RREC.
TONS SUGGESTIONS TO THE
0VERSEERS OF THE POOR

reside, and should call upon residents
Of the town to aid them In finding
work for such persons as are able to
labor
If the poor persons applying for aid
have relatives able to assist them who
are living in the town, it is the duty
Of the overseers before giving aid a
second time, to call on such relatives
Of the poor persons and ask them 20
help their poor relatives. either with
material relief or by furnishing them
with employment. II any poor person
applying for relief is able to labor and
refuses to work when given the oppor-
tunity, then the overseers should re-
except admission to the almshouse,
where he should be compelled to labor.
If there is no almshouse within the
town arrangements should be made for
his commitment to the county jail.
county farm or some house Of correc-
ton.
It is the duty Of each overseer to as
cretain what societies for relief Of the
poor or other organizations for charit-
able purposes, il any, exist within the
town of which he is overseer. When
ever the overseers Of the poor find such
societies to exist. they should make in
curry from the agents or members OF
the societies as to whom they are aid
ing in their town, and should offer
them any information they possess
concerning the poor, which may be OF
service to them. and should ask them
for such information regarding the
poor and. needy persons as they may
be able to give.
It is the duty Of the overseers OF
the poor to acquaint themselves. as far
as possible, with the work Of all such
relief societies or other organizations
for charitable purposes operating with
in their town and to cooperate with
them in any way they may deem ad-
visable, to the end that the unneces-
sary duplication OF relief may be
avoided and the creation Of new fanli-
lies of paupers through misguided and
useless aims may cease. The oyer
seers should also seek the aid Of such
societies or organizations or their
members in securing employment for
those who apply for aid, when they
are found able to labor.
Overeeers Of the poor should not aid
any persons who are not resident OF
the town where they are found. other
wise than by some form of labor. un
less such person be sick, aged. injured
or crippled and unable to travel: and
all overseers of the poor should en-
deavor to provide some form of hard
manual labor at which they shall set
any able bodied nonresident who may
apply for relief to them. Overseers of
the poor should not furnish any able
bodied NOM resident with transporta-
ton at the cost of the town.
Overseers should not furnish any
non resident who may be sick, aged.
injured or crippled, with transportation
at the cost of the town until after the
overseers have, by correspondence or
otherwise ascertained beyond a rea-
sonable doubt the legal residence Of
the person applying and any transpor-
tation furnished to such person or per-
sons should be in the direction of their
legal residence, unless it be shown be-
yond reasonable doubt that the per-
son in distress has some valid claim
for support or some means Of support
in some other place towards which he
or she shall ask 10 be sent.