Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-01

ling claims Tor reneI nave Deei iildus
by the State Board Of Charities anc
Corrections:
Whenever a claim for relief l:
made upon overseers of the poor fol
the benefit of any persons or families
of persons claiming to be poor and ir
distress, it is the duty of the over
seers Of the poor to carefully 1nves
tigate the circumstances of such pool
persons, so as to ascertain their lega
settlement, their physical condition OF
sickness or health, their present anC
previous occupation, their ability ano
capacity for labor, their ages AND
names and the ages and the ability
and capacity for labor of all members
of their family, and if they are found
to be in distress, the cause of their
condition, if it can he ascertained. The
overseers of the poor should also in
quires as to the family relationships OF
persons for whose benefit claims for
relief are made, and as far as pos
sible, should ascertain whether such
persons have relatives able and will
ing to assist them.
whenever the overseers ascertain
by investigation thai any poor per-
sons or families require assistance
they should furnish them only such
temporary aid as nay be necessary
for the relief of immediate and press
ing suffering: before any other fur
Their final or permanent relief in any
case is given. the overseers should
consider whether distress can be re-
lieved by other means than an eX-
penditure of town funds.
IF the poor persons applying are
in good health, or if any members of
their family are SD. the overseers
should insist that these able to labor
shall seek employment; and they
should refuse to furnish any aid un-
til they are satisfied that the per-
sons claiming help are endeavoring to
find work for themselves. The over
seers in such cases should make all
possible effort to secure employment
for the able bodied in the town where
they reside, and should call upon resi-
dents of the town to aid them in find :
ing work for such persons as are able
to labor.
IF the poor persons applying for
aid have relatives allie 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 to help their poor relatives, eth
er with material relief or by furnish
ing them with employment. If any
poor person applying for relief is able
to labor and refuses to work when
oix he
seers should refuse any further aid
to such person, except admission to
the almshouse, where he should be
compelled to labor. If there is no
almshouse within the town arrange
ments should be made for his COM
mitment to the county Jail, county
farm, or some house of correction.
ut is the duty of each overseer to
ascertain what societies for relief of
the poor or other organiza tons for
charitable purposes, if any, exist in
the town of which he is overseer
Whenever the overseers of the poor
find such societies to exist, they
should make inquiry from the agents
or members of the societies as to
whom they are aiding in their town,
and should offer them any 1nforma
ton 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 he able to give.
ut is the duty of the overseers of
the poor tc 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 adj
visable, to the end that the unnecessary
duplication of relief may be avoided and
the creation of new families of paupers
through misguided and useless aims
may cease. The overSeerS should also
seek the aid of such societies or organ
izations or their members in securing
employment for those who apply for
aid, when they are found able to labor.
"Overseers 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, I'M
less such person be sick, aged, injured
or crippled and unable to travel; and
all overseers of the poor should endeav-
or to provide some form of hard man.
ual 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
nonresident with transportation at the
cost of the town.
"Overseers should not furnish any
nonresident who may be sick, aged, in
iured or crippled, with transportation
at the cost Of the town until after the
overseers have. by correspondence or
otherwise ascertained beyond a reason
able doubt the legal residence Of the
person applying and any transportation
furnished to such person or persons
should be in the direction Of their le-
gal residence, unless it be shown be-
yond a 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 to be sent"
"Our own State laws offer but very
little instruction to the overseers of
the poor beyond requiring them to fur
nish aid in certain circumstances" said
Capt. James F. Bagley, secretary of the
State Board Of Charities and Correc-
ton, in commenting upon the above
suggestions, "and for that reason the
board has issued these suggestions to
the overseers which are made after care