The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-24
MAKE THEM DO IT
County Commissioners Will
Wait on "MOtherS' Aid.">
Sit Tight on Lid of Shawnee
County Treasury.
ST PETITIONS ARE NOW ON FILE
Total Expenditures Would
Amount to $4,000 a Year.
James Larimer Says Law Is a
Result of Politics.
81 PETITIONS ARE NOW ON FILE

If the county commissioners find
they must. they will come under the
state law and grant mothers pen
sions' or mothers aid" Otherwise
they will not
Our purpose here" said Fred
Nipps, chairman of the board. today,
is to sit tight on the county treas
ury and TO spend money only where it
appears to be absolutely necessa ry.''
Mr.. Nipps indicated that the county
commissioners are not opposed to aid
ing the mothers who might come
under the law but that there must be
good reason for it before the money is
spent.
Apparently there is some conflict in
the mothers pension" law although
the attorney general has held that it is
mandatory upon the board of county
commissioners 10 grant aid under that
particular law. The county commits
siOners of Shawnee county have held
that they are given discretion in the
matter and that they are not COM
peeled to operate under the law unless
they see fit.
The filing of the case of Mrs
Schanber yesterday is expected to test
the law and TO determine once for all
the liability of the county. 1t is a
typical case
Nipps Is Non-CommittaI.
I wouldn't want TO say" said Mt
Nipps, that the commission will not
grant mothers pensions unless this
case is decided against US. Neither
would I want TO say that We will
grant them"
VIII the board make an investiga =
ton 10 determine whether or not It
should pay the pensions under the
law" was asked
I can't see where an investigation
would do any harm" he replied.
sIons under the act referred to Is a
serious matter with the county com
mlsslOners in this county. There are
thirty-seven such petitions on file with
the county clerk and should the com
nIssloners allow them the total ex-
penditure would reach $4,000 or
$4,000 a year The county is already
spending $4,000 a year for charity.
No Money in Sight.
I don't see where the money would
come from in case We should begin al
rowing the pensions said Mr.. Nipps.
The law providing Ger the pensions
does not provide a means for creating
4 fund I suppose the money would
have TO come out of the general reve-
nue. fund but there isn't enough there
TO cover IL if we should allow all the
pensions"
Fhe commission takes the position
that the county is already giving char
ity to all deserving persons and that
the granting Of pensions 10 mothers
would not cut the amount now spent.
to any extent
We are operating under the general
charity act. said Mr.. Nipps and
1 do not believe there are any deserv-
ing persons who are not being cared
for Four of the mothers who have
petitions in here for pensions are now
receiving charity from the county IN
der the general charity provisions"
Passed for Political Purposes.
The mothers pension" law pro-
vldes for the appointment of com
mission OF three disinterested women
to Investigate every case in which 4
petition is filed In some of the cases
on file such commissions have been
appointed and reports made back 10
the county But in no instance has
the report been acted upon.
James Larimer, county auditor. de-
clared the mothers pension law was
passed for political purposes; to gar
ner in female votes.
If it had not been he said. the
law would have provided a means Of
creating a fund out of which TO d.
the pensions I don't believe any court
will hold that county must pay
something for which il has no money. e.