The diamond drill., 1917-11-10
TRYING TO START SOMETHING.

TRYING TO START SOMETHING.
In an editorial entitled Supporting
the County Poor" republished in an
other column OF this issue. the editor
Of the Iron River -Stambaugh Repor-
ter slops and says a whole lot OF things
just TO see how much mischief he can
stir up He has grasped neither the
effort OF the board OF supervisors, OF
the probate Judge or OF the committee,
but simply starts his mouth going and
then goes away and leaves II TO grind
out all kinds OF insinuations.
To take up his article in detail
In the first place, he is in error In
saying that subcommittee was ap-
pointed by the county board TO inves-
tigate the poor systems OF other coun-
ties. No such action was taken, and
had the Reporter editor been as solic-
itous about informing his readers
correctly as he was in starting some
thing" he would have taken the pre-
caution to al least have an accurate
knowledge OF what was actually done
befort the shot his wad
What really happened was this: a
committee OF three supervisors and
three citizens outside OF the board
OF supervisors was appointed to "in-
vestigate the care OF the poor in Iron
and other counties, with view to
methods employed simplifying the
work in this county"
The reason for the appointment OF
this committee was the discovery
that county employe. earning a good
salary, was on the widows pension
roll and was drawing $50 per month
from that source as well as a good
salary as county official There had
been considerable dissatisfaction with
the widows pension in this county
prior 10 that time. and IL was with a
view to, If possible, devise some meth
Cd that would relieve the supervis-
ors and the probate Judge OF the irk-
some burden that faced them that this
committee was appointed
But, in order that our readers IN
the county may get full and fair in
formation upon this widows pension
natter II Is necessary 10 go back to
the time OF the passage OF the act
which took place in 1913. Shortly az
ter the law went into effect a Crystal
Fails widow appeared before the pro-
bate Judge and asked that a pension
be granted to her under the law
Judge Rite was then Judge OF pro-
bate, and after making as thorough
an investigation as possible OF the
case and assuring himself OF the re-
auirements OF the law in such cases
he did his duty under the law and
granted her pension In a remark
ably short time the news spread and
soon many Crystal Falls widows were
Rocking to Judge Rite for pensions
He had Investigations made as the
law required, and fully within his
right and in the regular performance
OF his duty. he granted such pensions
as IN his judgment the cases called
for
These hrst cases were Of widows
who had been upon the poor lists
either IN Crystal Falls township or
the city OF Crystal Falls. and about
the first thing that the local poor
authorities knew Of the change was
when some OF them tried to double
up;" to get money from the count
and the local poor fund as well. Soms
had been in the habit OF working Al
odd Jobs secured for them either b,
the supervisor or the mayor. and, IN
one case particularly. the widows
grew very Independent and refused q
work. One thing led TO another and
7 II soon came 10 the knowledge OF the
supervisors OF the other townships OF
the county that Crystal Falls widows
was getting money from the county
treasury. II was even reported that
the mayor OF the city OF Crystal Falls
refused TO give poor aid and told the
widows to 20 10 the county and get =
pension. when as matter OF fact the
mayor refused aid because the person
requesting II was already getting am.
pie funds from tho county and was
simply imposing az some people are