Norwich bulletin., 1919-05-16
OFFER COLONEL EATON
 STATE CHARITIES JOB


 s41, 900 to collect s45.000 due from cities and towns toward the support of paul pers and inyalids who needed care in state institutions This fact was dug out by the special legislative commit tee that quietly investigated affairs in connection with charity work in the state. Results of this investigation are just coming out after the legislature adjourned, although members of that body were kept fully posted on dtseov- cries.
 As a result of this investigation it has been decided to consolidate the various state charities under one head and unite with it the newly formed widows pension fund. The resulting new office is to be known as the com missioner of charities. and this place 1 has been offered to Col. Robert c. Eaton of North Haven. Colonel Eaton has informed the governor that he will consider the offer and expects to meet with officials next week to go over the situation and decide if he is to be held 1 in abeyance. The legislative committee that in- vestigated the charities situation had on it Senators Mead and Tempieton l and Representatives Talcott of Vernon, 1 Mooch of Middletown and Naiter of 1 Cheshire. By digging into the comp { trollers office this committee found many things Of great interest One is i the fact that looking after state pan- 1 pers has been costing the state upward ] of S20,000 a year. On top of a set sal ary of &. .999 a year. the state has been obliged to pay from stT.009 to s20- COG each year in expenses. This situation was Of very great interest to the con- mittee and when the findings leaked out they caused great stir through
 out the list of the party leaders.
 1 Ii seems there was practically nc restriction on the amount that could ] be spent to handle the paNDers in ad- diti0n to the money that the state paid ] to aid towns ill caring for their poo, in state institutions. A simple reeul- 1 sition for money was all that was needed, the comptroller's reports indi- cated, and that money was paid over 1 without questioning,
 l Because the com ptroEer's office is SC 1 full of work that it cannot adequately supervise such matters, the new office l of state commissioner of charities is l to be directly in charge of the state l tFeasurer's office. The commissioner l himself will be given an office in Hart i ford, where he will devote his time al an annual salary of s5,00e. This ar engagement, the investigating commit
 
 1 the state a very large sum of money each year. The entire matter of pau pers who are charges on the towns and are looked after by the selectner is to be put on a new basis, although ! every effort will be made to furnish |; adequate care to all the unfortunates in Connecticut. One important part of the work o the new office is to be that of handling Il 4lo ,I-i5 fan recommended by the committee ol humane institutions and adopted b, the legislature. starts with an appro priation of s150.000. The fund is tc be worked through boards of charities
 in cities that have such organization
 and through the boards of selectmel
 in the towns of the state
 These two bodies are to report il
 turn to the county commissioners 0
 their respective counties. and tn county commissioners will then dea
 with the commissioner of charities a
 Hartford. The county commissioners
 say. members of the recent legislature l will have ample time on their hand after July l next to devote to this neS , business and may even be glad to hay such a job to help fill up their time. In suggesting the name of Colone ; i Eaton for the new place, and ther now seems no doubt of his acceptin lit. the legislative committee responsi ble for the place chose a man wh : served for three terms as chairman (
 the appropriations committee and ha been perfectly familiar with the work
 ings Of practically all departments {
 the state. In addition it was poipte , out that Colonel Eaton has heal and that is factor that is very neees 1 sary when it cones to taking care {
 the unfortunates in Connecticut. : the same time Colonel Eaton will con ; tinue his work of watching the stat : Urea sury, and that also is indeed most necessary thing at the preser time"
 , So if Colonel Eaton takes the plae Il he will start. by oyerllauling the who
 1 system Of state charities.