Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-08-30

! This report covers only half the
counties in Georgia
The methods employed in distrib
uting this sum are discussed in the
report. "The most common plans is
/ by recommendation of the Grand
Jury. The duties of our Grand Ju-
ries are manifold, and while they en-
deavor to be fair and Just, the fact
remains that only in rare instances
are persons skilled in administering
financial relief drawn for such jury
duty. Grand Jury recommendations
can at best be adequate and their in
designations superficial perfunctory.
Many counties reported that periodi-
cal Investigations are never made.
Once on the pauper list the subject
stays there until he dies or moves
out of the county. One county re-
ported that it continues until death
do US part Sometimes the Grand
Jury goes over the pauper list, drop
! ping or adding names. County
commissioners in some counties keep
in touch with recipients in divers
ways. The Ordinary performs the
task in few counties.
Dole System Revealed.
The amount of the monthly grants
is another weak point in the sys-
TEN. Many commissioners and coun-
! ty clerks frankly declared that in
their opinion the sums are totally in
adequate and more of a mockery of
supporting paupers than anything
else E.
"Twenty-one counties reported
that the largest monthly grant to any
one person was $500 or less. This
amount of course leaves the recipient
a public charge, and increases rath-
er than decreases the chances of his
becoming pauper with broken pride,
begging from place to place. Twelve
counties were giving $500 to $10.-,,
90 as the largest monthly grant to
any one person; fifteen counties gave
a few as high as $1,000; ten coun-,.
ties gave few as high as $500;
and seven counties had one or two
beneficiaries receiving $500 to
$4,000
"But the dole system is revealed
in its most fearful aspects by the
report that thirty-f0ur counties COM
monty give monthly grants as small
as $500 and under; 26 counties as
small as $3.50 to $500. Gilmer
county maintained the highest av-
erage, having six benefciaries with
$1,000 as the smallest grant and
$4,000 as the largest.
"Most of the counties feel that
they must make the amount they
have for pauper relief spread out to
reach the largest possible number.
Since, however, few counties are in
position to take care of all the need
for relief in the county, it is much
better that they give adequate re-
/ lief to- such cases as they do handle,
and insist on private philanthropy
/ taking care of the others. A paid
county family worker would make
better use of the county's available
funds, and help to organize private
| resources to meet the additional
needs for relief.
"Such kindly deeds as sharing the
sack of flour with neighbor, MAX
ing temporary loan, signing a note,
taking care of the baby while the.
mother is sick, taking over the house
keeping during an epidemic, and the
/ hundred other little services which
form the basis of neighborliness are
as common in Georgia as anywhere
under the sum-" said Burr Black
burn, SECRETARY of the Board, but
what of those expert services which
ordinary neighbors can not render?"
Trained Workers Needed.
/ When the bread winner is dead or
permanently disabled, how does
Georgia provide for the maintenance
of the home life? When the wife
is deserted who is it that helps her
through the legal tangle that forces
the husband to finance the home?
If the boys have antagonized the
neighborhood by their delinquency.
or the girls by their immortality
who is ready to work out their prob
lens tactfully and firmly? If mem
bers of the family need institutional
or. hospital care, who is it that knows
all the state institutions. and the
methods necessary to gain entrance?
When the family is up against a
stone wall, and wants expert conf
Dental advice without exposing its
difficulties to public gossip, is there
anyone in the neighborhood trained
and ready to quietly sit down with
the father and mother and talk it
over?"