Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-08-26
MOTHERS PENSIONS
Sl5OOOOO to S2OOOOOO Saved Each
Year.

Having been informed by some of
the prominent citizens of Gratiot
county that criticism is being made
of the present management Of the
Probate Office, with reference to the
so called Mothers Pension" | de-
sire to make little explanation in
reference thereto.
When the law first took effect in
August 1913, | allowed fourteen pen
sions between that time and March
1914, when applications began to
come so quick and fast that con-
the Board of Supervisors. At the
April session following, went be-
fore the Board and explained the
matter fully, and the consensus of
opinion seemed to be that it would
be better if all the applications were
referred to the Poor Commission for
them to deal with as they thought
best; since then no pensions have
been granted in Gratiot county and
all applications for pensions have
been turned over to the Poor Com
mission, with the result that we have
very few dependent children in
Gratiot county and all are cared for
as we'll as in any county in the state.
1t is idle to say that the Poor
Commission-three splendid men,
cannot provide for dependent child
rem, as a part of their work better
that the Judge of Probate, as all of
the poor of the county is committed
by law to their care and they are
kept in constant touch with them in
caring for their needs, and in so do
ing they are not expanding for the
care of the poor more than other
counties of equal population. The
payment of pensions is, therefore, an
added burden TO the tax payer.
Few realize the amount of money
required for the payment of these
pensions, so let US look into the
question little The following,
based upon the result in other coun-
ties, is considered a low estimate:
Number of families in Alma want
ing pensions, 20.
Ithaca and st. Louis, each ten, 20.
Breckenridge and Wheeler, 5.
Riverdale, Elm Hall and Sumner. 5.
Middleton, Perrinton, and Pom
peii, 3. ,-s,r,
Ashley and Bannister, 3.
County at large, 10.
Total number, 20.
Allowing three children to each
family, which is also low estimate.
we have 210 children, who if granted
$500 each week, will cost $4,000.
and in one year OF 81 weeks will
amount to S21S4OOO, to be added to
the County taxes each year.
! am therefore led to believe that
by the joint understanding had in
1914 by the Board of Supervisors.
the Poor Commission and the Pro-
bate Office, that during the last
seven years the tax payers have been
saved from $15,0O0.O0 to $40. 900 90
each year. In carrying out this
method, we have all believed that we
were doing that which was for the
best interest of the tax payer, and
for those receiving help, as they are
thereby taught self-reliance, and il
eliminates the tendency to lean I'D
against the County Treasury for sup
port.
The heart of the Judge of Probate
is large enough to grant all applic-
ants pensions, and il is much easier
to grant than to deny il; it some
times takes all the back -bone the
judge of probate has to refuse the as
sistance asked for. but have as vet
to learn of case in which the Poor
Commission have failed to furnish
the needed relief; it may be open to
criticism as to whether we have
adopted the best policy, but we have
all acted conscientiously, and if we
have made a mistake, il is a mistake
of the head and net of the heart. as
ave desire to do that which is best for
all concerned.
Respectfully submitted,
Pol. Adv. j. Lee Potts.
A new "Tarzan" Picture. Strand
H.