The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-29
SUNSET HOMES
FOR THE AGED.
MEASURE OF VALUE TO COME
UP AT THE NEXT SESSION.


early introduction in the coming
session of the legislature is the Sun
set Homes Bill. This bill has been
drawn by the Minnesota Commission
for the Aged after an exhaustive
survey Of the facilities within the
state for taking care OF men and
women entering the sunset Of life"
1t provides sensible means of af-
fording homes to the aged in their
declining years.
Investigation by the Commission,
which was appointed by Governor
j. A. A. Burnquist, disclosed that
there are in Minnesota more than
100, 900 persons over 65 years old,
of whom not more than ] in 20
have means upon which to live in
dependently.
The bill carries no compulsory
conditions and is in reality an en-
abling act. The Commission found
that homes for the aged in Min
nesota are inadequate to care for
the numbers applying for admit
lance. Members of the Commission
also took under consideration the
reluctance which old persons feel
upon entering such homes.
ct seems reasonable to assume"
the findings of the Commission
read, shat the practical solution of
the problem of caring for the aged
must provide a sensible means by
which they may feel that they are
not accepting charity. As a state
we must therefore provide for all
their needs in such fashion that
they will feel that they have pre-
pared for their declining years by
their own efforts. This is the
premise upon which this bill is
based" The bill provides that:
Counties may unite to build
Sunset Homes, the county and
state each to pay one half of the
cost maintenance.
'The homes will be under the
control of a commission composed
of the chairman of the county
board, the county attorney, the
probate judge and four others, two
of whom must be women.
"All persons more than 10 years
to be admitted, and those more
than 65 years, if unable to MAIN
tain themselves, if residents of the
state for five years and if they
have made their required payments
of $3.50.
Husbands and wives to be ad-
mitted together.
"Tax for construction not to ex-
coed one mill on the dollar, except
by vote of the county"
Among organizations who have
endorsed the plan to establish and
maintain Sunset Homes are the
Winnebago Commercial Club, Albert
Lea Commercial Club, Redwood
Falls Mems Club, County Board of
Clay County, Minneapolis Civic and
Commerce Association, st. Paul Y.
w. c. A., Children's Bureau, state
capitol, Guild of Catholic Women
of st. Paul, Industrial and Social
Committee of the Minnesota Fed
Grafton of Women's Clubs, st.
Luke's Hospital of Duluth, Elks
State Convention, Department of
Labor and Industries, state capitol,
Minneapolis Boy Scouts, Associated
Charities of Minneapolis, Kiwanis
Clubs of various cities, Women's
Welfare Society of Minneapolis,
Associated Charities of Duluth, Min
neapolis Y. NJ C. A. League of
Protestant Women of st. Paul, Pro-
testant Orphan Asylum of st. Paul,
Associated Charities of Duluth, Mid
Year Council of the Methodist Epis-
cople church, Minneapolis Council
of Jewish Women, st. Louis County
Humane Society of Duluth, Rotary
Clubs of various cities, Sunset
Homes Society of Winnebago and
the State Board of Control.
The measure also carriaS fho an
dorsement of such individuals as
Governor j. A. O. Preus, former
Governor j. A. A. Burnquist, Presi-
dent L. d. Coffman of the Univer-
slty of Minnesota, President S. F.
Kerfoot of Hamline University,
President D. ]. Cowling of Carleton
College, Judge E. F. Waite of Min
neapolis, Charles Vasaly of st.
Cloud, Miss Marguerite Wells, Min
neapolis, George w. Lawson of the
State Federation of Labor, Fred
Ward of the Duluth Work Farm
and Otto w. Davis, formerly of the
Minneapolis Council of Social Agen-
cies.
The measure carries no compul-
sorry provisions, and is in reality an
enabling act. The Minnesota Sum
set Homes Committee, acting at
the request of the Minnesota Com
mission for the Aged, is endeavor-
ing to disseminate throughout the
state working knowledge of the
Sunset Homes measure.
Rotarian Chas. C. Prosser, Phi. d.
OF Dunwoody Institute presented
the matter before the members of
the Rotary Clug at their meeting