Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-06
Put one on-fhc pain IS gone!

WORKING when they have outliVed their
use" Yet we need not be dsmayed,
the conscience of the nation is slowly
awakening to n vision not measured by
| the rim Of a silver dollar. for IS Of our
states through their Legislatures are
either considering old age pension bills
! or have appointed commissions to de-
| wise some method to better care for
those in need. The governor Of Mass
achusetts asked for a pension fund OF
| one hundred thousand (Sl00.000) dol
| lars. Last Friday the state responded
| to this call by passing in the House 50
| to Ga an old age pension bill almost
| identical TO this one under discussion.
| The governor of New York recently
! made a similar demand. and the As
| Sembly almost unanimously passed a
! bill similar to the one under considera-
! ton. Public-spirted men. broad-mind-
| cd citizens. throughout our nation to-
day are making similar requests.
| In our state there are 121 poor houses
| representing an investment of $1.11S,-
! 095. Eight hundred sixteen persons
were committed to these institutions
| last year: 3Jl of them on account of
| helpless old age. Tho average cost per
inmate was $3.50 per week, not incld
| ing overhead and investment charges
which amount TO more than $1.50. or
| total expense of $1.36 per week for
each old man or woman supported in
cur almshouscs or $l.32 per week per
| inmate more than il would cost'to care
| for these unfortunate souls through
| the provisions of the proposed act
which limits the amount TO SO per
| month for those who have attained the
| age of GJ years. one-half of which is
| paid by the municipality where appli
cant bag q loyal residence
! Take from our poor houses those de-
pcndcntS who have been forced there on
! account of old age. a number repre-
| senting more than 40 per cent. of total
! commitment. ard our towns could Ii
; quidatc an investment of nearly one
half million dollars by disposing of
! these antIquatcd and obsolete homes. a
| saving in interest money equal to en-
! tir" appropriation provided in this re-
solve.
! Besides the paupcrizcd and stigma
| tizcd inmates Of the aims houses there
are many. more citizens who in the
! fuilnesS Of their strength were proud
and useful men. that today stand at
| the threshold Of lf" humilatcd and
| tortured with the prospects Of filling
| a paupcrs grave.
\ Let me read one Of many letters
which | have received during the past
| few months concerning this subject:
II am - years of age. born in the
CITY of Auburn and spent my life there
and in Lewiston. my husband being a
dentist there all the years of his BUSH
. ness life. We owned a modest home
ct the time of his breakdown and ILL
ness. resulting in paralysis from which
he never recovered mentally or phyi-
cally. living for nine years. In the
meantime was obliged to sell our home
and bought a very small one at Turner
! Center which | now own. on which of
course have always managed to keep
/ the taxes raid. Have spent all the
time there ! possibly could, but have
4 been obliged 10 spend q part of the
! time away to earn money to keep up
| the expense of this little home. ] have
wanted to feel that | could call some
place homo. Have often thought. did
! have a very little income ! could en-
I JOY my own little home again, with
garden and chickens. For references
| I can refer YOU TO such men as George
c. Wing. ConcrcsSman Whites father.
| ANA Judge Newell Of Lewiston. do
| hope that | may hc cousidcre i should
your kindly interest in the elderly res
idents Of the good old state of Maine
. prevail
This morning read in tho headline
| Of our papers over nine million dol
lars spent for public recreation last
| Year. appropriated by our towns and
cities. When l think of the contents
| of this letter and of the significance
| of this amount CT money approrra ted
! for plcaSurc,-When | think of the eX-