Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1924-11-14
PENSIONS MORE
PROFITABLE THAN
co. POOR HOUSES

indianapolis, Nov. 8.--From a cold
blooded business standpoint and which
| ignores every humane impulse, society
would find il more profitable to abol-
ish its poorhouses and their expensive
upkeep, and pay dependent poor a
reasonable pension, Is the belief OF
| the United Mine Workers committee
on old age pensions.
, The committee made a personal
visit to more than four-ffths of the
county homes of Illinois. A large ma
jority of the supervisors of these in
stitutions favor the pension plan.
In defense of their position, the
committee refers to Jasper county, in
the southern part of the state, which
has solved the problem by selling its
county farm and paying former in
mates a weekly pension of Sc, thus
saving money for the taxpayers and
creating happier conditions for its de-
pendent poor.
"rhe so homes visited" the COM
mittee says, comprise 14,417 acres of
land, valued at $2,565, 425, with build
ings and furnishings valued at &c.
1929, making a total investment of
1914 ,704. In these institutions there
are, at the present time, 1854 in
mates. Allowing 4 per cent on the in
vestment would mean $130 to each in
mate. Add to this the average cost of
maintenance which is, according to
figures furnished us $3.50 per week,
or $275.60 per annum, making total
cost of $405.60 per annum. In addi
tInn 10 al Ii IL 1 he
allowed for insurance and repairs, so
that we find the present system to be
a costly one, to say nothing Of the
cruel and inhuman method employed
in caring for our aged and helpless
dependents.
"Of the 2,6S4 inmates, 2,177 are IS
years of age and over; of these $40
could readily find good homes if paid
"A reasonable pension not to exceed
$500 per annum, according to the
statements of the various superin-
tendents, and much larger per cent,
according to interviews with the in
mates. We also found that the COM
bined salaries of the superintendent
of these institutions amount to $104,-
| IT'S annually, attending physicians
P-tpV' III attidiitS, Wilt uullt IL huiii-
Der are paid by the visit and about
$73,4O6 is paid for extra help. The
superintendent, in addition to their
salaries, are furnished with a resi-
dence and living expenses.
"Of the so superintendent inter
viewed, 53 favor old age pensions,
eight are opposed and 10 are doubt
full"
The committee points out that there
are limited number of denendent
persons in each county who would
have to be cared for in some institu-
ton, but with a wise pension law dis
trict homes could care for the remain
ing few.
The committee reports that condi-
lions In the so county homes varied
from the very best to the most hor-
rible, largely dependent upon the
whims and capabilities of county
supervisors and superintendent.
IN such homes where the inmates
had nothing but praise for their SUI
perintendent and the conditions sur
rounding them, it was a touching
sight to see how their old faces would
light with joy and hope at the sugges-
ton of a pension that would enable
them to go home, however humble il
might be, and live and die among
friends, familiar scenes and happy
associations now lost to them for
ever
By helping others we help our.