The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1929-07-11

Mrs. Moynigahn, of Sank Centre,
Recommended by State Board of
Control Spends Two Weeks Here
In Checking Up Mothers PEN
sions Situations.
The following article is an inter-
esting report of the work of Mrs.
Emma Moynihan, of this city, in
connection with the check up of
the Mothers Pensions situation in
Freeborn county. Mrs. Moynihan
was called to Freeborn several
weeks ago. The article published
in The Evening Tribune, Albert
Lea, Mimi, July 2, 1929, is as fol-
lows:
Below we are publishing very
interesting report Cor findings)
which was presented to the Coun-
ty Commissioners at their board
meeting.
The report was made by Mrs.
Emma Moynihan, of Sank Centre,
a woman recommended by the
Minnesota State Board of Control.
Mrs. Moynihan was called to Free
born county to make an investiga-
ton of the Mothers Pensions situ-
alton. After two weeks of very
careful work she prepared this
comprehensive report and present
ed it to the County Board.
You will note that the investiga-
ton shows that there are twenty
four mothers in the county draw
ing pensions in the support of
themselves and eight children.
Mrs. Moynihan. recommends that
six of the pensions be discontin-
ued entirely; that there be reduc-
ton in eight others and in another
case suspension of allowance while
the mother is employed in one of
the Albert Lea stores, with the re-
instatement of allowance during
her idleness.
Mrs. Moynihan reveals the fact
that in one instance pension was
paid for a whole year for one child
who had been out of the state the
entire time. This is one reason
why in the report Mrs. Moynihan
recommends a social worker for
Freeborn county. Without social
worker to keep track of things
like this it is impossible to keep
a correct tab on those who are
really in need and those who are
not entitled to help. Mrs. Moyni-
han has been working under Judge
A. w. Johnson's department. Sure
ly the information in her report
will be of great value and help in
Freeborn county:
To the Board of Commissioners
of Freedom County. Albert Lea,
Minnesota.
Gentlemen:
1t has been a source of real
pleasure to me to review for the,
probate Court and the commits
sioners of Freedom county, the
situation of mothers who are draw
ing county allowance at this time
together with certain families who
are receiving material relief from
the county poor fund.
1t has offered an opportunity to
compare the administration moth
er's pensions in a well established
agricultural county which paid out
the sum of $6,910.O0 in 1928 for the
support of "a mothers and 80 chill
dren, to my own county, where 81
mothers and 366 children received
about $22,100.00 for the same per-
iod of time.
1t speaks very well for the gen.
crosby of Freeborn county that,
in no case, has it been necessary
to recommend an increase in the
amount of mothers pensions or
poor relief. And in no case, where
a reduction is recommended, will
it be necessary for the family to
lower its standards of living in the
least degree.
Home life is the highest and fin
est product of civilization. Chill
dren should not be deprived of it
except for urgent and compelling
reasons. Deserving mothers and
mothers of worthy character who
are without the support of the nor
NAL bread-winner; who are unable
To seek employment out of the
home; who have no unmarried
children employed for wages:
whose relatives are not financially
able to support them; should re-
ceive such relief as will permit
them to maintain suitable home
Tor the rearing of children. Ex-
cept in unusual circumstances, the
home should not be broken and
then only for considerations of
1mmorallN inefficiency and low
In making this survey, it has
been our effort to ascertain the
entire resources Of the family; to
work out budget of their month
ly expenditures and then deduct
the difference from the county al
lowance they are receiving at this
time.
It is gratifying to be able to re-
port that no mother receiving
county aid in Freedom county at
this time, was found to be entirely
without resources of some sort. I
have listed them as follows:
Mothers owning real estate, Is.
Mothers employed, full-time, out
of home, 2.
Mothers employed, part time,
10.