Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

No law states county must care for paupers

By THERESA BLACKWELL
Published November 19, 2006

NOV. 21, 1918

CLEARWATER - There is no law in Florida requiring counties to take care of paupers from other parts of the country, Attorney John S. Blocker told Miss Dora Riddle, county social worker, at the meeting of the county board yesterday.

Miss Riddle had related, for the edification of the commissioners, a story about a family in Safety Harbor that had been receiving relief from the county. A sister of the indigent woman in the case had agreed to take care of the county charges if the woman returned to her old home in the north. Just as this offer was to be accepted, another letter rescinding the offer arrived. The relative took back the offer of assistance on the ground that a Florida law says that all paupers must be supported by the county in which they happen to stop.

The commissioners agreed that there is a law that permitted relief to be given to the unfortunate, but it is by no means mandatory that people who come to this state to escape the harsh climate of northern sections must be fed and housed by the authorities of this charity-ridden territory.

Miss Riddle reported that assistance had been offered the family by allowing the father to be placed in the county home, thus permitting other members to earn their own living after this burden was removed, but this offer was indignantly refused. The idea that the county owes people a living has apparently become widespread, according to the social worker.

Commissioner Corey told of having been advised by the superintendent of the county home that a family with a truckload of furniture had recently driven up to the county institution below Largo, and the head of the outfit had demanded admission to the home. The would-be free boarders were sent back from whence they came.

NOV. 21, 1950

New mayor asks for hearing on shoaling

SAFETY HARBOR - Dr. Con F. Barth, the new mayor of Safety Harbor, lost no time in taking up the cudgel in the city's battle with the state road department over the shoaling of upper Old Tampa Bay.

One of the mayor's first acts in taking over the reins of the local government was to pen an appeal to the U.S. Army Engineers for a public hearing in Safety Harbor, "in order that the property owners of Safety Harbor, Oldsmar and all above the Courtney Campbell causeway may learn just what remedial measures are proposed by the state road department to prevent the complete destruction of upper Old Tampa Bay by shoaling and destruction of all the natural channels and waterways."

NOV. 19, 1953

Salvation Army opens new transient lodge

CLEARWATER - High officials of the Salvation Army participated yesterday in the dedication of the Red Shield Transient Lodge, made possible through a bequest from the late Mrs. Nina C. Dexter.

Establishment of the new home was one of the main objectives of the late Sr. Major Charles Johnson, former head of the upper Pinellas branch. He died before his dream was realized, but his wife, Sr. Major Annie Harriss Johnson, yesterday pledged herself to carry on the work of her husband.

Dr. Raymond Center, chairman of the Salvation Army advisory committee, said the transient lodge was the realization of a dream of many years and would fill a real need in Clearwater. He paid tribute to the Salvation Army workers for the success of the Salvation Army in Clearwater.

"We are a marching army," said Lt. Commissioner Dray in the dedication address, "and must be constantly expanding to take care of the many needs."

He said that the work of William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, has now been vindicated in 87 countries.

"The Salvation Army will never die," he said, "while the spirit of the Salvation Army lives in its people."

[Last modified November 18, 2006, 20:44:35]