Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/399

 THE RELIEF AND CARE OF DEPENDENTS 385

. . . ." Similar provision is found in Tennessee, Kansas, the Dakotas, and Iowa. 1

A few states have adopted measures to discourage application for relief on the part of "frauds." In Nevada the applicant must make a written application for relief. This application must assert the applicant's indigence, give his name, age, residence, etc., and must be sworn to by two persons who are in position to know the facts of the case. The application is placed on file and an investigation made. Furthermore if the applicant is able- bodied, he may be required to work upon the streets or else- where for the aid received. 3 A similar application sworn to by the applicant must be made in Idaho and Arizona. 3

The best method of regulating relief is in the provision for a "work test." But few provisions of this kind are found. The whole matter is usually passed over by the law in silence. In some cases the relieving officers or the town may prescribe the conditions upon which relief may be given. By Act of 1894 we find that in Ohio applicants for relief may be required to work for it. 4 A similar act was passed in Massachussetts in 1895. ^ n Iowa, where a similar provision is found, " residents " may be required to work for their relief at the rate of not to exceed sixty-five cents per day. " Transients " may not be given more than forty cents per day in relief and they may be required to work for it at the rate of five cents per hour. 5 The law in Nevada has just been cited above.

The most stringent law of this kind in so far as it applies, is found in Wisconsin. An Act of 1891 authorized the commitment of any who are unable because of old age, sickness, drunkenness or other infirmity, to support themselves, to the almshouse, either definitely or indefinitely, whether they be permanent or only temporary charges. 6 An Act of 1895 imposes the duty upon all counties containing cities of the first-class (all cities of over 1 50,000) of erecting and maintaining either stone yards or wood

1 2128 ; 1480 (N. D.); 2147 (S. D.) ; 2154. * Act of February 14, 1894.

1995. 82148 and 2152.

3 2173-2175 ; Act of 1891 as amended in 1893. 6 Ch. 241, Acts of 1891.