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 THE RELIEF AND CARE OF DEPENDENTS 389

Most of the above states have special officers for the admin- istration of relief. In the remaining states (with some few pos- sible exceptions), civil or judicial officers administer it as one of their many duties. In the four states of Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, and Kansas, this function is performed by the township trustees. 1 In Nebraska, it is performed by the justices of the peace ; 2 in Idaho, by the county commissioners, probate judges and justices of the peace, who are all "overseers of the poor." 3 In the four states of Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri and Utah, it is performed by the court. 4 In the remaining sixteen states it is performed by the county commissioners, who sometimes, as in the Dakotas, receive extra pay for it. 5 In Colorado, however, the clerk of the board acts as commissioner, while in Nevada and Washington, the boards are authorized to appoint agents to assist them.

In many cases what has been said does not apply to cities. They usually have some special provision for the administration of relief. In most of the cities of Massachusetts, the overseers are chosen by the city council. 6 In Vermont, in all towns of more than 5000, the overseers are appointed by the civil board. 7 In the cities of New Jersey, the overseers are selected by the council. 8 In the cities of Ohio, the mayor with the approval of the council, appoints not more than one over- seer for each ward, such overseer serving without pay. An exception is made of the cities of the first class (three) where

'6066; 1491; 2148; 4027,4028. "3929. 32173,2174.

4 3933. Barbour and Carroll's Stat., 1894; 861, Sandell and Hill's Digest, 1894 7331, R. S., 1889; 187, Vol. I, p. 299, Compiled Stat., 1888.

s These states are Mississippi, 3143 ; Alabama, 1465 ; Florida, 578( 4 ), R. S. 1892 ; Louisiana (doubtful); Texas, 9, art 1514, Sayles' Stat., 1888 ; Oklahoma, 3649, 8645 8647 ; North Dakota, 1475, 1476, 1479; South Dakota, 2143 ; Montana, 3200; Wyom- ing, 1953, Stat of 1887; Colorado, 791 ; Nevada, 1981, 1984; Arizona, 397 ; Wash- ington, 2696, 3087; Oregon, 3943; California, 4046, Deering's Code and Stat., 1889. Louisiana is marked doubtful as nothing was found save the injunction placed upon the parishes of supporting their poor, found in art. 163 of the Constitution of 1879.

6 1. CUMMINGS, Ph. D. "The Poor Laws of Massachusetts," Publications of the American Economic Association, Vol. IX, pp. 539-540.

'Acts of November 25, 1884 and November 26, 1890.

96, 101, p. 2524.