Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/494

 480 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

In Massachusetts and Ohio boards of directors for the alms- house are elected. 1 In Massachusetts the number of directors is from three to seven ; in Ohio, three. In Vermont and Connect- icut it is under the direction of the town itself. 2 In New Jersey the town almshouse is under the direction of the township com- mittee. 3 In New York and Michigan it is managed by the superintendents of the poor, appointed by the county board of supervisors; 4 while in Pennsylvania, it is under the direction of the five elected directors of the poor. 5 With a few exceptions, however, the overseers of the poor, the county commissioners, or the county court, form a board for the direction of the town or county almshouse, as it may be. 6

The board may lease the almshouse to someone, or organ- ize and manage it "on public account." Thus in Arkansas and Arizona the law provides that the "poorhouse" shall be leased to the lowest bidder. 7 He supports the poor for so much per year or so much per capita. The statutes in Tennessee, Iowa, and Missouri make such leasing permissible. 8 In many states

1 Sees. 3, 4, chap. 33 ; Act of May 14, 1894. In Massachusetts, however, the over- seers of the poor or selectmen act as a board when none are elected. In Ohio the county commissioners of the counties of Huron and Erie act as infirmary boards. (Act of 1895.)

3 2753-7, 2770, 2857 ; 3309, 3310. 35, p. 2523.

4 Act of 1896, chap. 225, 3, 4 ; 1759. $17, 25, 28, p. 97.

6 The almshouse is under the direction of the overseers of the poor in New Hamp- shire (2, 3, chap. 84) ; Rhode Island (3, chap. 79) ; Delaware (" trustees of the poor," 4, chap. 48) ; South Carolina (1879).

In the following states it is under the direction of the county or probate judge : West Virginia (4, 19, chap. 46) ; Georgia (756, 758, 760); Tennessee (2122, 2123) ; Kentucky (3925) ; Arkansas (856-64); Missouri (7335, 7337. 7344); Utah (178). In the remaining states it is under the direction of the county commissioners or super- visors. These states are : New York (if no superintendents of the poor are appointed); Maryland (7, art. 25) ; Virginia (868) ; North Carolina (3540) ; Florida (578(<)) ; Mississippi (3M3); Alabama (1465); Louisiana; Texas (9, art. 1514); Oklahoma (3650); Indiana (6069); Illinois (28, chap. 107); Wisconsin (1522); Minnesota (1956); North Dakota (1495, 1497) ; South Dakota (2162-4) ; Iowa (2159, 2160); Nebraska (3942-5); Kansas (4051); Montana (3204-7; 3213); Wyoming (1962); Colorado (3397-9); Nevada (1990); Arizona (357); Washington (1595, 1599); Oregon (3950; and California (4046).

^859; Act of Feb. 26, 1891. 8 2i22; 2167; 7344.