Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/495

 THE RELIEF AND CARE OF DEPENDENTS 481

the power to provide for the poor is so general that the author- ities in whom it is vested may do as they please in this matter. Utah and a few other states, on the other hand, explicitly pro- hibit such leasing to the lowest bidder. 1

Usually the board managing the almshouse appoints a super- intendent and other necessary officers, fixes their salaries, pre- scribes their powers and duties, and such officers are responsible to it. Sometimes the officers are appointed for short, definite terms, in which case they usually serve one year or a term cor- responding to that of the overseers, court, or county commissioners appointing them. Sometimes they are appointed and serve "dur- ing good behavior," and are removable at any time by the appoint- ing power. In either case the offices are usually filled with partisan appointments.

The making of rules and regulations for the management of the almshouse is usually left with the board and the superin- tendent, in which case, from ignorance of such matters and from stress of duty, perhaps little is done by the board. Further than for the separation of the sexes and for the employment of the inmates in a few cases, and the negative legislation against keeping certain classes in the almshouse, the statutes provide but little. In the following states the inmates are to be employed at suitable labor, viz., in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey, West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri. 2 In some cases the law is only permissive, but at any rate the need of legislation upon this point has been felt. Perhaps other states, by us overlooked, should be added to this list ; but usually the law is silent upon this point.

Admission to the almshouse is gained through a certificate from one of the various relieving officers, or through the super- intendent. In a few states the law provides that persons shal) be admitted upon the certificate of certain officers only, as in

187, p. 299.

21, chap. 33; 2870-71 ; 5, p. 2523; 7, chap. 46; 879; 756; 2124; 3925; 1759. 1833; Act of 1891, chap. 241 (i- atone yard or wood yard); 2163; 7336.