Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/500

 486 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

authorized like boards. 1 And in Kansas the county commis- sioners may appoint boards composed of not more than one member from each township to visit the " poorhouse " and make an annual report. 3

In sixteen states the State Boards of Charities have general supervision of the almshouses. 3 The state boards, or their representatives, visit and inspect them, and give advice and sug- gest changes that might be made. The boards are all to make recommendations to the legislatures concerning needed legisla- tion for the almshouses, as well as for other charitable institu- tions. In Massachusetts and Connecticut the overseers, in Colo- rado the county commissioners, in New York the superintend- ents of the poor, in Pennsylvania the directors of the poor, must report to the state boards concerning the almshouse 4 as well as the "outdoor relief." 5 In Michigan like reports are to be made "by the superintendents of the poor to the secretary of state. And, finally, in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Minnesota, and Oregon the plans for all almshouses must be submitted to the state boards for their approval. 6

Usually the destitute sick are cared for in a separate ward, the "hospital ward," of the almshouse. Sometimes provision is made elsewhere. Cities usually have power to establish and maintain hospitals at which the indigent are treated free of charge. In some cases, as in Massachusetts, South Carolina, Illinois, and Arizona, towns or counties have the same power. 7

1 1 506 (N. D.) ; 2 1 74 (S. D.). 4062-3.

3 In Massachusetts (3, chap. 79,) Michigan (9884), and Wyoming (Act of 1891) aims- houses must be visited annually; in New York (6, p. 459) and Pennsylvania (9, p. 296), biennially. In New Hampshire (Act of 1897), Connecticut (1885), New Jersey (Act of 1884), North Carolina (2332-5), Indiana (Act of 1889), Tennessee (Act of 1895), Minnesota (460), Missouri (Act of 1897), Montana (745), Colorado (384^), and Oregon (Act of 1891) the state boards are authorized to visit and inspect such.

4 The Board of State Commissioners of Illinois is also to visit all almshouses where any insane are kept.

535, chap. 84; 3312; 78 1 b ' d ; 130, 131, p. 2276; 16,17, p. 297. In other states, as in Tennessee and North Carolina, the state boards may require reports of the poor officers.

6 i8, p. 297; Ac* of 1889; 460; 2, Act of 1881.

1 20, chap. 84, and Act of 1890 ; 893 ; 148, chap. 107; 357. In South Carolina and Arizona hospital facilities are to be provided at or near the almshouse.