Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/795

 THE RELIEF AND CARE OF DEPENDENTS 781

sixteen years of age. Institutions caring for dependents at county expense must report annually to the board of free- holders. 1 In North Carolina the county commissioners are authorized to establish children's homes and levy a tax therefor. Dependents under fourteen years of age may be admitted to these homes and are retained until sixteen, all being employed, so as to make the institutions as nearly self-supporting as possi- ble.* The state of California subsidizes institutions caring for twenty or more orphans, half-orphans, and abandoned children. The state also subsidizes foundling institutions receiving and caring for twenty or more children during the year. 3

Of the thirty-two states thus far referred to, perhaps only the three last mentioned New Jersey, North Carolina, and Cali- fornia can be said to have provided for a system of public child- saving. The remaining sixteen states have made more progress and have evolved more or less well-organized systems.

The movement of excluding children from the almshouse,

1 Acts of March 14, 1879, and March 14, 1881.

Act of March 6, 1891.

3 California adopted the subsidy system in 1871. After the law was amended a number of times, a new law was adopted March 25, 1880. This is now in force, and reads in part : " There is hereby appropriated out of any money in the state treasury not otherwise appropriated, to each and every institution in this state for the support and maintenance of minor orphans, half-orphans, or abandoned children, aid as fol- lows: For each whole-orphan supported and maintained in any such institution, the sum of one hundred dollars per annum ; for each half-orphan supported and main- tained in any such institution, the sum of seventy-five dollars per annum ; for each aban- doned child supported and maintained in any such institution, the sum of seven dollars per annum; provided, such abandoned child shall have been an inmate thereof one year prior to receiving any support as provided in this act." No institution caring for fewer than twenty children is subsidized. In reckoning the number of children, only those under fourteen years of age, and for whose care no payment of Sio or more per month has been received, are included. The institutions are to keep full records of the children, of sums received for their care, etc. The books are to be inspected by the state board of examiners. Subsidies are paid in semi-annual installments.

By an act of March 7, 1883, subsidies were extended to foundling institutions. The state grants those institutions receiving and caring for twenty or more children under the age of eighteen months $12.50 per month for each child cared for.

For something as to the expensivcncss and actual working. ; this subsidy system in California, see Mr. Randall's article 01 .higan System of Child-saving,"

JOURNAL OP SOCIOLOGY, Vol., I, p. 710 (May, 1896).