Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/798

 734 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

and town paupers), but some few are " placed out " by the over- seers of the poor. 1 In Erie county two agents are employed to find family homes for indigent children. 2

Maryland and New Mexico have a combination of the sub- sidy and " placing-out " systems. In the former state, as was seen, the trustees of the poor or the county commissioners are prohibited from retaining children in the almshouse longer than ninety days, but are to place them with families or in educa- tional institutions and children's homes. This last clause makes the subsidy system possible. When placed with families, children are to be visited at least once in every six months, and if their welfare demands it, may be removed at any time. 3 In New Mexico the courts may commit children to the asylum of the Sisters of Charity at Santa Fe. Children so committed are paid for by the state at the rate of $10 per month, it being provided that the total amount spent in this way in any one year shall not exceed $5,000. It is the duty of the institution to find family homes for these wards. The probate judge is also author- ized to find homes in good families for the dependent children of his county. 4

By an act of March 31, 1893, the overseers of the poor and the county commissioners of New Hampshire were authorized to send dependent children to private institutions upon such terms as they might agree, preference being given in any case to the institution of the child's religious faith. The next legis- lature passed a measure, going into effect July I, 1895, prohibit- ing the retention of any children (except those of unsound mind) between the ages of three and fifteen in the almshouse longer than thirty days, and made it the duty of the overseers of the poor and the county commissioners to find homes for them in families. The placing out was to be done in accordance with the direction of the state board of charities, created to secure the enforcement of this law, and all contracts entered into in placing children were to be filed with it. 5 In 1897 this law was

1 Report of N. C. C. C., 1894, p. 126. * Ill6, 1121.

2 Ibid. 3 1-2, art. 4. 5 Act of March 29, 1895.