Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/202

 1 84 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

between "town" and "state paupers," the latter class are under the direction of the state board. In the former state they are cared for in state institutions, or, if harmless insane, or depend- ent minors, may be cared for in families. The representative of the board must find families with which to place persons of these classes and visit them when so placed. In New York institu- tions organized for the care of dependent minors are incorpo- rated only with the consent of the state board. The New Hamp- shire state board was expressly created to secure the enforce- ment of the law relating to finding family homes for dependent children. It is to see that such children are removed from the almshouses, placed with families, and are then well cared for. On January i, 1898, it became the duty of the Indiana State Board of Charities to secure the enforcement of the law relating to the dependent children of that state. The board is to appoint one or more agents to cooperate with the local authorities in finding homes for dependent minors and in visiting them when placed in them. In Connecticut one member of the board is to serve on the board of directors of each county children's home.

In Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Indiana the plans for all jails, almshouses, hospitals, reformatories, and homes of various kinds must be submitted to the state boards for their approval. The Board of State Commissioners in Illinois must audit the accounts of all the state charitable institutions before the warrants are issued by the state treasurer.' The board also licenses and visits private institutions for the insane.

Lunacy commissions have been created in a few states to supervise the treatment of the insane. As they were noticed in the preceding paper on " Defectives," it will not be necessary at this time to do more than call attention to them.

In a number of instances the appointment of local commis- sions or agents to help the state boards in their inspection of

' Dr. Wines has claimed that the power to audit the accounts of the several state institutions of Illinois, and to recommend the granting or refusal of appropriations asked for by them, has given the state board much more influence than it would other- wise have had. He recommends it to the other state boards.