New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-09
THE LATE DIR. CHARLES s. HOYT
AN ABLE OFFICER AND HIS WORK FOR
THE POOR OF THE STATE.


Sir: By the death OF DR.. Charles 8 Hoyt. Super
intendent Of State and Alien Poor. who passed
away his home In Canandaigua on December IL.
the State OF New-York loses one Of Its Oldest and
most useful public servants
Born in Connecticut in 1872 in 1894 DR.. Hoyt
removed with his parents TO Yates County. In this
State. Educated in the Geneva Medical College he
practised medicine until the Civil War broke OUT.
when he enlisted and appointed assistant sur
geon OF the lo6th New-YOrk Regiment. He served
with credit and In 1864 promoted 10 be sur
geon of the 39,h New-York Volunteers returning
home when peace was re-established 10 resume
the practice OF his profession.
In 1852 and again in 1857. DR. Hoyt represented
Yates County in the Assembly and in the latter
year he was actively interested In the passage II
bill TO establish State Board OF Charities. which
vas enacted at that session Ills personal con-
nection with this legislation led 10 his being sub
sequently offered the position OF secretary TO the
Board by his acceptance OF which In lscs Dr.
Hoyt entered upon the discharge OF public duties
to which his time and thought unin;errupt
eddy given thenceforward for thirty years in fact
until the close OF his life.
The State Board OF Charities ntrusted 10 DR..
Hoyt not only the usual duties Of a secretary. but
also imposed upon him the execution OF two i'm
portant laws relating TO State and allen poor.
THE STATE PAUPER ACT.
The first Of these laws-Chapter G6l Of the Laws
or lsI3-knOWn az tne Stdtc tdupet Az "h'Nh
with Sigh, changes became part Of Chapter y25 OF
the Laws Of 1896. devolved upon the State Board
OF Charities the general supervision Of the State
poor. This provided for the care Of such per
sons as had not resided for sixty days in any coun-
" OF the State within one year preceding the ap-
pllcation for relief. The purpose OF the law vas
TO find The legal settlement OF the persons commit
ted under it. and. II practicable to send them 70
their homes The execution OF this Law was in
trusted by the Board to Dr. Hoyt from It's passage
10 the time OF his death
From October o. 1871. 10 September 30 1898.
there were committed 3G.9G+ Of these State poor
persons and but eghty-six remained in aims
houses on October !. 1895. OF these Ai2 had
been sent to their places Of legal settlement and
sO4 had died. Less than 1000 had absconded and
o sos had been discharged capable of taking care
OF themselves after intervals Of rest and recuper-
alton. The examinations into these cases were all
conducted by DR.. Hoyt personally, and he became
expert in his disposition OF them. The amount OF
correspondence and personal conference cannot
readily be computed. DR.. Hoyt Justly prided HIM
self upon the fact that with many trying tests OF
his personal sympathies in conjunction with his
duties as a public official severe criticism was
ever laid before the Board a result OF his exc
cution OF the act
THE ALIEN POOR ACT
The second law administered by Dr. Hoyt was
Chapter $40 Of the Laws OF 1880 which also be-
came a part OF Chapter 225 OF the Laws OF 1915
This authorized the State Board Of Charities to re-
move 10 the countries from which they had been
deported any crippled blind. lunatc or other In
firm alien paupers sent TO this country by cities
or towns In the various governments OF Europe. or
by societies relatives friends. Dr. Hoyt never
delegated any part OF the personal examinauohs
OF these aliens to any one else. The first removal
was made July l. 1880. since which time. to Sep
TENDER 80 1898 the Board has returned 10 their
rtrta
This work also brought to DR.. Hoyt very extensive
correspondence and much fatiguing travel. for
only so could he personally inspect the cases.
which were found In all classes OF institutions all
over the State. He was answering In his devo-
ton TO this duty. and never spared himself long
ride or any discomfort that would serve TO bring
an allen 10 a certain vessel which IT was for the
interest OF the person or the State that he should
reach Notwithstanding the difficulties In the way
OF a Just execution of this act II also became the
pride OF Dr. Hoyt that just criticism had ever
been made Of his work in this direction. Ear less
The whole number OF removals to other States
and countries since the State Poor Act OF s.S ana
been n 752 With the comfortable Judgement.
abundant and nourshns food and freedom rni IRON
for these persons in the aimshouses or other
reasonable TO assume that the average duration
OF lie would have reached fifteen years with an
sinnor Of each person the ultimate expenditure
Would have reached the almost fabulous sum Of
the Constitution Of 1894 and legislation subse.
quently enacted greatly increased the wors o OF
the state BoaFd OF Of ep a@S
sary DR. Hoyt was relieved OF the duties OF sec sec
liz poor and thus enabled TO devote all his time
and thought to the administration OF the poor laws
.e In he to 'ef e Of the Board spread
upon the record its recognition Of the Foowns
Of the oGt 6a of 9 Desires to !" call
y, wo ibs fact ths, Dr. Charles s oyt superntend
3t Of S q Re S Ff5
Alien and Indian Pauper Laws ever since ,e. they
great have been his dey and painsakr'E, care
that the Board has yet to hear OF snse sn ds
cate and important duties intrusted to him.
HIS WORK FOR THE FEEBLE-MTNDED.
To some OF the other important public services
n, DR. Hoyt only a passing reference can be made
For many years during which the insane were
subject 10 the supervision Of the State Board OF
Charities he administered the Willard Asylum
ac, From the opening OF Craig Colony for Epi-
isn;,cs IN 1884 inmates were received from the
alinshouses on the accommodation q pr. HOY,
b 6sssS Ho hs Sl in hat
stitution and list left by him Is sun IN use TOT
The last work Of this upon which he was
engaged the preparation OF census OF sns
needng state custodlal care. and this he COM
peted and presented 10 the writer ONLY Re"
before his death. 4 ne HuiuDci
Ths Alter tribute to the inestimable public ser
vices Of this good man could be paid his memory
than the establishment adjacent 10 the metroPo,
lie ~ new State institution for the custodlaI
ears ~ these unfortunates. who are more menac-
tre m the community class than the insane
TS,s was the objec; for which ne was instructed
70 prepare this census q.
70 ~ r. rranorts OF the Board the legislature for
Yearly a generation contain many pubic papers
~ permanent value from his pen.
"a 1sTs "a he was authorized 20 make an ex-
tended inquiry into the causes OF pauperfsm, tne
result Of which was an exhaustive paper appended
,,,b OF the Board. which az
,Dactsa much notice. His papers upon the subject
Of immigration. prepared chiefly for me national
bronSht DR. Hoyt to the front as vigorous
broad and conscientious thinker -,
cbica IN in 1903 Dr. Hoyi prepared a set OF charts
showing the increase OF immigration. It's sources
nS cbsracter which evnced great and palnstak
ing labor attracted wide attention and won en-
.n-,1rns both for himself and the Board.
nd nj Re State Boards his