The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-16
DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
The Abnormal Increase In 1898 OF These
Supported in Private Institutions.

Supported in Private Institutions.
ALBANY, Oct. 15.-The Hon. Joseph Fl. Choate.
now Ambassador to England. In January
last. as president OF the State Charities Aid As
ISOLATION. depI ecated the large increase during
the year 1898 OF dependent children in private
institutions in Manhattan and Bronx borouRhs
who were supported at the public expense. de-
elarinR 1t to be a growing evil which should be
checked. Mr.. Choats thought we were return
ing to the old condition which existed before
the State Board OF Charities. by the new Con-
stituton OF 1894, was entrusted with super
vision OF this branch Of charitable work.
Before the adoption OF the constitutional
precision referred to a great many children
that we're taken In private institutions at pub
lilo expense had pare ats or other relatives who
were able to support them. while on the other
hand many children who should have been re-
moved at earlier ages than was then the
habit were retained. partly because ofthe pub
lie payments to such institutions OF 81
week per capita
A week had not elapsed after Mr.. Choate had
made the above declaration before the State
Board OF Charities had appointed three OF its
members as a special committee to investi-
gate the reasons for the alleged increase
In the number OF such dependent
children. This committee consisted OF John
Vinton Dahlgren. Dr. Stephen Smith and
Annie G. DePeyster and has labored assidu-
ously since that time to ascertain whether the
children In these Institutions were on the in
crease. and II so. whether the increase was
normal In q report Just submitted to the
State Board OF Charities, the special commit
tee practically justiflss Mr.. Choate's criticisms.
The mum Der OF institutions investigated was
twenty-eight. None Of these received children
over the age Of 10 years. They naturally d.
vided themselves into two classes; Institr-
lions for the reception OF infants or those
under the age Of 2 years. and those that might
be called chdren's institutions. whose inmates
were received between the ages Of and 10.
or the first olass there are five asylums:
for the year 1890 Of 30 inmates. for the year
Of reputation, those for thu, year 1896 and
the @as for G. d.c4eas apnorma
The infants are received in two ways: From
the of GhsTtes and By
New York Founding Hosptal. Children are
admitted to the second class OF institutions
Or parents. which is. known, as surrsnderne
the child. by commitment by the Commits
Magistrates. by the Court of Special Sessions
for the commission OF some misdemeanor and
victed Of some crime. Very law are committed
the New York Catholic Protectory and the New
The census OF these Institutions on the first
day OF October OF each year from 1894 to 1893
1897. TO- 800; 1888. / so
The mum Der admitted from the boroughs OF
ths pef a6d . m
5 TT g 2s GoT Ys L s s' Ths nan nS
a5 44a dq sa sn ss s:n TSP ReEGd &
4e4a. These discharges include numb Of
lying outside ofthe boroughs Of Manhattan and
The Bronx.
during the years in question shows that there
Was decrease In the years 1875; 1895 and
1s E T5ss OF a9
was $40 The Increase for 1888. consequently.
WAS much hi9heT J than Il. it should have been
children e1cept in case Of surrender. was en-
tirely entrusted to the police justices and after
magistrates After July i. 1897. commitments
were made not not only by the city ma .
Commissioners thus became overseers OF the
poor AZ such the Commissioner Of Charities
or
Ths Of the s r. OF the
tions. the committee say. appear to be as fol-
i. The in eIp.rence Of the Department Of
of ,chsr,ies to comply With the latter part Q:
Board OF Charities governing the reception
and retention OF inmates in charitable institu-
tons,
3 Ignorance on the part OF the managers OF
some OF the institutions regarding their
powers OF placing out children.
Com plant was made by the Department Of
Charities that the courts were lax in placing
destitute children upon the city payroll. An sx-
animation Of the Greater New York charter.
section 96l, and rule II, section l. of the State
Board Of Charities referred to above. will show
that all these cases must be passed upon Ly
the Department of Charities in order to be
placed upon the city payroll. and that. conse-
luently, II they are incorrectly approved. that
department is as blamoworthy as the maRs-
trates.
The special committee made recommended
lions to correct in future the evils pointed out
above. The report was adopted by the State
Board OF Charities