The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-20
THE STATE'S DEPENDENTS
FACTS ABOUT THEM IN SECRETARY
BUTLER's REPORT.
1t Is n New Problem for Indiana and
II Now Receiving At
tentiOn.

The following interesting article on Non
resident Dependents will appear in the an
nual report of Secretary Butler, of the
State Board of Charities:
THE problem of nonresident dependents
is one that has engaged the attention of
many of our older States. In Indiana it has
not been brought so prominently before the
people as elsewhere. Nevertheless. we are
supporting in our public institutions a
greater or less number Of persons who are
nonresidents. Legally we should care for,
permanently, only those who have an
actual residence in this State. While to
some extent the law has been observed.
there are notable instances in which it has
not.
1--WE are not so much troubled with non
resident dependents as are many other
States. Indiana is not the destination of
any great number of immigrants. Year be-
fore last but 1885 of those coming to this
country declared their intention of going to
Indiana. Last year the number was 1850.
The largest part of these were German, OF
whom there were 26S; 253 were Poles, and
203 were Slovaks. There are no large cities
to draw these classes. On the whole our
population is quite stable. In fact, Indiana,
as regards it's people, is perhaps the most
homogeneous State in the Union
1.-THE Institution for the Blind and the
Institution for the Deaf has each in recent
years given attention to transferring Ia
their proper homes pupils who come from
other States. We have thus been relieved
Of their support. Occasionally insane per-
sons whose residence is W find their
way into our insane hospitals. Sometimes
this is due to Ignorance; again to careless
ness. Affidavit is made that they are resi-
dents of this State and of the county from
which they are sent, when the fact is they
are not. Recently a man died in one OF
our hospitals for the insane. Then it was
learned that his residence was in another
State. He had been cared for by the State
OF Indiana for a number of years. The fol-
lowing figures show the number of non
residents who are being supported in In
diana insane hospitals: Central, 10; North
ern, 2; Eastern, 3; total. 20. No nonresidents
are reported from the Southern Hospital.
IN POOR ASYLUMS.
"It is in the poor asylums, however,
where the greatest number of aliens are
being supported. In Adams county twenty
five persons are reported as not being resi-
dents of the s ate. and these have been in
mates of that poor asylum for an aggre-
gate time of over 125 years. In Howard
county six persons are reported as non
residents, whose aggregate term in the poor
asylum amounts to over fifty-four years
In Pulaski county fifteen nonresidents OF
the county have been cared for a total OF
112 years. From the reports at hand there
are shown to be AS nonresidents of the
several counties being supported in their
respective poor asylums; eighty-nine OF
these are nonreSidentS of the State. The
aggregate time these persons have beer
cared for amounts to over 600 years. Owing
10 the frequent changes in poor asylum su.
perintendents and to the fact that hereto
fore many of the records have been poorly
kept n little effort has been made TO as.
certain the actual residence of the inmates
it is probable the number who have not Q
legal residence is much greater than ha:
been stated.
From time to time persons find their
way into the county poor asylums wh6
cannot or will not give any account OF
themselves. Generally these are insane
and do not talk. In Montgomery county
at one time there were two men, neither OF
whom was able to give an account of him.
self, who had been at different times founC
wandering about the streets of the city oil
roaming the woods. One of these has since
been in the Central Hospital for Insane
twice, and has been an inmate Of one in.
stitution or another of this State for ar
aggregate of twenty-seven years. Cou.G
we but know the story of these unfortu-
mates who roam the woods as wild men oil
are found wandering about the streets OF
some town We should probably have tht
other side of some of the numerous stories
" - ~ AOAs y III III
brought to mind from time to time.
SETTLEMENT LAWS.
while it is our duty to provide for al
who need care temporarily and supply
proper asylum for such unfortunates a.
those last referred to, 1t is a question
whether We should not either enact salts
factory settlement laws or else secure 9
more thorough conformity to existing laws
to the end that We may not to too great
an extent bear the burden which Is not oul
own. Other States, one after another, are
defining what constitutes a legal settlement
and are providing for the return To Their
proper places OF residence nonresident de.
pendents found within their limits. This
general government undertakes to deporl
to their respective countries all person.
who may become public dependents within
two years after they have landed. from any
cause existing prior 10 their immigration
ditions and careful study of the situation
we may either for ourselves or through
cooperation with the federal authorize.
aid in reducing or at least preventing ex
penses that we should not bear. Amonl
other States that have taken an active I'm.
terest in this subject may be mentioned
Massachusetts, Rhode Island. California
and Minnesota. The last-named State ha.
an agent whose duty IL is TO ascertain III,
| proper residence OF all dependents and Il
transport such as have not a legal settle
ment within the State to the place OF thei,
respective homes The State feels that thi,
Is much cheaper than paying for them Il
its public Institutions"