The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1911-07-04
RADICAL CHANGES
IN The POOR LAWS.
Municipal Authorities Instruct
ed as to Their Duties.

municipalities in the state and is as
follows:-
'sUnder law passed April 21st,
1911, it becomes the duty of your
board at its next annual meeting to
appoint for term of five years an
Overseer of the poor. There are GER
tain matters concerning this office
that the association desires to call
to your notice and we ask that they
be given the careful attention their
Importance demands.
"Under the new law the overseer
of the poor may commit the poor to
an almshouse or may grant relief to
them in their homes. Commitments
may be made directly on his order.
"The new settlement law is based
upon residence in the community
of one year without public or private
relief. 1t is the duty of the overseer
to investigate the matter of settle
ment. In the case of nonresident
he must, if possible, ascertain where
the legal settlement is and transfer
the person or the cost of mainten-
ance to the community in which he o
she has legal settlement.
'The overseer is required to keep
a careful record of his work includ-
ing important data concerning each
person who comes within his juris-
diction.
''He is required to investigate the
financial resources of applicants for
relief. In connection with this he
may transfer the cost of relief from
the community to parents, grand
parents or children where upon in
vestigation he finds such relatives
able to give the necessary relief. In
this as in most of the duties imposed
upon him by law his judgment, tact
and honesty become very important
factors.
at is his duty to enforce respons-
ibility of husbands and wives being
directly charged with the duty of
looking up deserting parents, of bring
ing them before the court and hav-
ing them placed under a court order
for the support of their dependents.
In such cases the overseer collects
and pays out the amounts received
under the order of the court.
ssHe is directly charged with the
duty of finding employment for all
applicants for relief who may be able
to help themselves. Where work is
provided and the applicant, being
able, refuses to perform it, the over
seer becomes the agent by which
such person or persons may be de-
clared vagrants and committed to
the Jail or workhouse.
ssIn all his work ne is repeatedly
charged by the law to give proper
protection to widows and children,
particularly in the selling of estates,
collection and distribution of insur-
ance money. etc.
'In order that the overseer may
more intelligently and carefully dis
charge his duties he is required to-
cooperate with any incorporated and
private charitable society operating
within his jurisdiction.
''He must attend to the burial OF
those who die without sufficient
means to defray their funeral ex-
penses.
''In the cases of all dependent chill
dren he must consult the State Board
of Childrens guardians. In the cae
of an alien it is his duty to call such
case to the attention of the depart
ment of immigration for transporta-
ton, if said alien has been in this
country less than three years.
'"The foregoing sufficiently out
lines the duties of the overseer of
the poor to indicate the importance
of the office. The interests of your
community and of the state demand
that these duties shall be efficiently,
faithfully and honestly discharged
The office demands a man of execu-
tive ability, tact, knowledge of the
poor, their weaknesses and needs,
one acquainted with the causes OF
pauperism and the means for its pre-
vention, a man with sufficient time
to attend to his work promptly and
thoroughly, man of known integrity
and who, in the administration of his
office, is not likely to be influenced
by political. personal and other i'm
proper influences.
"The law requires that your ap-
pointee be able to read and write
the English language.
Authority is conferred upon your
body to employ woman for this Of
flee, if you shall deem it best to do
So
SIT further provides that you shall
fix the salary Of the overseer and
any assistants. The law expressly
prohibits the giving or receiving of
any fees or other perquisites out
side of the salary"
Very truly yours,
JOSEPH P. BYERS,
General Secretary.