The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-07-27

i
and others who are regarded not 30
much as drags upon the community
who must somehow be taken care of,
but as unfortunatesS 70 wforl the
community is debtor for service.
State Boards of Charities.
The first state board Of charities
was organized in Massachusetts In
1853, for the purpose Of supervising
the whole system of state charitable
and objectionable institutions. 1t
is significant that the only specitica-
ton and authorization in that act
had to do with paupers. Other states
followed the example of Massachu-
sets and in 1913 the number had
reached thfrty-seven, all with the
same avowed purpose-to secure bet
ter care for those who can not care
Tor themselves and to prevent waste
In labor and expense for the state.
With this increase in the number
OF state boards of charities has come
more careful study Of conditions, In
volving greater labor and heavier
responsibilities far beyond the reach
OF the voluntary service Of those who
had other duties as we'll. It has
also become apparent that super
vision of charitable work, to be er-
fectiye, must be accompanied by au-
thority. In some states, IN place OF
the supervisi1D board. administrative
boards have been established whose
members are salaried employees or
the state government and give their
whole time to the conduct Of the
state institutions; in other words,
supplementary boards have been or
ganized for the conduct Of special
departments.
Private Institutions.
Still another change is found in
the attitude of the state toward pri-
yate charitable institutions. In the
past an orphanage, or home for the
aged, or rescue mission, that asked
no public appropriation, permitted
and received no supervision, but
stood practically on the same basis
as a private home, the castle Of its
owner. All this is passing, and the
state is becoming to regard the in
mates Of a charitable institution Us
having claim upon its watch and
care superior to the claim of the
proprietor. In most states the state
authorities are still debarred from
investigation except on specific re-
quest or complaint, but a few place
private as we'll as public institutions
on the same footing while certain
institutions. especially home-finding
associations. institutions for the In
sane, maternity Hospitals and; the
like, are not allowed to receive in
mates at all except as they receive
license from some state authority.
r Summary of Laws.
The summary Of the laws in the
different states affecting the depend
ent classes follows this general
scheme. Under the heading OF "Ad-
ministrative and supervisory COM
missioners" there are two classes,
public: and private. The public agen-
ctes are divided into % general, in
Guiding state boards of charities, con-
troll, etc.; (2) institutional. including
institutions state wide in scope and
supported by state funds but under
independent boards of trustees or
directors; t3) local. including coun-
ty and town officers. Under private
agencies are included institutions. not
under state control though sometimes
receiving some state aid. j.
Included under the general head
ing Poor relief" are the two sub
divisions of conditions of relief and
methods Of relief. Under conditions
of relief are "a persons entitled to
relief; t2) legal settlement; (3) re-
sponsibility Of relatives. Under
methods Of relief are institutional re-
lief tpoor houses, etc.) and outdoor
relief. -
Included under the general di--
vision. Glasses receiving special
care" are Juvenile courts. boards OF
guardians, adoption. home-finding,
etc; (2) the sick. in tpoorhouses, in
families. tuberculosis patients, etc;
lt3) tho blind and deaf, Estate insti-
tuions. industrial education, etc.) |;
C4) the insane Claws governing the
care Of INDECENT insane); (5) the
feeble-minded (epileptics. inebriates,
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