Page images
PDF
EPUB

REPORT

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON STATE AND ALIEN POOR.

REPORT

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON STATE AND ALIEN POOR.

To the State Board of Charities:

This committee has general supervision of the Department of State and Alien Poor, which carries on the inspection of all State and municipal charitable institutions, county almshouses and the homes of placed-out children. Certain executive duties relating to the care and final settlement of State, nonresident, alien and Indian poor also devolve by law upon the Superintendent of State and Alien Poor.

The special inspector of State charitable institutions makes inspections and special investigations in the State institutions, and his reports when adopted by the State Board of Charities are sent to the managers of the several institutions. The nature of this work is reported by special committees of the board.

Two inspectors are assigned to almshouse inspection, and the inspection of municipal lodging-houses, county hospitals, and orphan asylums conducted by counties or cities. These institutions were inspected twice during the year, and their present condition is shown in the reports of the Committee on Almshouses and of the commissioners of the several judicial districts.

The inspector of placed-out children visits all children placed out by public Poor Law officers and the Catholic Home Bureau, but for lack of time is unable to visit an equal number of children placed out by other organizations and institutions. The services of an additional inspector are needed. The Committee on Placing Out of Children reports the details of this work.

The alien and nonresident removal work is conducted by the Superintendent of State and Alien Poor with the assistance of three agents in New York and one in Buffalo, and the occasional help of county superintendents of the poor. As provided by law, these agents enter public hospitals, almshouses and other chari

VOL. I-13

table institutions, and examine such aliens and nonresident poor persons as are found there. A preliminary diagnosis made by the attending physician states the nature of the disease or disability, whether the cause of dependence arose prior or subsequent to the arrival of the poor person in New York State, whether he is likely to remain a permanent charge on the public, and if he is able to travel. If there is no likelihood of permanent dependence, the case is discharged from further consideration by the department. Nonresident poor persons are returned to their place of residence upon verification of their legal settlement in some other State. Aliens are either deported by the United States Immigration Service, removed by the State Board of Charities or discharged to care for themselves.

There are three general classes of aliens deportable by the United States, namely, those who enter in violation of law, being members of some excluded class of immigrants, those who become dependent within three years after landing, whose cause of dependence existed prior to landing in America, and those who become dependent within one year after landing from causes arising subsequent to landing, provided in this case that the alien desires to be returned to his former home. The first two classes are returned by the Government without expense to the State; the third class is returned at Government expense for ocean transportation, but the State must pay for the delivery of the alien on board the vessel free of expense to the Government. The Government will not return aliens who have lived in America more than three years, in any event, nor those here more than one year unless a physician certifies in writing that the disabilities existed prior to, entry in America. These cases, if removed, must be sent at the expense of the State, unless the Consulates or friends furnish transportation. The cases of foreign seamen and certain other cases are referred to the consuls of the countries concerned. Of 1,153 persons removed from the State during the fiscal year ending September 30, 1909, 576 were nonresidents, and 577 aliens. The Government bore the expense of removing 201 aliens, and the State removed the remaining 376.

The Legislature of 1908 appropriated $20,000 for maintenance of State and Indian poor, and transportation of aliens and non

« PreviousContinue »