REPORTS FROM CITIES. The joint committee addressed to the mayors of sixty-five of the larger cities of the United States a letter asking for certain information. The letter and the replies are given below: JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, May 17, 1897. DEAR SIR: Will you please inform the Joint Select Committee to Investigate Charities and Reformatory Institutions in the District of Columbia: First. Whether any charitable institution in the city of which you are mayor receives the whole or a part of its maintenance from municipal or State moneys? Second. Are any public moneys appropriated to aid charitable institutions under the care or control of any religious denominations? Third. Are any public moneys appropriated to aid charitable institutions controlled by private corporations, whether sectarian or nonsectarian? Fourth. In case public moneys are so appropriated, please give the names of the institutions and the amounts of the annual appropriations. An early and full answer to these questions will be highly appreciated by the committee. Very respectfully, yours, The honorable, the MAYOR OF JAMES MCMILLAN, United States Senate. ALABAMA. MOBILE, ALA., May 20, 1897. DEAR SIR: Replying to your inquiry, beg to state that the only charity to which the city contributes public funds is the city hospital, which is operated under contract with the Sisters of Charity, the city appropriating $7,500 per annum for the purpose. The State contrib utes nothing toward local charities in the city of Mobile. The county of Mobile maintains a county poorhouse at its own expense. This I think covers the ground of your inquiry. Yours, truly, Hon. JAMES MCMILLAN, Washington, D. C. J. C. BUSH, Mayor. CALIFORNIA. MAYOR'S OFFICE, San Francisco, Cal., June 3, 1897. DEAR SIR: Replying to your favor of May 18, I am directed by Mayor Phelan to say, in answer to your first inquiry, that there is no charitable institution in this city that receives any portion of its maintenance from municipal or State moneys. In answer to the remainder of the communication, I desire to say that it would be in direct violation of the constitution of this State for any moneys to be appropriated for any charitable institution, whether sectarian or nonsectarian, and consequently no moneys for this purpose have at any time, to our knowledge, been so appropriated. We trust that this will fully answer your inquiries, and beg to remain, DEAR SIR: Your letter to the mayor, asking for information in relation to charitable institutions in this city, was duly received, and in reply thereto I am directed to inform you that in Denver the charitable institutions are consolidated under the management of an organization known as The Associated Charities, to which the municipality contributes every year. This year the appropriation is $9,000. This, of course, does not constitute the entire revenue, as a large amount of money is collected by private subscription. The management of The Associated Charities distribute the funds to the different charitable institutions without regard to religious denomination. I have mailed you a copy of the last report of the organization, giving in detail the receipts and expenditures. Should you desire any further information upon this subject the mayor will be very pleased to assist you if you will specify the particulars desired. MAYOR'S OFFICE, Hartford, Conn., May 25, 1897. DEAR SIR: Replying to letter of 18th instant: First. Only the almshouse, which is maintained by the city. |