Baltimore General Free Dispensary (nonsectarian).... $1,800 1,200 800 College of Physicians and Surgeons Free Dispensary (nonsectarian). 1,500 500 1,000 Provident Hospital Free Dispensary (nonsectarian). Baltimore College of Dental Surgery Free Dispensary (nonsectarian) 1,000 500 1,000 Baltimore Eye, Ear, and Throat Charity Hospital Free Dispensary (nonsectarian) Evening Dispensary for Working Girls (nonsectarian) .. 800 500 700 Total. 347,595 It must be known to many of you that it is the board of trustees of the poor which is required by law to care for the transportation of the poor, their condition, and treatment in the hospitals to which subsidy is paid by the city, as well as to care for the city's insane. All business connected with these departments, heretofore transacted in the mayor's office, has been transferred to the trustees of the poor, so that they have now in their care all the departments of the public work given to them by law. So many improvements have been made by this commission that I beg to refer you to its very interesting report, already submitted to you, and would urge upon you frequent visits to the institutions under their care. (Message of Hon. Alcaens Hooper, mayor, January, 1897.) The method of admission to the asylum claimed our attention early in our term, and it was determined to put this department in charge of a competent permit clerk and gradually develop a different system from that in vogue; later, a female assistant was added, both for clerical work and for the investigation of female applicants. All applicants, either for Bay View or for one of the hospitals in town, are carefully examined as to their needs and claims on the city. Our office has established cordial relations with both public and private charitable agencies, so that it can promptly secure for cases, not properly public charges on the city exchequer, the aid or care due them, from such agencies as the fund for transporting poor to their homes; the United States Marine Hospital, for such ill or disabled seamen or oyster dredgers as come under the Federal law; the emigration commissioners, the Friendly Inn, the various societies working for the relief of the sick and needy, the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, the Charity Organization Society, and the several county authorities. The result has been the adoption of suitable books of record and blanks, the accnmulation of much valuable experience and data, a well-indexed mass of facts, and a remarkable diminution of the number of inmates usually supported by the city at this time of the year. * # * We believe that the fact of employment having been provided for the able-bodied vagrants has become sufficiently noised abroad to considerably affect the number of applications for admission, and we can report that since the inauguration of this scheme some of this class have left the asylum for more congenial habitation. To this, and the careful attention given to applications for admission, can be ascribed the fact that we have three hundred less inmates than at this time last year. It may not be generally known that the trustees of the poor are also charged with the duty of constant examination and supervision of those hospitals of the city in which the city pays for the maintenance of city beds, in so far as the occupants of these beds are concerned. In this connection an onerous duty has had to be performed, involving departure from existing customs. An interpretation of the law upon the subject by the city solicitor was sought, and a working understanding arrived at with the comptroller, which necessitated the inauguration of a simple system of bookkeeping with nine hospitals. A pleasant conference with their authorities was held, at which time the requirements of the law under which the trustees found themselves compelled to act was explained and cooperation invited. The hospitals, appreciating the desire of the trustees to discharge their duty, under a common-sense interpretation of the law governing both the trustees and themselves, have, by their response to requests and suggestions, made what might easily have become very disagreeable duties comparatively easy; but your trustees are bound to report that, in their opinion, a revision should be had of the present system, which is susceptible of much friction and abuse. It should be stated also, as a matter of fact, that police magistrates now share with this board the authority to issue permits for city hospital patients. Should it be desired, a fuller report and, perhaps, suggestions could be made on this subject of city beds in private hospitals. (First Report of the Baltimore Trustees of the Poor, January 31, 1897.) MASSACHUSETTS. WORCESTER, MASS., May 21, 1897. SIR: The only institution receiving municipal maintenance is the "Home Farm" or city almshouse. The Worcester City Hospital is maintained in part by municipal appropriation. The appropriation for 1897 being $35,000. A. B. R. SPRAGUE, Mayor. Hon. JAMES MCMILLAN, United States Senate. MICHIGAN. OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, Detroit, Mich., May 20, 1897. MY DEAR SIR: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your favor of May 18, and it affords me pleasure to answer the inquiries therein made. No charitable institution in the city of Detroit receives, in whole or in part, moneys for its maintenance from the municipality. No public moneys are appropriated to aid charitable institutions under the care or control of any religious denomination, and no public money is appropriated to aid charitable institutions controlled by private corporations, be they sectarian or nonsectarian. The city has been in the habit of furnishing water to the charitable and benevolent institutions here free of charge. Beyond this no other aid of a municipal character is extended. I might add in this connection that we have in the city of Detroit, supported by the benevolence of individuals, institutions that care for every form of distress, the young and the aged, and those who are dependent for any cause. Very respectfully, Hon. JAMES MCMILLAN, WILLIAM C. MAYBURY, Mayor. Charities, etc., Washington, D. C. Chairman Committee to Investigate GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., May 24, 1897. We have several charitable institutions in the city, but none of them receive municipal aid. MINNESOTA. L. C. STOW, Mayor. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., May 20, 1897. DEAR SIR: Answering your inquiries in their order: First. Bethany Home, an institution for fallen women, is managed by a board of directors; is an incorporated institution under private control; receives an appropriation of $2,000 per year from city money. The board of charities and corrections, organized by special act of legislature, have control of poor department and the city workhouse. An appropriation from the general taxes is made each year by the city council for this object. Second. No. Third. No; except as above mentioned. Will be pleased to give additioual information at any time. Very truly, yours, ROBT. PRATT, Mayor. KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 27, 1897. DEAR SIR: Following in reply to your inclosed communication: First. No charitable institutions in this city at the present time receive aid from the city. I am not advised that any charitable institution here receives aid from the State. Second. No public moneys are appropriated to aid charitable institutions under the care or control of any religious denominatious. Third. At this time no public moneys are appropriated to aid charitable institutions controlled by private corporations, whether sectarian or unsectarian. Yours, respectfully, Hon. JAMES MCMILLAN, Washington, D. 0. JAS. M. JONES, Mayor. COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, SIR: Yours of the 18th instant to the honorable mayor of the city has been referred to me, and in reply thereto would say: First. The city owns and maintains city hospitals, insane asylum, poorhouse, and smallpox hospital, and also a house of refuge and correction for abandoned or incorrigible children. Such institutions in this State are maintained by the counties, but as the city of St. Louis is not within a county it must perform this function in its relation to the State as if it were a county. Second. The city pays to charitable institutions, sectarian or nonsectarian, $12 per month for the care of foundlings sent to such institutions by the mayor. Third. No public moneys are appropriated to charitable institutions controlled by private corporations, whether sectarian or nonsectarian, except as stated in the second answer. It follows, from the above, that your fourth question requires no NEBRASKA. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, DEAR SIR: Replying to your communication of the 17th instant, in behalf of the Joint Select Committee to Investigate Charities and Reformatory Institutions in the District of Columbia, asking information as to the appropriation of public moneys to the support of private charitable institutions in Omaha, I have the honor to say that no public moneys, municipal or State, are appropriated for the support of any charitable institution in this city, either sectarian or nonsectarian. The State Institution for the Deaf is located within the city limits, and its support is provided for by State appropriations. DEAR SIR: I am in receipt of your favor under date of May 18, making inquiry: First. Whether any charitable institution in the city of which I am mayor receives the whole or a part of its maintenance from municipal or State moneys? To this question my answer is, No. Second. Are any public moneys appropriated to aid charitable institutions under the care or control of any religious denominations? Answer. No. Third. Are any public moneys appropriated to aid charitable institutions controlled by private corporations, whether sectarian or unsectarian? Answer. No. Very truly, yours, Hon. JAMES MCMILLAN, Chairman Joint Committee on Charities EDWARD HOos, Mayor. and Reformatory Institutions, Senate, Washington, D. C. NEW YORK. MAYOR'S OFFICE, Buffalo, N. Y., May 26, 1897. DEAR SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular letter of the 18th instant, asking for information in regard to the charitable institutions of this city, and in reply would say: First. No charitable institution in this city receives the whole or a part of its maintenance from municipal or State moneys. Second. No public moneys are appropriated to aid charitable institutions under the care and control of any religious denominations. Third. No public moneys are appropriated to aid charitable institutions controlled by private corporations. In explanation of the above I would say that the city of Buffalo has contracts with the various asylums and hospitals according to which the city pays these institutions a certain stipulated sum per week for the maintenance of all persons cared for who are charges upon the city. I may add further that the constitution of the State forbids the appropriation of any public moneys for the maintenance or support, in whole or in part, of any charitable institution under denominational control. Hoping that this answer will supply you with the desired information in regard to the city of Buffalo, I am, Very truly, yours, Hon. JAMES MCMILLAN, EDGAR B. JEWETT, Mayor. United States Senate, Washington, D. C. OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, City of New York, May 20, 1897. DEAR SIR: The mayor has handed me for reply the letter of Senator McMillan under date of 18th. To obtain the exact names of the institutions and the amount of the appropriations paid by this city, it will be necessary for you to address Hon. Ashbel P. Fitch, comptroller of this city, No. 280 Broadway. The city does pay certain moneys in part maintenance for various institutions which are devoted to the charity work of the city, and which relieve the demands upon the city's public institutions. Some of these institutions are managed by individuals apart from religious denominations, and some are connected with religious institutions. The moneys' so appropriated come from the receipts for theatrical and concert licenses, the details of which you can learn from the comptroller. Had I the detailed information in this office I would furnish it to you direct. Very respectfully, yours, Hon. JAMES MCMILLAN, JOB E. HEDGES, Secretary. Committee on Charities, etc., Washington, D. C. FINANCE DEPARTMENT, COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, SIR: I desire to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 9th instant, asking me to inform the Joint Select Committee to Investigate Charities and Reformatory Institutions in the District of Columbia, among other things, whether any charitable institution in the city of New York receives the whole or a part of its maintenance from municipal or State moneys. In reply thereto I would state that I inclose a list of the asylums, |