Date of Original Appointment.

MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF CHARITY.

[Names of past members in italics; of present members in small capitals.]

NAME.

Residence.

Qualified.

Retired.

June

7, 1879,

Moses Kimball,*

Boston,

June

12, 1879,

October 27, 1880,†

Term expires.

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, December 21, 1900.

To His Excellency the Governor and the Honorable Council:

The Twenty-Second Annual Report of the State Board of Charity is herewith respectfully presented.

LEONTINE LINCOLN, Chairman.

HENRIETTA G. CODMAN, Vice-Chairman.

CHARLES F. DONNELLY.

EDWARD HITCHCOCK.

LABAN PRATT.

HENRY S. NOURSE.

JAMES M. PULLMAN.

FRANCES G. CURTIS.

GEORGE W. JOHNSON.

TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

STATE BOARD OF CHARITY OF MASSACHUSETTS.

NEW LEGISLATION.

In accordance with the recommendation of the Board, the Legislature of 1900 passed a law authorizing the Board to provide, at its discretion, for the care and maintenance of children under sixteen years of age, with or without a settlement, dependent upon public charity, on the written application of parent, guardian, friend, or Overseers of the Poor; and also requiring courts and magistrates, after due complaint and hearing, to commit children under sixteen years of age, who, because of orphanage, or the neglect, crime, or drunkenness, or other vice of their parents, are improperly or insufficiently controlled and cared for, to the custody of the Board; except that, if the Overseers of the Poor of the place of settlement of such children so request, the child shall be committed to the custody of said Overseers. This law differs from previous legislation on the subject chiefly in that it gives the Board authority to receive dependent children without regard to the question of their settlement; gives the courts authority to commit both dependent and neglected children, whether settled or unsettled, to the custody of the Board, except when the municipal authorities intervene; and in its practical working brings under State care and control a large number of children who would otherwise remain city and town charges.

Following another recommendation of the Board, the Legislature passed a law requiring the Board to visit and inspect all the city and town almshouses of the State, and to report annually upon their condition and management.

Another Act, passed at the same session, received the approval of the Board, although it was not one of its formal recommendations. This law gives the Board authority to

investigate the condition and treatment of children under the age of seven years maintained apart from their parents, and apparently not receiving proper care. If the Board is refused entry into the building or room in which the child is kept, recourse may be had to a court of record, and application be made for a warrant authorizing the Board to enter the building; and whoever hinders or obstructs the Board in the execution of this duty, or receives a child without a permit from the Board, is made punishable by fine or imprison

ment.

In addition to these new laws, the Legislature passed a Resolve authorizing the Board to consider the expediency of providing a new building for the State Sanatorium at Rutland, and to report upon the same to the next General Court, presenting with the report a plan of any building that may be recommended; and further to consider and report upon the advisability of legislation providing for the visitation and supervision of the State Sanatorium by the Board.

ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD.

During the past official year there have been two changes in the membership of the Board. Dr. Pullman, whose term of service expired June 7, 1900, was immediately reappointed. Miss Annette P. Rogers resigned December 15, 1899, and was succeeded by Miss Frances G. Curtis, of Boston, whose term ended June 7, 1900, and who was reappointed for the full term of five years. Mr. Fox resigned September 5, 1900; and on September 19 Mr. George W. Johnson, of Brookfield, a former member of the Board, was appointed to succeed him. The membership is now as follows:

LEONTINE LINCOLN, of Fall River, Chairman.

HENRIETTA G. CODMAN, of Brookline, Vice-Chairman.

CHARLES F. DONNELLY, of Boston.

EDWARD HITCHCOCK, M.D., LL.D., of Amherst.

LABAN PRATT, of Boston.

HENRY S. NOURSE, of Lancaster.

JAMES M. PULLMAN, D.D., of Lynn.

FRANCES G. CURTIS, of Boston.

GEORGE W. JOHNSON, of Brookfield.