Cases of Temporary Aid.

It is provided by Acts of 1898, chapter 425, section 5, that "A city or town may furnish aid to poor persons found therein, having no lawful settlement within the state, if the overseers of the poor deem it for the public interest; but, except in case of sickness, not for a greater amount than two dollars a week for each family during the months of May to September inclusive, or three dollars a week for the months of October to April inclusive, and the overseers shall in every such case give immediate notice by mail to the state board of charity, which board shall examine the case, and should they direct discontinuance shall remove such persons to the state almshouse or to any state or place where they belong, when the necessities of such persons or the public interest require such removal, and the superintendent of said almshouse shall receive the persons so removed thereto the same as though sent in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-one of chapter eighty-six of the Public Statutes, as amended by chapter eighty-four of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninety-one, and a detailed statement of expenses so incurred shall be rendered, and after approval by the state board of charity such expenses shall be paid from the state treasury."

The total number of notices received under this law was 2,736, covering 10,704 persons, from 193 cities and towns. The largest number of notices received in any one month was in January, 761; the smallest number was in April, 118. The whole number shows a decrease, as compared with the preceding year, of 794, or about 221 per cent.; and, as compared with the year 1897-98, a decrease of 2,351, or about 46 per cent. Of these notices, 369, or about 13 per cent., were received from the city of Boston. The number of visits made under all the notices was 3,494. There were 984 cases investigated by the officers of the Board, and 196 settlements were found, covering 684 persons. As a result of visitation, aid was discontinued in 340 cases, and in 30 cases aid was refused. There were 31 persons sent to the State Hospital under the provisions of chapter 425 of the Acts of 1898.

During the year bills for transportation of 605 persons, amounting to $4,606.99, were allowed. Of these 605 persons, 113 were sent to European countries, 153 to Canada and other British Provinces, 339 to other States; 258 were sent directly by the Board from Boston, and their destinations were as follows: Austria, 1; Azores, 17; Belgium, 4; Cape de Verde Islands, 1; Denmark, 1; England, 16; Finland, 2; Germany, 1; Ireland, 17; Italy, 10; Russia, 7; Scotland, 7; Sweden, 8; Syria, 3; Turkey, 2; British Provinces, 38; Alabama, 7; Connecticut, 13; Illinois, 3; Kentucky, 6; Louisiana, 5; Maine, 9; Missouri, 3; New Hampshire, 5; New Jersey, 8; New York, 38; Ohio, 3; Pennsylvania, 12; South Carolina, 1; Texas, 1; Vermont, 2; Virginia, 7.

In addition to the above, 43 shipwrecked seamen were sent from Eastham, Tisbury and Wellfleet to Boston and New Bedford, at a cost of $99.64.

The following table is an abstract of the temporary aid notices received during the year:

Cases of Burial of State Paupers.

It is provided by Acts of 1898, chapter 354, that "The overseers of the poor of each place shall also relieve, support and employ all poor persons residing or found therein, having no lawful settlements within this state, until their removal to the state almshouse, and in case of their decease shall decently bury them; they shall also decently bury all such persons who have died without means of support, but without applying for public relief while living, and all unknown persons found dead; the expense whereof may be recovered of their kindred, if they have any chargeable by law for their support, in the manner hereinbefore provided; and if in case of their burial the expense thereof is not paid by such kindred, there shall be paid from the treasury of the Commonwealth an amount not exceeding fifteen dollars for the funeral expenses of each pauper over twelve years of age, and an amount not exceeding ten dollars for the funeral expenses of each pauper under that age." The law requires no notices in these cases.

Expenses of Support of Out-Door Poor.

The bills examined by the Superintendent of State Adult Poor, during the official year, on account of cases of sick State poor, wife settlement, dangerous diseases, temporary aid, and burials, were, in number, amount and allowance, as follows: