carefully estimated at not less than fifteen years, and as the annual per capita cost for maintenance alone is $104, it will be readily understood that the tax upon the Commonwealth would become unbearable were it not for the present law. In fact, some of the 87 persons who are now inmates of State almshouses have been there over this period of fifteen years, so that the estimate of ultimate expense is borne out by the experi ence of this Department. While the fundamental principle of the State Poor Act is economical, as has been said, it is also humane in its results. If it on the one hand protects the taxpayers of the State of New York, on the other hand it relieves those in distress, returns wanderers to their homes, and at the same time prevents an increase of our pauper population.

PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION.

One year ago it was anticipated that the opening of the PanAmerican Exposition in the year 1901 would greatly increase the number of applications for public relief. It was also supposed that in the city of New York there would be an increase of applications for relief under the State Poor Law. Experi ence heretofore has shown that enterprises of this character have attracted multitudes of people many of whom become impoverished. The Pan-American Exposition has proven no exception to the general rule. The number of applications for State relief in the city of Buffalo and in the counties immedi ately adjoining has increased over 70 per cent., even though Buffalo has been compelled to relieve 90 per cent. of all applications, owing to the fact that the majority of applicants resided more than sixty days in Buffalo. Were it not for the fact that an unusual degree of prosperity has prevailed in the manufac turing towns and in the city of New York, which has caused a decrease in the number of applications at that point, the appropriation for the maintenance and removal of State poor would have been insufficient. The decrease in applications in the city of New York has been so great, however, that in spite of the

increase elsewhere the Department has been enabled to conduct its operations within the appropriation made for its work.

It may be said, however, that the end of the Pan-American is not yet, so far as its influence upon public charity is concerned. As long as work of any kind continues upon the Exposition grounds many persons who would otherwise become dependent can find employment. As the construction of the buildings gave opportunity for self-support, so their demolition gives labor to very many persons. It is hoped, however, that by the opening of spring the applications for relief which are directly due to the Pan-American Exposition will have ceased.

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IMMIGRATION.

As has been said, many undesirable alien immigrants become dependent shortly after arrival in the State of New York. The laws of the United States are supposed to prevent the landing paupers. The immigrants are landed at Ellis Island, where the United States Government, through its Department of Immigration, makes its examinations. All immigrants are required to declare the amount of money they possess and exhibit the money itself. If the sum is considered sufficient, or if they have friends who will become their sponsors, and if there be no charges against their character of a kind to debar them from landing, they are permitted to land, otherwise they are detained for a time pending further investigation or are at once returned to Europe. But experience has proven that the money in possession of immigrants is usually very small in amount, and if there be no friends to assist the immigrant the prospects are that application for charity will soon be necessary. Thus, recently, the landing of 800 immigrants was observed. The money in possession of many of these was noted, and it was found that the largest sum in the possession of any one of the number was only 250 marks. There were very many whose money did not exceed $2.50—a very small amount with which to begin life in a foreign land.

The United States Commissioner of Immigration has promptly responded to applications of this department for the deporta tion of alien paupers who have been committed to State almshouses by local authorities. There is no doubt, if the local authorities were more active in causing the commitment of aliens who are applicants for charity, that many more would be returned to their native land, to the ultimate relief of the State of New York. The Department of State and Alien Poor can only return such persons to their homes as are properly committed to State or county almshouses by local officers. If there is an increase of beggary due to pauper immigration local authorities are more or less responsible.

FOREIGN-BORN POOR.

In a recent public address the Commissioner of Charities of the city of New York, whose duties are directly associated with the enforcement of the Poor Law, has declared that one of the greatest problems of almshouse administration is how to dis pose of the foreign-born poor. He gave a table showing the nativity of persons admitted to the almshouse under his management during the year 1900, and this table shows that out of a total of 2,936 persons admitted to the almshouse only 554 were born in the United States. Of the 2,382 foreign born 1,617 were born in Ireland alone. He says: "There is a law prohibiting the immigration of paupers to the United States. It would appear from this table that that law is evaded." He continues: "If so many immigrants actually in pauperism or verging upon pauperism were not admitted to the United States we should have a smaller census in the almshouses." While Commissioner Keller's statement as to the evasion of the law forbidding the immigration of paupers into the United States is true, it is not justified by the tables in his address. Every foreign-born person is not an alien, for the laws of the United States provide for the naturalization of foreign-born persons. Hence the statement that 2,382 foreign-born persons were admitted to the almshouse on Blackwell's Island in 1900 does not

prove that these 2,382 were aliens. On the contrary, the fact that they were admitted to the almshouse on Blackwell's Island is prima facie evidence that they were all citizens of the United States. Had any of them been aliens, under the law it would have been the duty of the commissioner of charities of the city of New York to have committed them as alien paupers, in which case steps would have been taken for their deportation by the Department of State and Alien Poor. It is a singular fact that many persons fail to distinguish the difference between aliens and foreign-born persons, and class as aliens all persons whose place of birth was in other lands.

It is unfortunately true that great numbers of foreign-born citizens become dependent, and it is a striking testimony of the beneficence of American institutions that comparatively few native-born citizens become paupers. It should not be forgotten, however, that in the city of New York the proportion of the foreign-born population to the native born is much larger than elsewhere, and we must expect that of those who seek the assistance of charity there the larger number will always be of foreign birth.

RESTRICTION.

It will be agreed by all who seriously consider the problem of immigration that there should be a greater restriction than is at present in force. We have practically closed the western gates and shut out immigration from Asia; the eastern gates remain wide open. They should be barred to such an extent that no person may enter who is not prepared for self-support. Some method should be devised by which the northern border of the United States, as well as the sea ports, may be closed against the undesirable immigrant. It is not desirable to impose undue restrictions upon any one who will be of service in our American communities, but it is in the line of self-protection to exclude all others. There is no reason why our working classes should not be protected and the wages of the laborer and the standard of living for his family be kept where they will minister to self-respect.

By such restriction the drift of the unfortunates of other countries to the overcrowded slums of our cities would be checked and the consequent draft upon the resources of charity lessened. At the present time our large cities have sections wherein poverty, vice and crime lower the moral tone to such an extent as to make the conditions of life almost unbearable. In so far as the restriction of immigration will mitigate such conditions and prevent the increase of vice, crime and pauperism, it is a right which American people are justified in demanding of Congress.

EFFECT UPON THE TREASURY.

Thus it will be seen that the operations of the State Poor Law are humane in the very highest degree, and that the State treas ury is directly benefited. During the past year 977 persons were removed from the State. As has been said, the average dura. tion of life of inmates of public institutions, falling within the provisions of the State Poor Law, is fifteen years. Had these 977 persons been permitted to remain inmates of our public institutions for a single year, they would have cost the State treasury $101,608. Had they survived for one-half of the esti mated period they would have cost the State $762,060, and should they have survived the full period of estimated life (that is fifteen years) the State would have been compelled to pay the enormous sum of $1,524,120 for the support of the persons who, under the provisions of the State Poor Law, were removed by the Department of State and Alien Poor at a total cost of less than $40,000, which covered maintenance in almshouses, the cost of removals, and supervision.

The report of the Superintendent of State and Alien Poor, and statistical tables showing the work of the Department of State and Alien Poor are appended, and will be found of interest. Respectfully submitted,

D. MCCARTHY,

EDWARD LITCHFIELD,

PETER WALRATH,

Committee on State and Alien Poor.

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