REPORT. To the Honorable the State Board of Charities of the State of New York: The report of last year gave to your honorable body a statement of what had been done in connection with the State Hospital for Tuberculosis up to January 1, 1901. In April, 1901, by chapter 691 of the Laws of that year, the sum of $100,000 was appropriated with the following provisions: Section 4. No expenditures shall be made from appropriations under this act or from appropriations under chapter four hundred and sixteen of the laws of nineteen hundred until a determination of the proper location and site for suitable buildings has been made or approved by a commission composed of the governor, the president pro tempore of the senate and the speaker of the assembly, and their decision and the reasons therefor in writing filed with the comptroller. During the summer the Commission appointed by the above act visited and examined various sites in the Adirondacks, including Lake Clear, Ray Brook, Dannemora and White Lake. The Commission then conferred with your Board and requested it to make a visit to White Lake. At the request of the Commission, the Board had previously presented to it in writing the reasons of its individual members for the selection of Ray Brook. Finally, in December, 1901, the Commission approved as a site for the State Hospital, Ray Brook, already selected by this Board of Trustees, and filed a letter stating such reasons for its approval. The contracts for the purchase of the property have been prepared, and it is hoped that the land will soon be acquired. Out of the $50,000 appropriated at the session of 1900, $40,000 will be available for the construction of the hospital after pay ment of the purchase money for the site and of contingent expenses. The Board respectfully asks that this sum be reappropriated by this Legislature. The sum of $140,000 is therefore applicable to the construction of the hospital. Of this, from $10,000 to $20,000 will be necessary for the furnishing and equipment of it. We have therefore the sum of $120,000 to $130,000 for all purposes. This is probably not sufficient to enable us to build with brick, but we can build a frame or brick veneer. It is the earnest hope of the Board of Trustees that the work of the hospital buildings can be begun this spring and pushed through as rapidly as possible to a termination. All of which is respectfully submitted to your honorable body. JOHN H. PRYOR, December, 1901. Secretary. REPORT. To the State Board of Charities: During the fiscal year ending September 30, 1901, the Department of State and Alien Poor has been busy with the care, maintenance and removal of alien and non-resident poor persons who have no legal claim upon any of the counties of this State. Through investigations conducted by the Superintendent of State and Alien Poor and his assistants the State has been relieved of the burden of maintenance of a large number of paupers. Not only have many persons been removed from the State almshouses to their homes and friends, but many more from county and city institutions. It is not possible to prevent pauperism under present social conditions, but it is possible to curtail in some degree the evils incident thereto. The increase of the pauper class is a menace to the State, and the law which provides for the removal of non-resident dependents is intended to check the evil. The State of New York attracts a large number of people who come in the hope of bettering their condition, but who are illfitted to cope with the strenuous competitions which they find. As a consequence many speedily sink into a condition of either partial or total dependence, become burdens upon charity and add to the difficulties of society. While the State of New York must bear its proper burdens, it is unfair to require it to carry the burdens of other communities. The State Poor Law has been enacted for the financial benefit of the public as well as to define methods of procedure in the distribution of public charity. It has its economical as well as humanitarian side.. Under its provisions the Department of State and Alien |