POOR RELIEF IN THE UNITED STATES 143 



od leads to repetitions, and frequently to superficial consider- 

 ations; still it must be acknowledged that certain topics must 

 be frequently discussed in order to l)e noticed, and that in this 

 way the advance gained from time to time i-s more distinctly 

 exhibited. 



On the whole, one receives from the poor relief and charity 

 of the United States the impression of a living interest in the 

 revival of personal care for the poor; more than in other lands 

 is the social importance of a sound method emphasized. A 

 fresh inspiration pervades the American efforts, as in their 

 industrial and economic work they keep their eyes open in 

 order to learn more from every direction, the best and the new- 

 est ; and as they take care of themselves to search for new ways, 

 so they have in our field appropriated all the new inventions, 

 and, especially, in the care of the sick and defective, have 

 made great progress. 



The most important means with which to combat corrup- 

 tion is the creation of state boards which are intrusted with the 

 supervision of the arrangements for poor relief. This agency is 

 not new and has already often been employed, although it has 

 not always fulfilled its purpose, because the members of such 

 boards are themselves open to partisan influence. At present 

 especial pains are taken to give an independent position to 

 the boards and to make them nonpartisan in character, or at 

 least bipartisan, that is, with participation of both parties. 



The first board of supervision was formed in 18G3 in 

 Massachusetts, and this, in 1867, was imitated in New York 

 and Ohio. At this time twenty five states have such boards, 

 among which are some speciaUzed boards for the different 

 branches of relief. Thus of late in Massachusetts, in conse- 

 quence of careful investigation of the condition of pubhc 

 institutions, the former board of hmacy and charity has been 

 replaced by three bodies: the state board of charity, the state 

 board of insanity, and the state commission of prisons ; and a 

 similar arrangement is found in New York. The boards carry 

 different titles, among which the most common are the state 

 board of charity and corrections, or merely board of state 

 charities; in Iowa, board of state institutions. 



The duties of a board vary widely ; most Umit themselves 



