4 Anderson IVilliam Clark 



Similar tendencies toward state control have been observed in 

 other states in matters of charity and correction as well as in 

 other branches of administration. This subject, therefore, is one 

 of special interest and importance to the students of political 

 science as well as to the practical workers who are dealing with 

 the problems of charity and correction. 



STATE BOARD OF CHARITY OF MASSACHUSETTS 



It is of peculiar interest to study the history of this state board 

 of charities, first, because it was the first board of the kind organ- 

 ized in this country, and, secondly, because the work of the board 

 and, in fact, all the charities of Massachusetts are believed to be 

 more completely organized than in any other state of the Union. 



The beginnings of this board date back to 1856, when the legis- 

 lature created a Board of Commissioners on Charities. 



The supervisory authority of this board was limited to state 

 almshouse visitations, but its administrative powers extended to 

 the execution of all the laws relating to alien immigrants ; the 

 prescription of forms for statistical returns from the state alms- 

 houses at Tewksbury, Bridgewater, and Monson, and the form 

 of certificate permitting the introduction of inmates thereto ; the 

 binding out of apprentices from the State Hospital at Rainsford 

 Island ; the control of state pauper inmates of the state lunatic 

 hospitals and their property ; and the transfer of pauper inmates 

 from one state charitable institution or lunatic hospital to an- 

 other, and their transportation to their homes in other states and 

 other countries, the last-named duty involving a rigid inspection 

 of all passengers arriving from foreign ports, and the exclusion 

 of those liable to become public charges. 



The legislature of 1863 abolished the Board of Alien Commis- 

 sioners and established the Board of State Charities. To this 

 board was entrusted all the administrative authority conferred 

 upon the Board of Alien Commissioners, and it was also made 

 its duty to "investigate and supervise the whole system of the 



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