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4. The methods of government and discipline of its inmates. 5. The qualifications and general conduct of its officers and employees.

6. The condition of its grounds, buildings and other property.

7. Any other matter connected with, or pertinent to, its usefulness and good management.

Any commissioner or officer of the board, or inspector duly appointed by it, shall have free access to the grounds, buildings, books and papers relating to such alms-house, and may require from the officers and persons in charge, any information it may deem necessary. Such board may prepare regulations according to which, and provide blanks and forms upon which, such information shall be furnished, in a clear, uniform and prompt manner for the use of the board; any such officer or inspector who shall divulge or communicate to any person without the knowledge and consent of such board, any facts or information obtained in pursuance of the provisions of this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall at once be removed from office. The annual reports of each year shall give the results of such inquiry, with the opinion and conclusions of the board relating to the same. Any officer, superintendent or employee of any such alms-house who shall wilfully refuse to admit any member, officer or inspector of the board, for the purpose of visitation and inspection, and who shall refuse or neglect to furnish the opinion required by the board, or any of its members, officers or inspectors, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and subject to a fine of one hundred dollars for each such refusal or neglect. The rights and powers hereby conferred may be enforced by an order of the supreme court after such notice as the court may prescribe, and an opportunity to be heard thereon, or by indictment by the grand jury of the county, or both.

§ 117. Investigations by board or committee; orders thereon. The board may, by order, direct an investigation by a committee of one or more of its members, of the officers and managers of any alms-house, or of the conduct of its officers and employees; and the commissioner or commissioners so designated to make such investigation may issue compulsory process for the at

tendance of witnesses and the production of books and papers, administer oaths, examine persons under oath, and exercise the same powers in respect to such proceeding as belong to referees appointed by the supreme court.

If it shall appear, after such investigation, that the inmates of the alms-house are cruelly, negligently or improperly treated, or inadequate provision is made for their sustenance, clothing, care and supervision, or other condition necessary to their comfort and well being, such board may issue an order in the name of the people, and under its official seal, directed to the proper officer of such alms-house, requiring him to modify such treatment or apply such remedy, or both, as shall therein be specified. Before such order is issued it must be approved by a justice of the supreme court, after such notice as he may prescribe, and an opportunity to be heard thereon, and any person to whom such an order is directed who shall wilfully refuse to obey the same shall, upon conviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

§ 118. Almshouse construction and administration. No almshouse shall be built or reconstructed, in whole or in part, except on plans and designs approved in writing by the state board of charities, provided, however, that such approval in writing as to almshouses to be constructed by the city of New York shall be by the board of estimate and apportionment of said city. It shall be the duty of such board to call the attention, in writing or otherwise, of the board of supervisors and the superintendent of the poor, or other proper officer, in any county, of any abuses, defects or evils, which, on inspection, it may find in the almshouse of such county, or in the administration thereof, and such county officer shall take proper action thereon, with a view to proper remedies, in accordance with the advice of such board. (As amended by chapter 251 of the Laws of 1913.)

§ 119. Duties of the attorney-general and district attorneys. If, in the opinion of the state board of charities, or any three members thereof, any matter in regard to the management or affairs of any such alms-house, or any inmate or person in any way connected therewith, require legal investigation or action of any kind, notice thereof may be given by the board, or any three

members thereof, to the attorney-general, who shall thereupon make inquiry and take such proceedings in the premises as he may deem necessary and proper. It shall be the duty of the attorneygeneral and of every district attorney when so required to furnish such legal assistance, counsel or advice as the board may require in the discharge of its duties under this chapter.

§ 120. State, nonresident and alien poor. The State board of charities, and any of its members or officers, may, at any time, visit and inspect any alms-house to ascertain if any inmates are state charges, nonresidents, or alien poor; and it may cause to be removed to the state or country from which he came, any such nonresident or alien poor found in any such alms-house.

§ 121. Visits by the state charities aid association. Any justice of the supreme court, on written application of the state charities aid association, through its president or other officer designated by its board of managers, may grant to such persons as may be named in such application, orders to enable such persons, or any of them, as visitors of such association, to visit, inspect and examine, in behalf of such association, any alms-house within the state. The person so appointed to visit, inspect and examine such alms-house or alms-houses, shall reside in the county or counties from which such alms-house or alms-houses receive their or some of their inmates, and such appointment shall be made by a justice of the supreme court of the judicial district in which such visitors reside. Each order shall specify the alms-house to be visited, inspected and examined, and the name of each person by whom such visitation, inspection and examination shall be made, and shall be in force for one year from the date on which it shall have been granted, unless sooner revoked.

All persons in charge of any such alms-house shall admit each person named in any such order into every part of such almshouse, and render to such person every possible facility to enable him to make in a thorough manner such visit, inspection and examination, which are hereby declared to be for a public purpose and to be made with a view to public benefit. Obedience to the orders herein authorized shall be enforced in the same manner as obedience is enforced to an order or mandate of a court of record.

Such association shall make an annual report to the state board of charities upon matters relating to the alms-house subject to its visitation. Such reports shall be made on or before the first day of November for each preceding fiscal year.

ARTICLE 9

Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 130. When property of absconding persons to be applied to support of families; how application made. 131. Guardians for minors; proceeds not to be mingled with other funds; officer to give security and to

account.

132. Notice of accounting.

133. Penalties, how applied.

134. Superintendents and overseers may redeem on sheriff's sale.

135. Redemption, how made.

136. Moneys therefor, and how paid.

137. When warrant of seizure may be discharged.
138. Boards of supervisors may abolish or revive dis-
tinction between town and county poor.

139. Overseers, when to pay money to county treasurer.
140. Invested town money.

141. Report by supervisors.

142. Register of sex and age.

143. Care of poor persons not to be put up at auction. 144. Reports of certain other officers.

145. Almshouse commissioners to report.

146. Reports with relation to children placed in family homes.

147. Report of state board of charities.

148. Deed or mortgage may be accepted by supervisor to secure town for maintenance of poor person.

§ 130. When property of absconding persons to be applied to support of families; how application made. Whenever the father, or the mother being a widow or liv

ing separate from her husband, has absconded or shall abscond from his or her children, or a husband from his wife, leaving any of such children or such wife chargeable, or likely to become chargeable upon the public for their support, and any real or personal estate of such father, or mother, or husband, has been or shall be seized by a superintendent of the poor or an overseer of the poor, or by a board of charities, or by other officers authorized to make such seizure, by warrant of the justices of the peace of the county where such real or personal property may be situated; and the court of sessions or county court of the county wherein such superintendent or overseer of the poor, or board of charities, or other officers authorized to make such seizure resides, has confirmed, or shall confirm said warrant and seizure, and has heretofore directed or shall hereafter direct what part if any of said personal property shall be sold, and how much if any of the proceeds of such sale and of the rents and profits of the real estate, if any, be applied toward the maintenance of the children or wife of the person so absconding; then the said superintendent or overseer of the poor, board of charities or other officers so authorized and directed, shall apply the said proceeds of sale of said personal property, or rents and profits of the real estate as the case may be, first, to the payment of such taxes and assessments as may be outstanding and existing liens upon the said real estate, and repairs necessary to be made upon said real estate, and premiums for insurance on the buildings on said real estate; and the balance, if any, directly to the maintaining, bringing up and providing for the wife, child or children so left and abandoned, as the same may be required from time to time; and for all such expenditures they shall take proper vouchers, and from the rents and profits thereafter received from any real estate so seized they shall first pay all legal taxes and assessments, as they shall be assessed against said real estate, and such premiums for insurances and expenses for such repairs thereon as they may deem necessary for the protection and preservation of said real estate, and the balance of said rents and profits shall be applied by said overseers, superintendents, boards of charities, or other persons authorized to make such seizures. to the maintaining, bringing up, and providing for the wife,

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