་ THE POOR LAW. [This bill became chap. 225 of the Laws of 1896.] REVISERS' PRELIMINARY NOTE TO THE POOR LAW. The committee on general laws in the Assembly of 1877 were, by resolution, directed to fully investigate the subjects involved in the Code of Poor Laws, and submit to that or the next Legislature "a bill designed to remedy the evils so onerous to the people, growing out of the existing poor laws and their administration." The committee, in compliance with the resolu tion, reported to the Legislature of 1880, a bill entitled "An act to revise and consolidate the general laws relating to the relief and support of indigent persons." The committee state in their report that it has been their aim to "simplify the laws and thus avoid the confusion in their administration which now exists, and is the cause of great annoyance to the superintendents and others charged with their administration." This bill was not, however, adopted by the Legislature, and additional legislation upon the subject involved continued, but with no apparent aim to remove the evils complained of, except that title VIII of part VI of the Criminal Code, passed in 1881, prescribes a procedure for compelling the support of poor persons by their relatives of sufficient ability. Provisions for the election and qualification of superintendents of the poor, with certain powers and duties of boards of supervisors, relating to the poor, are contained in the county law. Provisions for the election and qualification of overseers of the poor, with certain powers of town and town officers, relating to the poor, are in the town law. The commission created by chapter 289 of the Laws of 1889, was therein especially directed to consolidate and revise the |
