In abstract A, the total number of persons relieved or supported during the year is stated at 22,909 for the city of New-York. This differs so materially from the number given in abstract A, of last year, that the superintendent of the alms-house was requested to explain the difference: his answer is given in Document E, under the head of New-York. It appears, from this explanation, that 3,574 persons have been relieved at the poor-house; and that 3,867 families have received more or less relief, as out-door poor; these families are estimated to average five persons to each family; making 19,335, as the number of out-door poor; add to this the number received into the poor-house, and it makes 22,909, the number included in abstract A, as relieved or supported during the year. The number of families relieved in the city of New-York is less, by 573, than during the preceding year, as may be seen by reference to page 40, of the report of 1832.

In the table marked H, a comparison is made between the results furnished by this report, and the reports of the two preceding years, which are all the annual reports made to the Legislature under the poor-house system. It is gratifying to perceive by this comparison, that the average expense of supporting a pauper, has diminished in three years, from $37.03 to 32.41 per year for each pauper. This is the most satisfactory test that the poor-house system is improving as it progresses; and that when this mode of supporting the poor becomes universal, and is fully understood, thore will be a great saving in the expense of supporting the poor, compared with the old plan. It is believed that the saving of taxes already, to the towns and counties, is 275,000 dollars, which is about equal to all the ordinary expenses of supporting the State government.

The forms and instructions given in the appendix of the pamphlet published for the use of the officers connected with the support and management of the poor, will ensure greater accuracy, and more full returns hereafter, in relation to the expenditures for the poor in the towns, as well as in the poor-houses. In addition to the information heretofore obtained, the superintendents are required to furnish an abstract, showing the amount of excise money contributed for the support of the poor in the several towns and counties: when fully perfected, these returns will exhibit annually to the Legislature, the number of tavern and grocery licenses

granted in each town and city in the State; the sum paid for each license, and the total amount of excise money; also the amount of all town poor funds, and the annual tax, if any, upon the towns, or any of them, for the support of the poor. Only a few counties have made returns this year, the new forms not having been in the hands of the supervisors in time to enable them to give the required information. From the city of New-York, returns have been obtained by the aid of the superintendent of the alms-house, a summary of which is given in Document E. It appears from this return that 3,079 tavern and grocery licenses were granted during the year, and that the total amount received in aid of the poor from these licenses, was $30,700. The tax assessed upon the city of New-York, for the support of the poor for the same year, was $140,000. The abstract given in the same document, under the head of Dutchess county, will show the manner in which these returns are required to be made in the counties, and the nature and classification of the information to be given.

The reports heretofore have been very imperfect in relation to the expenditures for the support of paupers out of the poor-house, in counties where one is erected, as well as for town poor in those counties having no poor-house. Forms are now furnished to each supervisor which will enable him to make a return of all expenditures in the town, ascertaining the same from the town audit of the accounts of the overseers of the poor.

In obedience to the provisions of an act passed April 23, 1832, instructions are given to the overseers of the poor, which, if complied with, will furnish to the Secretary's office a list of the names of all the deaf and dumb persons in the State, as well as the age, sex and condition of each. This is to enable the superintendent of common schools to select such as may properly be admitted to the deaf and dumb schools, as State pupils.

By an act passed in 1829, supervisors are prohibited from being superintendents. At that time, superintendents of the poor were chosen solely by the boards of supervisors: the judges of the county courts, by chap. 292 of the session of 1832, are now associated with the supervisors in making these appointments, and it is respectfully submitted to the Legislature, whether the principle of exclusion adopted in reference to supervisors, should not be ex

tended to the whole appointing power, as at present organized. It is also recommended, that superintendents be prohibited from being concerned, directly or indirectly, in contracts for supplying the poor-houses. The Secretary of State, in the exposition to the poor laws, pages 106 and 110, has ventured to suggest the adoption of these principles, even in the absence of any positive enactment in relation to them.

A. C. FLAGG,

[Assem. No. 38.]

2

Secretary of State.

Albany,.

DOCUMENTS.

(A.)

Abstract of the returns from the Superintendents of the Poor of the several counties, exhibiting the whole number of town and county paupers relieved or supported during the year ending 1832, and the amount expended for their support.

Dec. 1,

Allegany,

52

1,814

36

Broome,

61

1,295 82

Cattaraugus,.

113

2,889 44

Cayuga,

Chautauque,