Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-02
Inviting Paupers and Lnnaalcs to
MasningfOn.

Tie current debate In the House on the Dis
tTict appropriation bill shows that members are
beginning 10 question the policy OF legislation
that encourages the pauperS, tram ps. lunatics,
the sick, the lame, and the blind of the country
10 flock 10 Washington for support.
In the debate on the Item appropriatfng
$4,000 for the support of the 1ndgeat insane OF
the District OF Columbia In the Government
Hospital for the insane Mr.. Neal, of Ohio said:
The gentleman from Indiana Mr. CoOo
states that there are In this asylum more than
500 insane persons who are chargtable 10 tue
District OF Columbia Now every one who has
t2aE1int the statistics Of insanity must know
that more than 300 insane persons ia pOpula-
tl0n OF 10000 are largely beyond the average.
The fact is that every person employed here for
the government. no matter how temporarily, Ii
he becomes insane while here. is charged TO the
District OF Columbia. There Is no Justice or
equity in such thing"
ON the general subject OF these Institutions
MI Cobb Gn charge or the bill said
IF this Committee OF the Whole Will look over
the extent or tie charitable institutions In this
District and the amount OF charities here be-
slowed IL VIII De sonnet ming astonishing to their
minds have gone over the field, and although
| do not profess 10 be absolutely accurate 10 my
figures, nevertheless | believe | am entirely
within the limits. There are 2I 985 persons VINO
received treatment at the hands Of the public
In this city last year. How much the cold Win
ter We are passing through Will Increase that
number am unable 10 say. Thirty-ti five thou
sand four hundred aud seventy -four pre5crtp-
tons were made up for others. This Is some
thing alarming, and shows the inducemenu held
out here. or something else TO produce this re-
suit, which think ought not to be Increased
IL we have 81 900 persons IN this city or District
VINO require aims at the hands OF the govern
ment there must De Sorne hing wrong There
must &c some cause for It. Wuen beside We
give 1914 prescriptions, something must be-
wrong In addition Then there are treated
regularly q 33l people In this city, to say notn-
Ing of Providence Hospital, Saint Ann;s Hos
pital and other eleemo5ynary institutions In
this District. These figures should be IooAed
Now, should we extend all these charities
and Charitable Institutions as asked for by the
heads OF these various institutions, and thereby
invite people TO come from all the states of the
union TO prey upon the puolic here? There Is
dispenSary here dispensing medicines to every
one VINO may apply for them. There are other
institutions IkWise dispensing medicines in
this city. Take the Columbia Hospital for
Women and Lying In Asylum. over five hun
dred women were treated there and have not
included them In The estimate | have already
given"
This Is q view OF the case that has been taken
long since by the taxpayers OF the District
Every year new batch OF relief institutions is
started by individuals who are sometimes
actuated by philanthropic motives, but who
quite often have 10 other end In view than self
giorifeatiOn. The first step Is TO get place on
the annual District appropriation bill, and the
next TO seek Inmates for the institution to de-
monstTate its Usefulness. The people OF the
District. though they have not asked for these
Institutions and 60 hot require them to any
great extent on their own account, are COM
PEELED TO shoulder large part OF the burden of
their support They dre willing to contribute
their 1ull share 10 the support Of all the sick
and needy that DRIFT TO the capital city, but
want II understood that they have no part or
lot IN the creation of the host OF these elee-
mosynary institutions springing up, and do
OBJECT 10 the constant Increase in the appro-
priations for them out or District revenues