Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-26
THE WASHINGTON ASYLUM.
First Report OF the Board Of Visitors
Their Recommendations.

The board Of visitors recently appointed by
the Commissioners TO examine into the man
sgement Of the Washington asylum visited the
asylum last week and to-day submitted 10 the
Commissioners their frst report They cay
that more complete report will be made at
some future time, as they were very much
pressed for time and did not make as thorough
an examination as they would have liked
The report ID - follows:
1--WE find the building In . neat, clean and
orderly condition, well kept, and the inmates
treated as well Is could be expected under the
circumstances and with the facilities at the dis
posal Of the intendant.
I'VE would most respectfully recommend that
more nutritious food be given 10 the sick in
the hospital We find many cases Of sickness,
ana would recommend that more vegetables be
used.
INSUFFICIENT BArHISa ACCOMMODATIONS.
I'VE ind only two bath tubs of small dimen-
sions for the use Of III inmates and would sug-
gest that small brick building be erected
near the main building, the upper part 10 be
used for closets and the lower part fitted up
with large baths with proper arrangements for
beating the water, &C.
I've founda one-story brick building. 60 by "a
feet containing eighty beds or cots, with the
same number of inmates who are COM
PEELED TO eat and sleep in the same room. We
ma small building adjacent to this
one without windows or chimneys standing idle
and would recommend that this building be
p9s In proper shape, and one story could be
added to both the buildings and with little ex-
pense made useful and convenient
the ventilation now being very poor
We find 40 in the aims house and $50 in the
work house. We would also suggest that sugar
be used in the coffee instead of molasses.
1--WE are of the opinion that when a keeper or
attendant is discharged by the intendant he
should not be reinstated by any Official without
the sanction of the intendant believing that
good order and discipline would be maintained
by SO doing.
INMATES WHO WON'T WORK
"There should be some way of compelling
those sent to the work house to work, as we
understand from the intendant that there are
numbers sent there who refuse TO work, but
avail themselves Of all the privileges Of medi-
cal attendance, as wei as clothing for their
children.
There are now several colored girls with
babies from one to six weeks old who have been
there for severl months aEd refuse to do any
thing. 1t seems to be regarded by them as a
country home, with nothing to do and plenty to
eat
PENsroNED INMATES.
"There are several of the aims house inmates
who are drawing pensions, which should be
turned over to the Commissioners and go
towards their support, instead of being used
for liquor as soon as they get out; then they are
sent back as soon as their money is spent, to be
supported at the expense Of the Commits
sioners.
I'VE think all who are able should work, idle
ness not being encouraged. There should be
sufficient vegetables raised on the farm, with
perhaps the exception of potatoes, for the use
of the inmates. We also think the aims
house and work house should be under
separate management, with a general superin-
tendent in charge Of both, as one man, the
buildings being separate, cannot attend to the
details of both institutions properly"
The report is signed by Mrs. A. P. Clark,
Mrs. Mary Millmore, and Messrs. f. L. Moore
and o. G. Staples. Mr.. w. G. Dodge is absent
from the city.