Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-15
THE CHARITIES OF THE DISTRICT.
supt. Warner IL Well Satisfied With the
Action of Con~reas.

supt. Warner IL Well Satisfied with the
Action of Congress.
"How did the department Of charities fare
at the first session Of the Fifty-second Con-
gress2" asked STAR reporter of the superin-
tendent of charities for the District.
well enough, all things considered" was the
prompt answer. "When called on for specifi-
Cations he added, definite efforts were made
to secure three new institutions: % an sppro-
priation for the reform school for girls, (2)
a municipal lodging house. 90 Q board of
children's guardians backed by new legislation
regarding the care of dependent children. All
these are now provided for"
Then you got everything you wsnted2',
Not by any manner OF means. But did
get Learly everything that asked for. The
appropriations asked for the first two enter
prises we're cut in half. S85 900 being given for
the reform school instead Of $40, GOO and
a, 900 instead of $4,000 for the lodging house;
but the main thing in such cases is to get Q
start, and then II the new institution demon
strates its usefulness the support can be made
commensurate with Its needs.
Besides these enterprises nv official opinion
was asked and my cordial approval given to an
appropriation of $Sl 600 for the Daisy Chain
Contagious Diseases Hospital, which was pro-
vided for in the sundry civil bill. and the re-
formatory for women, provided for in sep
York. The former passed and the latter, after
almost passing the House, has gone over until
next session. Another matter which passed I'M
der review ct this Office and was heartily ap-
proved was the bill introduced at the instance
Of the Humane Society to further provide for
the protection of children and animals 1t is
now a law. Another thing which was done
without saving by your leave to anybody con-
nected with the District government was the
adoption Of an order in the sundry civil bill
that hereafter the provision for the Freedmsns
Hospital shall be made in the District appro-
priation bill, with the result, Of course, that
half the expense Of maintaining 1t will come
from the District taxpayers.
''THK STAR has kept its readers informed Of
the general character Of most of the legislation
high regarding the good results to be had from
the operation Of the municipal lodging house
and the board Of childrens guardians.
"The former viii not be opened till the be-
ginning Of cold weather, but after that will be
operated the year round. 1t will provide (D
clean beds, (2) plain but substantial meals, 90
a wood yard or stone heap where applicants for
aid can be compelled to work for what they get
II able bodied, ~ steam chest for 'sterllizing'
the clothing Of those whose clothing needs it,
(5) shower bath for all dodgers. It is hoped
that this institution will help to rid us Of the
tramp nuisance. At present during the winter
months upward Of q hundred tramps per
night stack themselves up in our station
houses IN disease-breeding and vermin- invested
heaps. Most Of these gentry will not lnger in
Washington if they And that they are referred
to place where they must battle and work. On
the other hand the lodging house will give
clesnly and honorable relief to strangers hon
estly stranded in Washington. Of which class
there are many. They can be referred to the
lodging house to earn a living until their cases.
by correspondence and otherwise, can be
thoroughly investgatedand means provided for
sending them 70 their former hOmea IN they
have them. Women applicants can be referred
to- one or another Of the private subsidized in
situations.
"The board Of children's guardians has been
treated Of at length in The STAR, as well Is my
reasons for favoring it. Through it hope that
the entire department of child-ssving work in
the District, SO far ~ it is dependent upon pub
he appropriations, may be reorganized and put
upon a more business-hke basis; that the
various institutions will appear before this
board as contractors instead Of appearing. as
heretofore, before the congressional committees
as beggars. and that each will in consequence
receive public money in proportion, and in
proportion only, to the amount Of public ser
vice rendered.
steps will not be taken to organize either
one of these new institutions until those inter-
ested in similar work In the District have been
conferred with"
when will your annual report be ready?'
Hardly before the LIST OF October, though
the statistical statements regarding the finances
and work Of the several institutions are prac-
ticslly complete. l should be glad If those
Interested In any given institution would call
at the Office and look over the tables to make
sure that no mistakes have been made either on
their part or mine"
What is the next thing to be moved for?"
''The establishment of District board Of
charities and corrections and the abolition of
the Office now hold"