Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-29
SANITARY OFFICERS REPORT
It Deals With Many Affairs Of Vital I'm
portanoe to the District
Unfortunates Sent Away-RecOmmen-
Sent to the Insane Asylum.

dations for an Inebriate Asylum
Sent to the Insane Asylum.
Major Moore today transmitted to the
Commissioners the report Of Sanitary
Officer Frank for the fiscal year. In his
report the sanitary officer says:
While the subjoined tables show q marked
increase In the legitimate work Of the
Office. it Is also true that the year just
closed was no exception as to the calls made
upon the sanitary officer for information
and assistance that are in no way connect
ed with the duties appertaining to the office.
This part of the work cannot be properly
classified. and owing to its general nature
does not come under any particular head.
No doubt much Of the work of this char
acter Is due to the fact that a large proper
ton of the people do not seem to under
stand the object Of this Office and are liable
to confuse its work with the operation Of
other departments of the District govern
ment. Notwithstanding this 1 have stu
diously endeavOred to provide for all cases
brought to my attention, legally disposing
OF our work and endeavoring to guide
others In the right direction.
transportation.
This part OF the work consumes more
time and requires more thorough investi-
cation than any Of the operations of the
Office, calling as it does for an expenditure
of public funds: and the latitude of the law
In Its specifications Of those liable to become
charge upon this District necessarily
calls Tor careful investigation of each
particular case in order to legally establish
claim FOR assistance.
During the year just closed TRANSFORMATION
was furnished to TO persons, at an ex-
for the preceding year at a cost of 81, 66e. 95,
showing an increase of los persons and
$l24T more than for the previous year. In
aodltion to this there were nine dangerous
OF insane persons returned under police es-
cort to their respective homes or institu-
tons. from which they had escaped, at an
expenditure of $76.01, while for the year prior
the amount expended in like manner for
eight persons was $685. an increase Of one
person and 1888. making a total cost for
transportation Of $1,S7095. I have at times
experienced no little difficulty in disposing
OF some Of these cases. but 1t was a salts
Iactlon TO feel that no person has received
the benefit of this fund not legally entitled
to the same.
1t will be observed that the increase as to
those furnished transportation Q00 is larger
than any previous year. While 1t Is to be
expected that natural increase in the work
OF this department will occur from year to
year. yet believe the large increase for the
past year can be attributed to the great
encampment of the Grand Army Of the Re-
public In September last and at the inau-
guration Of the President in March
Soldiers and Cranks.
The number furnished transportation In
cludes 145 ex-soldiers and sailors, an in
crease Of nineteen over the number reported
for the preceding year. I regret to be COM
PEELED to note this increase, as hoped our
advice to the old soldiers In past reports
would result to their good, and that they
would learn the utter uselessness Of coming
here to prosecute their claims, but I find in
many cases they were persuaded to visit
this city really believing they would secure
immediate action on their claims for pen
sions, but meeting with disappointment and
being impecunious they are naturally thrown
upon the charity of the District.
AS Predicted in my last report, the "crank"
has shown quite an Increase. doubtless
brought here by the excitement attending
the Presidential election and Inauguration,
seeking some new lucrative position or
claiming some responsible office to which
they imagine they had been elected. Twenty
one persons of this character were sent to
their homes during the year just closed,
while ten persons of the same class were
disposed of in like manner for the year
prior.
In the disbursement of the funds appro-
priated for transportation / have always
considered the paramount object OF this
charity" to be the amelioration Of the con-
ultlOu OF the worthy poor ana TO rel1eVe this
District Of the expense Of their becoming a
charge upon the community, and with this
In view have carefully investigated each ap-
plicant for transportation, and 1t Is pleasing
to note that the disposition Of each case
has met with your approval.
l recommend the usual appropriation of
$1,000 for the transportation fund for the
fiscal year ending June 80. 1886. and again
urge my suggestion in former reports Of
making the appropriation separate from
that for the transportation OF prisoners"
Hospitals.
As shown by the statistics herewith there
has been a marked increase during the year
In the number Of persons sent to the va
rious hospitals in this city. Within the
year Just closed the number thus provided
for was 1906. while for the year prior EST
were disposed Of in like manner. thus show
ing an increase of 500 over the previous
year. This seems to be an undue increase.
especially when We consider the District
was free from any epidemics. In this as
well as in all other charities have found
1t an important duty to guard against the
'pretenders" who frequently appeal for
admission to the hospitals as a means of
rest and subsistence. The neighboring
states Of Virginia and Maryland have more
than contributed their usual quota of sick
and INDECENT. as 30 persons from the for
mer and 151 from the latter state have, dur
ing the year received hospital accommo-
dations an increase Of twenty-four for Vir-
gtn1a ana Twelve IOT Maryland over tne
year previous This seems to be an injus-
tice to the hospitals and tax payers OF this
District especially so far as 1t relates to
the state of Maryland. as all are well aware
that the city of Baltimore Is provided with
excellent hospitals Many of these unfortu-
nate persons who come or are sent us from
the states indicated are in a deplorable con-
dition and 1t would be manifestly inhuman
to refuse them hospital care and treatment,
and it is not an infrequent occurrence that
after becoming convalescent or altogether
recovered they are furnished transporta-
ton which they claim, thus receiving q
double benefit.
1t is to be regretted that the erection OF
a hospital for the treatment of contagious
diseases was necessarily postponed. Indeed
/ know of no Institution which was more
needed in this city. and which would prove
| a greater blessing to the community than a
| hospital of this character and in this con.
nection I earnestly recommend that an
isolated ward he set apart in the several
| hospitals for the treatment Of contagious
| diseases pending the erection Of proposed
| building for that purpose.
| 1t Is gratifying to state that I am moi
| aware of any patients in any Of the hos
pitfalls having cause for complaint. but, or
| the contrary. many have gratefully appre
ciated the benefits received. and 1t is also
| the officials of the several hospitals and
this department have been Of the mos
| friendly and courteous character, and in 6
number Of cases extraordinary provision.
| have been made for the unfortunate sicl
and destitute. Especially was this tru,
when our city was crowded in September
| last during the visit Of fhe "(Srond Army