Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-18

Operations Of the Municipal Lodging House
and Wood Yard-Helpins the Willing.


and Wood iard-Helpins the Willing.
The first quarterly report OF the superintend-
ent of the municipal lodging house and wood
yard was made to the Commissioners today
The repor. says that under tie old system of free
lodgings and free soup Washington was fast be-
coming the ha ven Of the tramp. Indeed. this had
gone to such an extent that the police stations
and free lodging houses were quite inadequate
to accommodate the corners who sought lodg-
ings at their hands. This state of affairs
was peculiarly annoying to the police
by reason of the accumulated filth
and vernin resulting from these dodgers. At
the lodging house each man before retiring
is required to take hot-water bath, and,
contrary to all expectations, the men with
few exceptions desired and appreciated it.
They are given a night shirt belonging
to the institution and put to bed and their
clothing is hung in a fumigating room and
subjected to a sulphur bath during the night
Before opening the lodging house there were
from 100 to $50 dodgers in the station houses
nightly. and as the lodging house is only
provided with forty-two beds its friends feared
it would be swamped at the outset. On the
contrary, notwithstanding the station houses
were closed to the dodgers, no one has been
turned away who was willing to do the required
work.
EIGH-wATER MARK.
During the Inauguration the house reached
its high-water mark when sixty-two slept in its
warm, clean rooms. The city is now compare
lively free from tramps, continues the report
and il citizens give the institution their
support by absolutely refusing to
hand out provisions or the quarter,
the tramp nuisance will be abated. The tramp
and the sawbuck are not on friendly terms
the former has gone where he can obtain free
lodgings and tree soup; the latter stands
as proud sentinel guarding well its easily
won victory. Not only are the station houses
relieved from their burden, but the work house
cares for a much smaller number than usual.
The Police Court also feels the effect by
having less OF the foreign element to
deal with, and while the municipal
lodging house does not claim the full
credit for this state of things it justly demands
recognition as having contributed largely to
us, hence they are not here to be arrested, tried
and sent down.
A TELEPHONE WANTED.
Superintendent. Dom says he believes it will
be OF great advantage to the well working of
the institution if telephone were placed in
the office, as it would bring the superintendent
in close communication with the business men
and contractors OF tine city, greatly assisting in
securing work for The unfortunate men who are
obliged to ask for assistance at the yard. 1t
has been the earnest desire OF the superinten-
dent to build up a good readable library for
the use OF the poor unfortunate callers who are
compelled to take advantage of the hospitality
offered by the institution. It is very crafty
ing, the superintendent SAYS, that owing to the
suggestions made from time to time BIZ The
EVENING STAR touching this question
o very respectable beginning to a library
has been donated by the good people
of the city. Through the kind efforts
Of the Central Union Mission religious services
have been held at the lodging mouse Sunday at
o'clock pm. The men have taken O deep in
terest in the same. Concluding his report Supt.
Dom thanks the head of the poll e department
and his men for their interest in the success of
the lodging house. The number of different
persons cared for during the three months was
945. Fifteen we're refused accommodations
because they refused to work Situations were
found for forty -four men.
In TIE CRININAI Counr Jasf,ca NrCoun.s