Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-15
ECREASE IN CRANKS
Some Interesting Figures From the Report
of Sanitary Officer Frank
Public Attention is Called to the
Large Number of INDECENT From
the NeighbOrinE States.

The annual report of Sanitary Officer
Frank Of the police department has been
made to the chief of police. In the report
officer Frank gives in detail the work
done duriag the last fiscal year, and calls
attection to the necessity for a contagious
disease hospital, and an asylum for in
ebriates. The report shows what has been
done in the way of transporting paupers.
Concerning the hospital service, the san
itary officer speaks of the number of per-
sons who were sent here from the neighor-
ing states o. Maryland and Virginia, in
order that the expense of treating them
might be borne by the District instead Of
by the states.
The report states that the requests for
assistance from tramps and impostors have
been more frequent during the last year
than ever before, and to guard against i'm
position rigid investigation is necessary.
During the year the number of persons
furnished with transportation to their
homes, or as near thereto as practicable
was 912, and the expenditure was S1,9S6.37,
as compared with 40 persons and an ex-
penditure of s1,194.94 for last year. Mr.
Frank is OF the opinion that this increase
in tie number of persons furnished trans
portaton is more than should be expected
from the natural growth of the population.
or the number to whom this form of relief
was extended III persons came here seek
ing private work, while last year there
were only 96 such cases There were 81
ex-soidiers ard sailors who came here to
prosecute their claims for pensions, a de-
crease OF IL as compared with the previous
year.
decrease In the Number of Cranks.
MI. Frank also notes with satisfaction
that there Were fewer persons belonging
to the class termed cranks who visited the
city than was the case last year. During
the past year only fourteen persons of this
character came here, being a decrease of
seven as compared with the preceding
year He says that this is the most troub-
!esome class the office has to deal with
he states that he is unable to acc cunt for
the large increase furnished with trans
portation during the last year. except that
1t might be due to the greater number Of
unemployed that visited the city.
1t Is known fact, he says, that each
year brings an increase in the class of un-
fortunates who visit the seat of the ma
tional government In the hope of success
fully prosecuting some claim, real or 9TH
erwise, and who. by reason CT delays and
other disappointments, become fnanc tally
stranded. He 'ecommends that the appro-
priation of $4,000 made last year be re-
newed for the next fiscal year. He says
there were sent to the various hospitals
during the last year 3,O15 persons, an in
crease OF lG9 as compared with the pre-
vious year. He notes that there was a de-
crease curing the year IN the number or
persons from the neighboring states of
Maryland and Virginia. There were l65
sick and INDECENT from the state of Vir-
ginia provided for and 135 from the state
of Maryland, a decrease of forty-five from
the former state and sixteen from the lat
ter state. as compared with the figures of
last year.
Unjust TO Taxpayers.
Mr.. Frank says that, while he fully real
ICES that 1t would be inhuman to refuse
hospital treatment to those who come or
are sent here from adjoining states for the
purpose of being admitted to the District
institutions. yet he maintains 1t is mani
testify unjust to the hospitals and tax
payers of this District to be required to
bear the expense of those who should be
provided for by their respective states He
recommends that the pay of the ambulance
drivers be increased from $40 to $50 per
month and the grade of assistant drivers
be abolished. He states that during the
wear 2O7 persons were sent to the Gov
ernment Hospital for the Insane, an in
crease CT thirty-three as compared with
last year. He recommends that some place
be provided in the Washington asylum for
the care of cases of tempOrary insanity