The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-14
ASYLUM FOR INEBRIATES
Sanitary Officer Frank Urges Its
Immediate Establishment.
Virginia and Maryland Flooding the
District with Paupers-interest-
ing Report On Cha rifles.

ing Report On Charities.
An inebriate asylum with compulsory
residence there OF patients is one Of the
leading recommendations Of the supple
mental police reports made pub bic yester-
DAY. These papers, covering tue year end
ing June 50, 1895, were submitted by
Cuier Clerk sylvester, as property clerk,
Sanitary officer Frank, Harbormaster
Sutton, Police surgeon Mayfieid. as sec
Rotary of the board; Humane Agent Wilson
and Hack Inspector Croft.
Referring to tue need OF a hospital for
the treatment of inebriates, MIR. Frank
says the establishment of such an in
stltutiOn seems TO meet with the hcartiest
Endorsement OF the community. III in
ebrity is a disease he euds, and 1t
is so admitted by the medical profession,
then IL seems that it is necessary to care
for the inebriate.
Il am sure he concludes. Il have
had more cases or this Character brought
TO my attention during this fiscal year
than at any other period-men OF intellect
who have become moral, mental ard ply
steal wrecks by the excessive use OF in
toxicants, and / believe / can safely
say that some OF the cases or insanity can
be directly traced to alcohol. Doubtless
some OF these men could be reclaimed,
and again become good members of
society"
He expresses the hope that Congress VIII
enact into law the bill reported favordbly
at the last session.
Mr.. Frank recommends that room be set
aside at Washington Asylum Hospital for
persons who may be only drunk, but seem
to be crazy, where they VIII be under the
care of a physician until their condition
undetermined. Also he says wards FOR scarlet
fever and diptherla should be provided at
every hospital; that So 500 should be APP
prOpriatcd for sending home paupcrs and
kept separate from the prisoners trans
portation fund: that q hOstler for the ambu-
lance service at $50 a month be appointed
and drivers pay raised 10 500. In other
cities drivers are paid as high as SIS.
The ambulance runs have increased in the
past year by 534, nearly 20 per cent.
An increase of 4s3 in persons sent To the
hospitals Is reported. This was due 10 the
severe weather, when some are thought
10 have asked To be sent to the hospital
to escape the cold.
OF these 32T were from Virginia and
Maryland Of persons stranded while
seeking employment an excess of fifty
two over 1894 is noted The number Of
cranks was fourteen exactly, the 81 me as
the previous year There was not money
enough to send home all deserving ap-
plicants. The amount so expended was
Sl7T6. a decrease from 1891 OF $40.
Chief Clerk Sylvester says: The finan-
cial transactions of the office aggregated
1892 .62l, of which So1O,621 represents
salaries paid; S22,729. police court fines;
So q34 ban receipts, rewards, fines and
| sales. Sl51A7, for unifo rms: $500,
charity Disbursements: S2i, 597, fuel, rent,
etc: 81 4 900 notification of police pensions;
81 SCI, police relief: S3o,l1S. property
il
stronger evidenc &C." he states, 'of the
multiplying business of this department, "
than this statement furnishes"
He then points out that the diversified
nature of the work requires greater num-
her of book entries by the clerk than ever
| before. He asks the privilege To call at
tention to the lack OF office space pro-
duciug bad sanitary conditions ana hamper
ing work. He has been obliged to store
property In Easements and stables beyond
his personal Inspection
The investigation OF charity cases has
required considerable clerical attention.
In charity expenditures the office mas
been considerably assisted by the Citizens
Relief Committee, adopting his suggestion
that each auxiliary furnish a daily report
Of persons assisted. This prevented dupli-
cation of relief. He urges that Charity
Commissioner Tracey's office should aid
in dispensing relief by the liquidation of
all accounts against funds furnished by
the relief committee.
All collections in District cases at the
police court have been deposited once a
week. This he says Is buSiness-lke and
permits the accumulation of funds in his
| custody. Delays have heretofore occurred
which are now provided against.
He recommends for the keepir., of in
dividual records of policemen the adnp.
ton IF the card system introduced in the
| War Department by Col. AinswuTth.
The report cluses with a compliment To
| the six clerks in the office "who have been
| at their desks each day in the week, not
excepting the seventh, aud none have en-
| Joyed the usual leave of government EN-
| ployes."
| The report of Hack Inspector S. A.
! Croft to Supt. Moore shows no marked
| change from previous years. II gives 54I
| licensed vehicles: GAL Inspected; 80 hacl
| stands. He calls attention to the request,
| of street contractors by which hackineI
are compelled TO stand in unshaded places
| To keep vehicles Off the asphalt till hard
| ened. is well, he says, but to coufine the
| men for weeks 70 limits when the sun heal
Is nearly 100 degrees, IS a hardship
The report of Humane Society AGen
S. Wilson tells Supt. Moore that Mr..
Wilson investigated 3l2 cases and place,
! 1873 children under the care of institutions
! This Is an increase OF ten cases investigated
1 Commitments to the Eoard of Children
| Guardians from the police court decreased
from % TO s, explained by more work b
| by the Board of Guardians employees. Blu
there is an increa Sc of 46 in the number sen
to institutions by Mr.. Wilson directly.
He renews his suggestion of legislation 4
compel parents to support their children
legitimate or illegitimate. The laws y
New York are recommended as models. II
also recommends that commitments TO in
situations be for definite terms, not les
than a year. There is no more room 70
commitments to the Colored Girls Reforr
School.
DR.. Mayfield states that there is no recur
of visits of inspection to stations and visit
TO sick persons. The number of policeme
sick was 1913; of visits, 3.91S. Meeting
of the board have numbered 26; applicant
examined, 1896; or whom tbree-fourths wer
rejected. insanity cases, 90.
Harbor Master Sutton gives the mos
notable event of each days work. One Il
the recovery of 5000 boat for B. Cumber
land.
Bodies of twenty-three drowned person
were recovered. two were dTagged for blu
not found. Half dozen were saved from
drowning. the most notable case bein;
that of Joseph Thompson and John Dolan
who were picked up from capsized boa
near Buena Vista on November 10, 1894
| almost frozen.