The record-union., 1895-12-05
CONCERNING The FOUNDLING Home.
Probable Investigation by the State
Board of Examiners.
Mrs. Clayton Denies Statements Made
by the Doctors-What Nurse
Has to Say.

Trouble is brewing between the lady
managers of the Sacramento Founding
Home at Ninth and X streetg and the
City Board of Health. At the meeting OF
the Board of Health on Tuesday night
a committee of three was appointed to
ascertain the cause of the high rate OF
mortality in the institution
This action was the result of remarks
made by DR.. T. r. Waggoner, mem
ber of the board, to the effect that the
death rate at the home was unusually
high, and that the inmates are not
properly cared for He also stated that
the managers of the institution had re-
fused to allow children that are old
enough to be adopted by responsible
persons, therefore compelling the State
to issue allowances for children who
should not be on the rolls of the insti-
tuition.
Yesterday a former nurse at the
home who said she resigned on account
of the bad management there, called
on Secretary Markley, of the State
Board Of Examiners, and in a measure
corroborated DR.. Waggoner's state
ment She said that children who are on
the rolls of the institution are per-
mitted TO remain away for great lengths
of time, but come around once or twice
every two or three months. tits said this
is required of them by the managers, so
that the home can draw the allowances
from the State.
Shortly after the lady left Secretary
Markley's office, Mrs S. E. Clayton,
President of the Founding Home, and
Mrs. S. S. Holl, one of the directors,
called on Mr.. Markley, and emphatic
ally denied the statements made by
Or. Waggoner. Mrs. Clayton insisted
that the Board of Examiners, or some
other official body, should visit the
home and make a thorough investiga-
ton.
The visitors said the death rate is no
higher than in any other portion Of the
community under like circumstances.
Children are brought there, as rule,
in very poor health, and it is hard
work to keep them alive. Mrs. Clayton
was quite indignant over the accusa-
tions made by DR.. Waggoner, and said
she had no use for him" and does not
want to see him.
Mrs. Holl said there was a possibility
of what was said at the meeting of the
Board of Health being incorrectly re-
ported. But if the lady had been pres
ent at the meeting Of the board she, no
doubt, would not have ventured such
a poor guess.
Secretary Markley informed Mrs.
Clayton and Mrs. Holl that the Board of
Examiners would meet on Friday, and
he invited them to be present and make
their statements in open meeting, or
send communication to the board.
The visitors said they would be in at
tendance.
According to the last statement filed
with Secretary Markley of the number
of inmates in the home, and the re-
Itch, -,
months ending June Both last, there
were fifty-three whole orphans, half
orphans, abandoned children and
foundlings in the institution.
DR.. Waggoner said Tuesday night
that until he interested himself in the
affairs of the institution as a member
of the Board of Health only three
ounces of milk were furnished each
child per day, and an inspection Of the
last semi-annual statement shows that
only S4I worth of milk was purchased
during the six months included in the
statement.
A prominent physician said to Rec
ord-UniOn reporter yesterday that in
formation had reached him in various
ways to the effect that the home had
been very badly managed, though he
could not say much Of his own per-
sOnal knowledge, as he had visited it
but once. What he then saw, however,
was enough to convince him that the
rumors he had heard were not without
foundation.
Referring to several of the ladies
whose names have appeared in con
nection with the government of the
home, the doctor said they were all
good, charitab bly, disposed women, who,
no doubt, have thought they were en-
gagged in good work, but possibly they
are not familiar with the details of the
direct management. He did not wish
TO see an injustice done to anyone, how
ever, and was glad to hear that the
State Board of Examiners intended to
investigate the home and thus bring
out the truth.