The morning times., 1895-12-12
NEEDS OF REFORM WORK
Washington Asylum and Kindred
Institutions.
COLONEL TRACEY'S VIEWS
He Touches Upon the Burial of the
Pauper Dead and the Food Fur
ni>hed the Inmates of the Aims
house-Congress Set Right on Mat
ters Connected with the Institution.

washington Asylum is placed by Col.
John Tracey in his report upon charities
and reformatory work here at tie head OF
all such institutions In the District. A
memorandum is Incorporated in the report,
explaining why certain changes, invoiv-
ing net Increase of SEQ, ,443 in the appro-
priation, should be made.
Col. Tracey says: Congress has for the
past two years allowed S4 600 and 81, 500,
respectively, for hospital construction.
With these Sums two excellent wards have
been provided. and by utilizing basement
rooms in the one built this year the medical
service of the hospital will be placed in good
.tUcating arrangements. however, arean-
tiauated and defective. as well as hacking
In cleanliness. II is proposed. by locating
small hoier-hnnse a the lowest point on the
hvspital grou nds. toes,ablisb a central feat-
ing station lor the dispensary, PHYSICIANS
quarters. nurses quarters, and the seven
wards comprising thegroup ofb"spit;u buiic-
ires This work. including all necessary ap-
pIiances OF piping, etc, for beating by steam
or hot water. is 10 be done at cost not
exceeding $4,000. Very great progress has
been made within three years IN transform
ing this hospital and feel confident that
Congress will allow the change TO be CON-
pletcd by the necessary Improvement now
proposed.
The present place OF deposit for bodies
OF th, pauper dead is too far from the Gene
terry and is ongrouDd now turned over tothe
parking commission. which Il SKIS for removal
of the nuisance. The appropriation az $500
requested for building vault in the grounds
of the potier's field cemetery is one OF those
eonnectc,l with aIimnisi ration not strictly
within the province of The Washington Asy-
tum. but associated wiibilsseryice as 4 mat
ter of economy and convenience"
EXTENSIVE REPAIRS NEEDED.
"For painting tin roofs, rriaying floors
and resurfacing walls, 81 900 is requested
The condition of the almshouse and the
male workhkouse is such as to necessitate
extensive repairs. A beginning has been
made in one part of the almshouse by re-
surfacinC walls. II is necessary to con-
tinue the work throughout the almshouse
and male workhouSc. Brick floors have
become very much worn and uneven, SO
that it is impossible TO keep them clean
and dry and to preserve sanitary condi-
tionS in the crowded buildings. There
should be substituted concrete or cement
floors 10 prevent dirt and disease. Two
of the floors in the male workhouse are
in such condition that relaying is innpera-
tive. Several of The roofs Of the large
9ubnI.T uf buildings constituting the asy-
lum establishment require repair and paint
inE for the protection of inmates and
thu preservation OF the property.
"Tbe $500 requested can be expended
20 good advantage in hospital furnishing
and appliances to replace wurn-nut ar
ticles and supply medical and surgical IA
ciitics suitable TO the requirements of
modern surgery. The hospital, the only
medical aud surgical establishment of the
District directly under the authority of
The Commissioners without the interycn-
ton or cooperation Of any institutional
eoard. does important work, surgical rs
well as medical. as general hospital for
the eastern section of the city, aud it should
ne as well supplied in proportion to / is Ca
pacity as the other hospitals nf the city"
The increase of the contingent fund from
s4i 900 at present to $4,000 for the next
year is based on calculation Of 500 a
year for each person supported,
THE per capita is the lowest 1t is safe to
assume. and the average last year was low,
from various causes, including The increased
number of short-termed commitments to the
workhouse as compared with previous long
sr terms. and the sentencing to jail of classes
Of offenders formerly sent 10 the workhouse
It is quite probable that the average of in
mates during the next fiscal year will reach
500 instead OF last years 522."
THE PAUPER DEAD.
Heretofore, with the exception of S3OOfor
eoffin-making in part rtcompensationfors such
work. allowed from the District fund for
the relief of the poor, the entire expenses OF
burial OF the plupcr dead OF the District
anve been borne by the contingent fund of
The Washington Asylum. II the work is 10
oe continued in the asyl1ni's charge it is |
asked that 81 300 be allowe for it. This |
would, of course virtually. proportionately |
increase the money allowed for asylum use. |
Il would hesitate to recommend il were |
It not that / see occasion for improving the |
quality and variety of the food furnished to |
tue ainishouse and the hospital, especially |
to the inmates of the latter. More generous |
diet would be of great advantage to the |
lick. notably by the use on proper occasions |
of sick-room delicacies, which are not TO be |
expected by healthy inmates OF corree- |
tional establishment, such as the workhouse. |
Again. the inmates of the aimshouse, male |
and female many OF them very aged and |
feeble, are not delinquentS in the eyes of |
the law, but unfortunates; and think that
with all regard to economy, some improve
aIent especially as TO variety in their |
nourishment, should be made.
''As a rule, there has been too little OPP
portumty for maintaining a Oesira bic diff |
ference between the food supplied TO the |
workhouse, the alnishouse and the hospital |
Appropriations have apparently been graded !,
with some Difference to the entirely er- |
toncous notion that the Washington Asy- |
lum is purely correctionaiestablishme |
which is by no means the case. concerning |
The maintenance of the disabled poor and |
sick or Injured Of the District"
Pay for two watchmen and two over
Ieers and carpenter, all now employed,
out paid from the contingent fund, is asked, |
10 as to comply with the spirit of the esti-
mate laws, which Cali for exact and open
specification of such salaries for employees.
An advance from the present $3.50 to S365 |
year is asked for the assistant engineers.
Nurses are now paid only $50 a year.
1t is proposed, as necessary TO good |
hospital administration, tEat their pay be
raised TO S. 90 year.
The work is arduous for small force
Of five nurses and their pay should be made
sufficient to secure capable women. A
well-instructed nurse is q prime REQUISITE |
Of modern hospital service, as a matter
Of public economy and mercy to the suffer-
Ing"