The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-04
Sacramento'S Charitable Women
Are Found to Have Been
BlameleSS.
CONDITION OF THE TREASURY.
Controller Colgan's Statement of the
States Finances On January
First.

port OF DR.. RuggleS on the investigation Of
the Founding Home in this city was re-
ceived to-day by the State Board of Exam
liners, and, as was stated by Governor Budd
in an interview published in THE CALL
several days ago, it is a complete refutation
of the charges preferred by DR.. Waggoner
OF the local Board of Health. The matter
has created q vast deal of unfavorable COM
ment throughout the city against the au-
thor of the attack upon the charitable
women who have been devoting their time
and energies to the care of homeless waits;
but DR.. Waggoner is by no means accred-
tied with all the blame, as it is known that
he had been grossly misinformed. The re-
port states in part:
1.-The presentation of charges was con-
Quoted by DIR. Waggoner, the refutation
by Judge Holl. Before entering upon the
assigned duties I was notified that two of
the allegations, viz: that persons wishing
to adopt children were refused unless
stated amount was paid; also that State
aid had been obtained for absent children,
were withdrawn. 1t was agreed that all
allegations should be taken up seriatim.
THE first allegation was as to the IN
cleanliness of the institution. The evil
dence was very positive and conclusive
that previous TO October l the institution
was not in as neat and Clearly condition
as it should have been; the walls were
smoked, the paint dirty, the bedsteads
wooden and infested by bedbugs. It is in
evidence TO the credit of the managers that
a special meeting had been called and
measures taken 20 have this condition of
affairs rectfed. This step had been taken
before the inspection visit ordered by the
local Board of Health, and since that time
the renovating process has been going on
as rapidly and as thoroughly as the
financial condition of the institution
would permit. From personal observation
1 am able tc say that the walls are neatly
caIcimined, paint renewed and varnish
applied where necessary. The wooden
bedsteads which had been kindly and with
mistaken charity bestowed had been con-
demned and new iron ones supplied in
their place. 1t IS satisfactorily shown that
the present condition is what is desired,
though it must be admitted that the con-
dition previous to the date mentioned was
reprehensible.
1.-The allegation as to the underfed condi-
ton of the inmates was next considered.
Much emphatic testimony was presented
as to the amount and character of the food
furnished, but the great preponderance of
evidence of lady managers, matron and
the cook, whose own boy was one OF the
unfortunate starved ones the preser ia
ton OF bills for supplies, supplemented by
my own personal examination of the chill
dren compel me to say that the allegation
is not sustained.
Gg-rho 81 e -
institution was tested next. The computa-
ton from identified records OF the institu-
ton show that the mortality was 50 per
cent Of admissions. At the first glance
this appears TO be very large and justifies
a presentation of the allegation. But
when it is considered that the great ma
jority of these unfortunates are of a de-
graded, dissipated and diseased origin, i
does not seem so strange. Also, it is to be
considered that over go per cent of all
handled babies die before arriving at the
aye OF years; that nearly 90 per cent of
all babies in cities and towns under l wear
Of age who are fed on artificial nutriment
die; that sanitary statistics and founding
hospital reports, both foreign and domes-
tic, show much larger percentage than
does this institution. l am surprised that
1t has done as well as it has.
Very strong lnferential evidence was
produced to sustain the allegation as to
immortality among the inmates. These
charges are OF serious nature, and if sus-
tanned should receive condemnation. The
evidence is conflicting, but enough is
shown to place some Of the inmates in
compromising situation. There seems to
be peculiar condition attached to this
institution. 1t is nominally a foundlings'
home, yet really an orphan asylum, with
inmates OF all ages up to IS years. If it be
really home for foundlings, my opinion
is that no children over the age of or
years should be admitted and those al
ready there over that age should be trans
ferred to the regularly organized orphan
asylum; or if this plan OF organization is
TO be continued, then a system of most
rigid discipline should be immediately
adopted, so that a complete, perfect and
positive separation of the sexes be main
tanned and no possibility of a recurrence
OF what is the foundation o: this allegation.
sc A. RUGGLEs.''