The morning times., 1896-01-12

The keepers of the women's section of
the workhousc are 10 be changed.
THIS announcement follows close upon
The Evening Times investigation and the
consequent official inquiry which, in the
most Important points, sustained the pub
lication and made recommendations of re-
form in lire with The Times discovery.
The matter has been kept as quiet as
possible, but u sharp fight is in progress
over the places TO be vacated.
ANY changes to be made at the work
house?" asked a Times reporter OF Com
missioner Ross.
"No, not that know Of"
II have been told that Overseer Giles OF
the female workhouse will go, and Mrs.
Giles with him."
Mr.. Ross looked as IL be would like to
know where the fact leaked out. but re-
piled:
"wen, If there are any changes there
they will be voluntary"
Mr.. A. Giles has held the position OF
oversecr at the workhouse In the women's
department for about four years His
wife has all the time been 4 keeper in spe-
clal charge OF the women. Their pay has
been $500 year with ho6se and food.
But the work is very trying Mr.. Gi' 5
has hardly been the man for the place, il
reports are to be credited. This has been
due to his goodness OF heart rather than
anything else.
Mrs. Giles has succeeded better, but
there has been complaint even of her
management. Both have been dissatisfied
also with the excessively disagreeable du-
ties they have been called ON to perform.
1t is said they have grown so weary CT
the work that they determined last week
to quit. 1t is reasonably certain that their
places will be filled in a short time.
MORE OF THE STORY.
But the going of these two keepers is
only half the story. The choice of their
SUCCESSORS is creating little tempest about
the Commissioners.
There are several candidates. One of
them is backed by the Grand Army in
flueDce, which is becoming potent again,
and possibly by the American Protective
Association. Another is favored en-
ploye in the District service and now
has the best show for the place. The
first is Col. W. W. Jackson, who was
brave soldier in the war ard wears his
title OF right.
He has been unfortunate in many ways
since and needs the place badly. He is
said To be a man OF keeiN intelligence, OF
good judgment, and especially is possessed
of that firmness OF control which 1T will
presently be seen is so necessary to tie
position he seeks. His wife is credited
with being entirely capable to manage
her share of the work. The Grand Army
people are making q stiff fight in their
behalf.
The other candidate most talked OF
and who has really been SLATED for the
position, is n. j Fitzgerald, now a mes
senger in the office of Secretary TindaH
at the District building. His position
and relations there have never been quite
satisfactory eitherto him or to Commissioner
Ross. About month ago he was sent
over to Georgetown as station-keeper in
place of a. v. Conway, but after an
experience of three days, gave it up. He
said, toward morning, his head began to
ache and he couldn't stand it. Since that
time he has been back in DR.. Tindall's
office.
MFR. Fitzgerald is rather small man,
over fifty years old, and fitted rather
for his present place than for the fierce
encounters an overseer at the female work
house is likely to encounter. II he goes
there the burden Of duties must inevitably
fall upon overseer Talbot and other strong
men. ..-..7.rs
"Why, they'll murder Fitz over there"
exclaimed an ex-guard at the workhouse.
when he heard OF the proposed change.
"Ive been there, and it takes 4 good man
to handle those negro women j came
within an ace of being beaten to a jelly
by a team of them myself one day.
Superintendent Cutler of the Municipal
Lodging House, who was doorkeeper at the
workhouse for a year, and was once or
twice, in a pinch, assigned to duty at the
women's ward, said:
"Those women do the most outrageously
disgusting things and bite and scratch like
wild animals. Mr.. Talbot's experience
recently with that half crazy girl is not
unusual. There is one black woman here
Eliza Cant, who spends most of her time
in the workhouse, who can whip any po-
liceman in town. 1t takes four men to
handle her when she is taken down. She
cut another woman at the B. & o. depot
recently and it was all two stout police
men could do to hold her and get ber to the
station.