Evening star., 1896-12-07
A little girl

N Il Ii l. NOUS y LII Il
s.a ., make 6s and ksn g9tags rSss
nos Ina
Prevention OF this evil can onIy he effectiv.
through the jealous care of the medical
profession itself.
Whatever change. if any, l5e made i'm
official administrative methods IN this mat
ter. IL should be such preserves. first Of
all, the promplness of relief IN emergency
cases, free from red tape delays 10 the
detriment of sufferers. As 10 accident
cases, or prostration, there il. of course.
not an instant to be lost i'm affording first
aid 10 the injured, through the agency
most accessible. Any citizen having rea-
son ia suspect abuse i'm any branch of the
public relief service can rely upon prompt
inquiry into any information furnished 20
this office-the central authority designated
for such duty-and the speedy appica ion
of corrective measures.
Advantage may also well be taken of
Information obtainable through The Asso-
ctated Charities other non-ofIicial
agencies.
Relief Werk This Winter.
1T is hoped that 4 general relief move
ment may not oe necessary during the
coming winter. but should there he coca
sion for one. the central relief committee.
now experienced in the collection and dis
triDution Of supplies. and in the prevention
Of duplication and imposture. and acting i'm
cooperation with permanent volunteer re-
lief societies. can b" summoned by The
Commissioners to resume the work well
done during former seasons OF distress.
There is urgent need for the erection of
o rev lodging house. equipped with modern
appliances, and having greater air space.
Application fer funds for this purpose has
been omitted from the estimates for pre-
sontation a The coming short session of
Congress with much reluctance in view
20 p,.pa Fi1g
cluded. The improvement OF such a ss-s-
TEN that has resulted IN marked diminu-
tlon in the dangerous element OF lisordeI'E
fransients certainly should rot De .lria.eh
any longer than antil the nrst session OF
the next Congress.
Care of Inebriutes.
Attention is respectfully asked TO the
measure for the care of incbrates (H. K.
3lS), which has passed Ole branch of the
present Congress. Its merits so r.-
Gently fully discussed as TO render unneces-
sary further alius!on TO them than refer
ence to the last winters report and de-
hates.
Other benevolent projects considered last
year and now pending. have also been so
fully discussed that, the conditions con-
ceriling them not having changed il is only
requisite 10 reatfirm the recommendations
made in the report of this Office for 1888.
Reformatory improvements.
1t seems, however, 10 be z duty 10 partic-
ulariy ask attention 10 the application for
enlargement of the Girls Reform School of
the District Of Columbia. The per capita
cost of maintenance of this reformatory
on the present limited scale is high and in
wolves an excessive burden upon the Dis
trict revenues and national treasury. The
per capita cost for lS.'5-G is in excess of
that for 1884 and 1S.5 chiefly because OF a
reduction in the number OF inmates found
to be essential to the good order and disci-
pline of the school
The reduction of admitted inmates was
from an average of thirty-tive in the form
er year to an average of twenty-scven in
the latter, while the increase OF annual
cost of maintenance was from S2G9 10 S361
per cdpita-an additional burden for each
committed inmate of S.iS per year. or nearly
double what should be the entire cost OF
reformatory of sufficient capacity to be
economically managed
The only way TO reduce the cost of this
reformatory 10 a reasonable per CAPITA
rate is to increase its capacity i'm so far as
can be done without considerable addition
to the charges for SUPPLEMENTARY and ad-
ministration.
Child-Cnrfns Agencies.
The report Of the board of childpn's
guardians, herewith published. exhibits
fully the statistics and operatio of that
organzat ton during the fiscal year under
review. The increase in the number Of is
wards is normal: and as those first taken
under charge sttain majority the annual
addition 10 its rolls of dependents w3li a.
min.sh, SO that there will no longer %.
occasion for enlarged aprro2-la tons, sch
as are now asked for by the board and in
cluded in the District estimates. The sug-
Sestion Of the board for a separation OF
the appropriation for feeble minded per
sons from the general allowance FOR main
terance merits favorable consideration.
The Charities Bill.
The report concludes: The District ap-
preparation act for The current fiscal year
made provision for a Joint committee of
the Senate and the House 10 examine into
the expenditures and management of the
charities and reformatory institutions of
the District, ard TO report upon any
changes deemed adv isable as respects the
me thods of dealing with them. With this
provision there was coupled a declaration
Of policy to future appropriations. In
the absence of official Information as 10
action by committee as a guide ia planning
the estimates, and no arrange HleDtS hav-
ing been arrived at for otherwise carin:;
for public charges now maintained by
Washington charities and rcformatory in
s;itutions, the making of the estimates and
report upon them having been delayed as
lorg practicable, the schedules have
been submitted on the Old plan, but pro-
visionally only, pending definite action
direction CT Congress. in so far as they
may lie affected by further proceedings
pursuant to or consequent upon the pro-
viso in question. 1t would be unseemly for
the superintendent of charities TO fore
stall the findings of such an inquiry or 10
present directly recommenda tons for re-
organ :zation, which, under other circGm-
stai oes, it would be within his province %
teLder."