The evening times., 1896-12-08

question. To compel payment for prescrip-
tions in every case might W ell be deemed OBJ
| iectionable as excluding those most needy,
while legislation fOrbidding private charity
whether medical or other would be strong
| ly opposed.
one way to check abuse, if deemed suffi-
ciently serious to call for such remedy,
would he to require the licensing OF all
dispensaries and compliance by all with
the regulations for inspection and report
applicable to those receiving public funds.
Under any system the prevention or cor
rection OF dispensary abuse must chiefly
depend upon the ignorance Of dispensin &
physicians, and in this regard the action
OF medical societies i'll enforcement of the
ethics of the profession and as safeguard
to the interests of taxpayers and charitable
contributors is highly commendable.
In estimating the extent of free dis
pensary service and of the possible per-
centage OF abuse, Col. Tracey observes, it
is to be remembered that there is a wide
difference between the number of cases
treated during year and the number OF
persons receiving medical relief. per-
son having different ailments goes to diff
ferent clinics, and INDECENT dispensary pa
tients are likely To return for treatment
and thus be entered as a separate case
twice, or, more frequently, annually.
Whatever change, IL any, be madein Off
Cial adminis' ratiye methods in this matter
it, should be such as preserve, first OF all,
the promptneSs Of rcliefin emergency cases,
free from red tape delays tothe detriment OF
sufferers.
NEW LODGING HOUSE.
There is urgent need" Col. Tracey says.
for the erection OF a new lodging house,
equipped with modern appliances and hav-
ing greater air space. Application for funds
for this purpose has been omitted from the
estimates for. presentation at the coming
short session of Congress with much reluc-
tance, In view of other construction items
necessarily included. The improvement OF
such q system thathas resulted in a marked
diminution i'll the dangerous element of dis
orderly transients certainly should not be
delayed any longer than until the first
session OF the next Congress.
work similar 10 that Of the municipal
lodging house is done by the establishment
OF the Central Union Mission, a volunteer
organization which cares for females as
well as males without official expenditure,
while women are received by the Women's
Christian Home, the Young Women's Chris
tan Home and the Hope and Help Mission,
recipients of governmental aid, and by
other establishments which are sustained
solely by private benevo!encc.
Taken together, such refugees are meas
urably adequate to the needs of the District,
OF governmental aid is desired
1t seems to be d DUTY, in the superintend-
ents estimation, to particularly ask at
tention TO the application for enlargement
of the Girls Reform School. The per capita
cost of maintenance OF this reformatory Oh
the present limited scale is high, and in
wolves an excessive burden upon the District
revenues and onal Treasury. Expert
ence OF an additional year has served to
yet more forcibly Illustrate the considera-
tons in favor OF the enlargcments that
were fully set forth in the reports and
documents submitted to Congress last win
ter.
The management of the establishment
shows improvement: but the difficulty to
be overcome is radical, and remedy must
be thoroughgoing.
The only way to reduce the cost Of this
reformatory to a reasonable per capita
taxis to increase its capacity in so far as
can be done without considerable addi-
ton to the charges for superintendency and
institution.
CHILD-CARING AGENCIES.
The report of the Board OF Children's
Guardians, Col. Tracey says, exhibits fully
the statistics and operations of that or
ganiZation during the last fiscal year
The suggestion of the board for sepa-
the appropriation for fee BILE minded
persons from the general allowance for
merits, favorable considera-
tion. The feeble-minded are a distinct
class, some of them now of mature years,
permanent burden on the
during the lives OF the unfor-
Upon another subject affecting the esti-
mates for next year he says:
1.-The District appropriation act for the
current fiscal year made provision FOR a
Joint committee of the Senate and the
House to examine into the expenditures
and management of the charities and re-
formatory institutions of the District. and
to report upon any changes deemed adyisa-
bic as respects the methods of dealing
with them. With this provision there was
coupled declaration of policy as to future
appropriations.
I'm the absence of official information |
rs to action by the committee as a guile
and as no arrangements have been perfect |