The evening times., 1897-06-12
THE DISTRICT CHARITIES
Mr.. Lewis Views of How They
Should Be Administered.
A MODEL SYSTEM DESIRED
The New superintendent Discusses
Plans for Improving Local Cha T.
itahIe Institutions--Dat Concern
ing similar Work in Other Cities.
Girls Reform school.

Washington ought to be the model for
the whole country with regard to chart
table institutions" said Mr.. Lewis, who
! has just been nominated for the po>it un of
sUperinten dent Of chaIit.es, to "a T mes Ie-
| porter last night.
Mr.. Lewis returned yesterday from tlip
| to Delaware, where he has been looking
| after some wards OF tie boar dof guardians,
with which body he VIII remain until his
! nomination is confirmed.
| YES he contin ued, Il should like TO see
| all our Large cities look To Washington for
| Information Tega riding the management
| Of public chalities, and 10 that end, should
| / be confirmed as superinte ndent, / intend
| to make collection Of statistics showing
| how charities are Iun in other cities. These
statistics VIII present the showing made
| by public chaIitahle institutions in every
| large city in the world, paying particular
| attention 10 those supposed To be models
Pin especial directions.
Improved methods of dealing with in
mates introduced in any institution will be
carefully watched aud the results noted
All the figures win he tabulated, and thus
a set of statistics gathered which viii
not only and toward making our institu-
tions the best in the world, but to which
the heads of charities i'm other cities Will
have recourse for Information.
MY idea of the superintendent Of chari-
ties is that he should be able to advise the
heads of the various charitable institu-
tions as 10 what met hods To pursue 10 Sc
cure the best results in their departments
The superintendent is vested with no au-
thOTty whatever. He is merely here to
advise both those who make the laws gov
erning District charities and those VINO
have them TO execute. Aud should | be-
come superintendent, it would be my plan
TO prepare myself for this duty on the lines
/ have Indicated
When asked whether he had vet thought
OF any directions in which the local chari-
ties might be improved. Mr. Lewis replied
that SO far as hr had been able to observe
the Washington institutions are perform
ing admirably the work for which they are
intended.
But what about the agitation for better
accommodations at the girls reform school,
he was asked
TO THIS Mr.. Lewis replied that in view
discontinue appropriations to sectarian
schools. he thought that the girls reforma-
tory should be enlarged and improved
He referred to the fact which has come
under lis observation as agent of the board
OF Childrcu's guardians. that frequently
very young girls have TO be sent out there
to bc contaminated 10y the larger inmates
because there is no separate place for
them This he said, should be remedied
Mr.. Lewis also said that ne would always
keep a watChful eye on the work of the
board of ChIldTeus guardians. as me had
become intensely interested in that branch
OF the District charities during his connec-
tion with il.
While I did not personally hoom my
candidacy, and, in fact, knew nothing about
tEc petition requesting my appointment
until after It was presented, don't know
how I can ever lineup to the many kind
things said about the in the papers apropoS
Of my nomination =