Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-29
THE CHARITY WORK
Superintendent Lewis Remarks on
the Estimates.
- ri -
NURSES AT TIE ASYLUM
The Necessity Pointed F q Out for
Some Increase.
REN'S GUARDIANS

Superintendent of Charities Herbert w.
| Lewis, in his recommendations which ac-
i companied the estimates for his depart
| ment for the ensuing fiscal year, pub
lished in The Star of last evening, said
among other things:
THE salary of the superintendent is
| practically fixed by law and no change
therein is suggested.
Il have asked for a small appropriation
($15W for travelling expenses. In explana-
| ton of this request it seems proper to say
that If the superintendent of charities is to
do the work laid out for him by the law
! creating the office he must have knowledge
of such institutions and organizations in the
field of charity and reform as attain not
able success outside of the District of Co
lumbia. Such knowledge cannot be per-
fectly obtained through the perusal of pub
liShed reports, ETC., but must be secured
through personal inspection and through
acquaintance with their promoters. To see
is to believe and to understand.
1.-THE amount is very small and should be
| recommended for appropriation.
Washington Asylum.
For the contingent expenses of the
, Washington Asylum the intendant esti-
mates So, 800 upon the basis of an average
of 52S persons supported during the last
year. and an average of 800 per capita.
1.-The nursing at the asylum hospital is
done principally by persons who have been
inmates of the amshouse or hospital, VINO
are incapacitated for general usefuiness
outside an institution, and who can. there
fore, afford to give their services for such
meager compensation as is given or Tor
no compensation Their work is, OF course,
most unsatisfactory and inefficient. They
eat and sleep in the wards with the pa
1ients.
1.-THE first step toward the correction of
this matter will be the erection of suitable
quarters for nurses. AS soon as such pro-
vision Is made it will be possible to Sc
cure a. sufficient number Of pupil nurses
who can be placed at the service OF the
physician in charge and under the fm!ne-
date supervision of one or more graduate
nurses and thus provide more creditable
care of the destitute and suffering patients
sent to this hospital. l recommend that
the appropriation of $500 be strongly
urged.
For Salaries.
"a decided increase is recommended in
the salaries of nurses. This item should be
retained, no matter what others r may be
necessary to abandon. The nursing at
this hospital now is simply no nursing at
all; and it cannot be greatly Improved
until a different sort of persons are en-
ployed. In order to secure such employees
for this service as can be depended upon to
90 RCOQ WORK II Will, i DeHGNe, De necessary
to offer the salary here recommended ($15
per month"; until such time as comfortable
quarters and Increased opportunity for
profitable instruction. can be offered as part
compensation. &
Reform school, d. c.
II have recommended the estimate made
by the board of trustees. being convinced
that there is nothing asked which would
not greatly improve sthe Institution. 1t is
n
to you last year. The increases in salaries
are few and insignificant in amount, but II
granted, will enable the trustees to COM
pete with outside employers in securing
drst-rate service. ~.
Home for Soldiers and Sailors.
Il am Informed that this institution ex-
pended more last year than it's appropria-
ton of s., 500, and that the Grand Army of
the Republic made up the deficiency.
have been furnished with no detailed state
ments, and have not received its annual
report. L am not, therefore, prepared to
recommend any increase in the appropria-
ton for 1889, or to interfere in any way
with the excellent arrangement by which
the institution met the expenses Of last
year"
Medical Charities.
Speaking of the medical charities, includ-
Ing the Central Dispensary and Emergency
Hospital, Children's Hospital, National
Homeopathic Hospital, Eastern Dispensary,
Woman's Dispensary, Columbia Hospital
Freedmen's Hospital and Washington Home
for lncurables, Mr.. Lewis said
with reference to this group of charities
in general, l am impressed with the fact
that, when considered in connection with
the two great hospitals provided for by the
sCndry civil bill, the Washington ASYLUM
Hospital. the Sibley Hospital. and the lib
eral provision made for physicians to the
poor, they furnish provision for the sick
and injured which, for variety, compre-
hensiveness and distribution, will hardly
be found to be equaled in any American
city. They are furnishing medical and sur
gical service of a high order, and the need
is fully met. There is always unoccupied
room at Freedmen's, at the Childrens. at
the Homeopathic, and usually at Provi-
dence and Columbia
Il have been urged to recommend appro-
priations for the establishment of a
hospital in connection with the Woman's
Dispensary in the Miner Institute, on Az
street southwest, for the purchase of the
property on Delaware avenue occupied by
the Eastern Dispensary, and for the estab-
lishment therein of an emergency hospital.
Some of the persons urging these matters
upon me are my personal friends, and
with the views CT all of them it would
be delight to agree, If that were possible
c{cf tIa half