Evening star., 1897-02-27
How He Helps Unfortunates to
Reach Their Homes.
p A L p ERS AND CRANK S

fti', IS also the man who furnishes trans
portation to those unfortunates who arc
without means to pay railroad fares to
their homes. During the inaugural period
there will be many strangers in the city.
and naturally the cases Of sickness of per-
sens who have to be sent to hospitals are
more numerous than usual and 1t a}st
happens that many persons who come here
flom distance either get robbed or spend
all their money, and then have to be sent
either the whole or part of the way to their
homes. Besides these people, there are fire.
quently some office-seekers, who are un-
able to get away when the final disappoint-
ment comes. and they, too, have to be as
sisted. .-
Sanitary Officer Frank frequently finds it
cheaper to furnish these people transporta-
;icn than to keep them here a charge on
the taxpayers of the District. On the day
of the inauguration four ambulances of the
department will remain in service all day
and during the time of the parade they will
be stationed at interSecting streets along
the line of march. Each ambulance will
be in charge Of driver who is experienced
in handling sick people, and the played-out
marchers. as well as those taken sick from
natural or unnatural causes will be taken
to one of the several hospitals without de-
lay.
In addition to these four ambulances,
tnOSe OF tne several hospitals Will be IN
active service, and Mr.. Frank expects that
during the coming inaugural period the city
will have an ambulance service superior to
that which has been provided on previous
occasions of similar character. While some
extra arrangements are being made for the
time the thousands of visitors will be here,
the regular every day routine of the office
Will not be interfered with to any extent.
There will probably be no falling off in the
regular number of sick and disabled per-
sons. who want to get free hospital treat
ment nor will the number of alleged i'll
treated oyster dredgers and knights of the
road, who want to be assisted on their
journey, decrease.
Arrival of Tramps.
In addition to the number of thieves who
will come to the city. scores of men whom
the police know BUNS and "hoboes,"
will also be here. Indeed. 1t is thought
they are already arriving, for in some parts
OF the city complaint is made of the num-
Der of tramps who call at the homes of
cltizens during the day, and many of them
become fnsolent when refused assistance
ihese men spend the nights at cheap or
ifee lodging houses and during the day
beg or steal food. But when the inaugural
ceremonies are over some of them will find
that they will have to walk home for the
fund In the hands of the sanitary officer
Is small, and the applicants are numerous
constant perplexity, which bothers the
sanitary officer is found in the cases of old
SoiuieiS WHO come mere from some home in
nelShboring state. frequently from the
one at Hampton, and ask to be returned.
One of the rules of these institutions ra
quires the Inmates to procure a return
ticket when starting on a trip but some OF
the veterans lose or dispose of the ticket.
ana then expect to be sent home
Nearly all the old soldiers In the homes
are acquainted with the present sanitary
ofncer and most of them know him as
Captain Frank They also know what 10
expect when they call upon the. captain"
ana ask for assistance. which they are
aware they are not liable to get
The duties of the sanitary officer are
numerous, and are defined as follows: To
furnish sick and INDECENT persons, upon the
ceru1cate OF physician, with permits for
sence of such certificate an Investigation Is
made into the case by the sanitary officer.
VINO issues the necessary permit upon find
ing the applicant u proper subject for such
care.
To carefully Investigate reported cases of
lndlgent persons alleged to be insane SO
as to warrant the necessary legal action
by the attorney for the District of Column
bia in institutins proceedings de lunatico
lnqurendo and final admission to the Gov
ernment Hospital for the Insane
The police ambulance service is under his
direction, but, in the absence Of Mr.. Frank
these duties devolve upon the officer in
charge Of police headquarters The ambn-
lances are subject to call at any time for
the removal of the sick or injured to their
homes or to one of the hospitals or to and
from a railway station or Steamboat
wharveS.
Railroad Tickets for Paupers,
To ,trI,