Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-12
DISTRICT CHARITIES
Annual Report Of Hsrbert7A. Lewis,
U. S. Superintendent.
TEE SUBJECrOF MISUNDERSTANDING
Complete Separation of Public and
Private Charities Urged.
SUGGESTIONS OF REFORM

Herbert A. Lewis, United StAtes superin-
tendent of charities, today submitted to the
Commissioners the annual report of the
operations of his office for the last fiscal
year. In opening his report, Superintend-
ent Lewis refers to the disadvantage under
which he labored in preparing the report.
The sudden death of his predecessor left
Kim unacquainted with the methods pur-
sued, and the system of making reports in
vogue at several charitable institutions
was 50 crude as to render compilation diff
cult.
In this connection he says:
The quarterly reports, heretofore made to
this office, do not furnish Information of
such uniform character as to make its
tabulation possible or to justify any extern
sive comment upon it. The annual reports,
which are for the most part reproduced in
full, are such as the reporting officers have
seen fit to make without extensive sugges-
tions from me as to what they should con-
tain, and are therefore without uniformity
of intention or construction, and are by so
much less valuable and Instructive than it
Is hoped they may hereafter be. 1t was
seen at once that to bring the accounts into
such condition that the eXpc-.itureS which
they represent could be classified and intel
ligently compared would involve the crea-
ton of new records and the adoption of
wholly new methods at many of the insti-
tutions. A similar difficulty was no less
apparent in the matter relating to the re-
ception and discharge of inmates and treat
ment of patients.
Difficulties Encountered,
For some institutions two treasurers
We're receiving and disbursing money at
the same time, as. for instance, where
lady visitors organized as boards secured
funds toward the support of the insttu-
ton, expended part of it on their own re-
sponsibility, had their own treasurer, kept
their own accounts paid to the bonded
treasurer as much as they thought best
and made their report for the calendar
year instead of for the fiscal year, for
which all public accounts must be rem
dered. In another instance the accounting
officer made an estimate of the value, to
the public, of the services rendered by the
institution and reported the amount so es-
tmated as expenses, showing a large de-
felt each quarter. Reports made in this
way have been accepted. apparently with
out question, year after year Still others
We're found to have assumed that reports
regarding the use of the appropriation
only were required; that what they had in
the. way of accumulated endowments and
what they received from their friends
were not proper subjects OF inquiry ON the
part of the superintendent Of charities.
These difficulties have been offset by evil
of the accounting officers to do all that
could be reasonably expected of them in
bringing together at the close of the year
the information herein regarding the
finances of the various Institutions and
believe that the next annual report will
bear evidence Of approaching harmony and
uniformity.
Conditions In WRshidgton.
There is considerable truth in the con-
tention that because of conditions peculiar
to Washington the problem Of the proper
administration of both public and private
charities dere Is different from what it is
in other cities.
This is neither a commercial nor a manu-
featuring center, and it is therefore much
more difficult to secure employment of GER
tain sorts than in other cities of differ
ent character.
The unemployed to be provided for here
are also largely from class of persons
unused to manual labor and incapable of
earning living at anything except such
nght employment as may be found in Off
ces and stores.
There Is a lar. >, colored population de-
pendent both by instinct and training and
the moment it becomes known that food
clothing or money for rent is being given
out the giving agency is likely to be
swamped by them. a
Character of Population.
The shifting Character sof the popu-
lation makes it difficult to secure a
steady and sufficient income for local char
tiles or to know when sufficient provision
has been made for the poor and distressed
who belong to the District. 1t also consid-
erably increases the demands made upon
Washington charities. for no provision has
been made for the compulsory return of
transient paupers to the. localities from
which they come and in which they should
be supported
1t has been asserted, and probably with
some truth, that public dependents, such
as insane persons. dangerous cranks, imbe-
Giles, epileptics. deserted children and I'M
married mothers, are systematically 'un-
loaded" upon Washington.
Many persons come here seeking govern
ment employment or the adjustment Of
claims against the government on pensions,
will somehow be cared for. They are dis
appointed, and drift into the care of our
hospitals and charitable Institutions.
There is no law in force in the District,
which can be readily applied, compelling
parents to support their children and in
stances are known and on record in which
fathers who own property and have con-
siderable income have pushed off upon
charitable institutions children whom they
might and should have supported, or they
have simply neglected them until for their
protection they have been taken in charge.
The Ready Response.
On the other hand, let an appeal be made
for assistance in the relief of distress dur
ing hard winter or for the support of a
charity which has merit and is properly
presented, and a response is forthcoming
which emphasizes the appreciation of the
people of Washington of just these condi-
lions and is evidence of their willingness to
meet them. In the number, variety and
resources of it's charities Washington is
not, to my knowledge, surpassed by any
American city of equal size.
One thing which has. made it less easy
to secure, from private source, support of
useful charities has been the ease with
which public appropriations have been Sc
cured. Like most other enterprises, chari-
ties tend to follow lines of least resistance,
and as. long as it is easier to secure sup
port from public than from private funds
that Is the support which Is most diligently
sought. Success In this seeking reacts UNI
favorably upon the community, SO that APP
peals to individuals for help toward the
support Of this or that charity are not In
frequently met by such an answer as : ;. ny
don't you go to Congress-? 1t Is the policy
Of Congress to appropriate money in sup
port Of all charities thatScan be shown to
be doing good. Il You c3hnot get an APP
DrODriatfon. there muS8 be< something