Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-31
Coming Report of the Congressional
Select Committee.
RESULT OF ITS INVESTIGATION
History Of the Local Institutions
Compiled.
PURPOSE OF THE WORK

Shortly after Congress reconvenes there
will be a meeting of the joint select COM
mittee to investigate the charities and re-
formatory institutions of the District of CO.
lumbia, of which Senator Mcmillan is
chairman. and 1t is believed a report from
this committee to Congress will be made
promptly.
This joint select committee was author
lied to carry on it's work through provi-
sion in the District of Columbia appropria-
ton bill approved June II, 1896. as follows:
The Authorization.
And it is hereby declared to be the policy
OF the government of the United States TO
erty for the purpose of founding maintain
ing. or aiding by payment for services, ex-
penses, or otherwise, any church or re-
ligious denomination, or any institution or
society which is under sectaran or eccle-
siastical control; and it is hereby enacted
that from and after the Both day of June
1897, no money appropriated for chart Bile
purposes in the District of Columbia. shall
be paid to any church religious denom-
lnation, or to any institution or society
which Is under sectarian or ecclesiastical
control.
THAT joint select committee is hereby
authorized. to consist of three senators to
be appointed by the presiding officer of the
Senate. and three members of the House of
Representatives to be appointed by the
Speaker of the House, which select commit
tee shall make investigation of the char
tiles and reformatory institutions of the
District of Columbia. and especially of
those for which appropriations are made by
this act, as respects their relations to the
government Of the District of Columbia and
to the United States. whether by special
charter or otherwise, their efficiency, their
management and resources. whether by ap-
DrODr.atlOnS. Investments OthprUiSp
also what portion, If any, of appropriations
heretofore made to them have been used
for the purpose of maintaining or aiding by
payment for services, expenses, or other
wise any church or religious denomination
or any institution OR society which is under
sectarian or ecclesiastical control: whether
such charitable or reformatory Institutions
are effective and economical in their organ
ization methods and expenditure to provide
for the poor and destitute in the District of
Columbia: whether it is practicable for the
Commissioners or other authority in the
District to make contracts or to otherwise
provide for such care of the poor AID des-
ttute with any of said institutions, and if
So which of them and to what extent,
within the limitations of the policy herein
before declared and If not, the proba bile
expense of providing and maintaining pub
lie Institutions for such purpose.
Said committee shall make report rs
soon practicable after the beginning of
the next session of the present Congress.
including in such report any changes by
them deemed advisable as respects the
methods of dealing with the charities and
the reformatory institutions of said Dis
trict.'
The Investigation.
The joint select committee provided for
as above die not organize until February
p, 1897, too late to make report to the
Erfty-fourth Congress. The District appro-
priaton act approved March 3, 1897, re-
peated the declaration of policy stated pre-
viously and provided for a continuation of
the work. Under this authority hearings
were conducted. during which representa-
tves OF all the charitable and reforma,oTy
institutions in the District gave testimony
regarding the work in which they were
er gagged.
During the last recess of Congress, Mr..
Charles Moore, who had been made clerk to
the joint select committee. was engaged in
compiling all data on the subiec. Of these
institutions. which included their history
and a general history of charitable and re-
formatory work here since the administra-
ton of Jefferson. This compilation makes
a book of about 300 pages, and will doubt
less be the authority on such matters in
the future. Up to the time Mr.. Moore IN
dertook this work. which has involved most
extensive research, the history of these in
situations existed only in :ragman;ary
form. and in many instances could be Sc
cured only from persons whose familiarity
with them had extended back many years.
traticns. and is divided into sixteen chap
tiers. follows:
First general hospital. government hos
pital for the insane, government hospitals.
general hospitals, hospitals for general
classes founding asylums. orphan asy-
lums. Industrial schools, institutions for
women. homes for the aged, temporary
refugees for men, reformatory institutions,
relief for the poor, organization of chart
ties and board of chldren's guardians.
The compilation will also contain report
of Drs. Hurd of Johns Hopkins Hospital
and Chaplin of Pennsylvania Hospital on
the hospitals of the District of Columbia,
report of the health officer to the SAM
tary condition of all these institutions.
recommendations of the Medical Society of
the District of Columbia on the hospitals
here. statement by the Treasury Depart
ment OF appropriations for all these insti-
buttons since 1877. statement by the SAM
tary officer of all persons placed in these
institutions by him, and statement by
the Commissioners of the District Of Co
lEmbia of property of these institutions
here that is not taxed.
All this Information will be before the
joint select committee, when it meets after
the holidays, and it is believed but little
time will be required in which to agree
upon report to Congress and formulate
it so that appropriations may be made in
conformity with its recommendations