Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-21


ment of superintendent of charities, and
charged him with the duty of investigation
and report. Unfortunately, however, the
TASK was beyond the powers of any one
man. The superintendent of charities, hav-
ing behind him no board of influential cit
liens whom he could interest in the prob
lens which he found pressing, for solution,
and whose recommendations to Congress
would carry weight, has often been COM
PEELED, seemingly, to antagoniZe the boards
OF trustees of the various charitable insti-
tutfons. each of which boards was strug-
cling to obtain for its particular institu-
tlon the largest possible appropriation. The
commissioners of the District of Columbia
whose advisory and executive officer in the
matter of charities the superintendent
nominally Is, have always found the null
tltude- OF their duties SO pressing that they
have never at any time been able to give
the subject any consideration whatever be-
You'd urging Congress to place, the whole
matter in competent hands and confessinp
their own inability to do justice to so grave
subject. l. is in this way that the COM
mtttee accounts for the chaotic condition
that at present exists in the District.
Board of Charities Recommended,
The committee. therefore, recommends,
es the first step toward the efficient reor-
ganization of the District charities tie
appointment of beard Of charities, to be
composed of five residents of the District
OF Columbia. This board should have the
power to visit and inspect all institutions
that receive appropriations from Congress
and that are of charitable eleemosynary.
correctional or reformatory character
rms board should be appointed by the
PRESIDENT of the United States, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate and
no payment for the care sunnort and
maintenance should be made to such char
liable, eieemosynary, correctional or re-
1ormatory institutions for any inmate of
such institutions who Is not received and
retained therein pursuant to the ru,es
established by the board of charities.
me legislation herein proposed is that
"hlcn mas been incorporated in the new
constitution Of the state of New York an
instrument which undoubtedly represents
the best thought of the day on such mat
ters. This board should have the power
10 elect Its own officers, and to appoint a
secretary to take the place of the present
superintendent of charities; and also to
appoint such other officers inspectors and
clerks as may be deemed necessary and
proper and to fix their compensation, sucn
oillcers to hold office during the pleasure of
the BOARD The members of the board
should serve without salary, but should he
emitted to the expenses incurred while in
the actual performance of their duties.
me records OF the board and its proceed
1ngs, and copies of all papers and docu-
ments In its possession and custody. when
duiy authenticated, should be received in
evidence in the same manner and like effect
as deeds regularly acknowledged and
issue subpoenas. which, when authenticated
by Its president and secretary, should be
obeyed and enforced in the same manner as
subpoenas are enforced by the order or
mandate of court Of record.
Duties of the Proposed BOARD.
THE duties Of the board should be to aid
in securing the humane and economical adj
ministration of all institutions subject to
Its supervision; to advise the officers of
such institutions in the performance of
thelr various duties; to aid in the securing
ana erection OF suitable buildings for the
accommodation Of the inmates of such in
StltuuonS; to approve or disapprove the or
sanlzation and incorporation of all institu-
tons OF charitable, eleemosynary correc-
uonal or reformatory character which are
or shall be, subject to the supervision and
inspection of the board; to investigate the
management of all institutions made suh-
Ject to the supervision of the board. and
the conduct and efficiency of the officers or
persons charged with their management
ana the care and relief of the inmates of
such institutions therein or in transit; to
AID In securing the best sanitary condition
OF the buildings and grounds of such insti-
tut1ons, and advise measures for the pres
erVatlon and protection of the health of
the inmates: to aid in securing the estab-
l1Shment and maintenance of such indus
trial, educational and moral training insti-
tutions having the care of children as are
best suited to the needs of the inmates: to
establish rules for the reception and reten-
ton of the inmates of all institutions SUBJ
Ject to the supervision of the board to in
Vestigate the condition of the poor seeking
AID. and advise measures for their relief
to administer laws providing for the care
support and removal of the poor who are
properly dependents of other states: to col
lcct statistical information with respect to
the receipts and expenditures of all nsti-
tutions, societies and associations subject
he nf bo
inmates thereof, and the poor receiving
public relief.
THE board should further be empowered
10 take proofs and hear testimony relating
to any matter before it, or before any
member of the board upon any visit of in
spection. The members of the board should
have full access to the grounds, buildings
books and papers of all institutions subject
to the care of the board, and should have
the power to require from the officers and
persons in charge thereof any information
that may be deemed necessary in the dis
charge of it's duties; also the board should
prepare regulations according to which
and provide blank forms upon which, such
information shall be furnished in a clear.
uniform and prompt manner for the use Of
the board. Provision should be made for
the punishment of any officer or employee
Of an institution who shall unlawfully re-
fuse to admit any member, officer or in
spector of the board for the purpose of Wis
itation and inspection, or who shall refuse
quired by the board or any of it's members,
officers or inspectors.
1.-THE members aid oficers of the board
should be prohibited from being interested,
directly or Indirectly, in the furnishing of
materials. labor or supplies for the use of
any District haritable institution. The
board should make to the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia an annual re-
port covering it's work for the year, and
also suggestions for the Improvement of
the work of charitable and reformatory in
situations, which report should be submit
ted to Congress with such recommendations
as the Commissioners might suggest.
An Aid to Congress.
"In advocating the creation of a general
board of supervision the committee has had
in view, as one object. the gathering and
presenting Of such information as will en-
able the committees of Congress to have an
Intelligent survey of the whole field This
result Congress has often striven for in the
past, but has never attained. AS a conse-
quence the appropriation committees have
been compelled annually to organize them
selves into committees on charities, and to
hear presented the claims Of each Individual
organization. Without knowledge of local
conditions and needs, with a membership
changing from time to time, and without
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