The times., 1899-11-19

The report Of the Superintendent OF
Charities for the fiscal year ending June 80
was submitted TO the Commissioners yes
terday
The main portion Of the document is de-
voted to a discussion Of the amount Of
work that has been performed by this de-
psrtment OF the District Government dur
ing the past year. dividing it into TWO
classes. Superintendent Lewis states that
an examination Of the list OF public and
private institutions in the District reveals
the fact that provision has been made in
the District for the accomplishment OF
charitable and reform work in almost every
division under the direction Of public off,
GERS. suggestion is made for a unity in
control Of this work. With regard 10 the
care and maintenance OF deaf. dumb, blind
and insane persons. sir. Lewis states that
he does not see the necessity Of placing
the control Of these institutions under the
Secretary OF the Interior while the reform
atoTy institutions are supervised by the
Attorney General and the appropriations
are included in the bill Of expenses Of the
District Government. Several instances are
noted in support Of this statement The
District pays the bills while another part
OF The General Government conducts the
work. Reference is made 10 the peculiarly
II the regulations made ln regard 70 uri-
Tate charities.
Although a bill passed by The last Con
gress. which became operative July I,
1888 forbids the payment of any money
appropriated for a charitable purpose 70
2 church or religious denomination or any
sectarian institution az the same time
specific grants have been made for such
institutions IN the appropriation bill FOR
1888, and il Is a question with The au-
thorities as 10 which Of the enact ments
should hold The report Of the Board OF
Children s Guardians is referred 10 in the
care OF children. and the manner IN which
they are returned 10 their homes.
Mr. Lewis then turns his attention TO
the question OF maintenance IN private
institutions
The eGtravagance Of caring for hospital
patients al public expense in small insti-
tutious. which was demonstrated in the
statistical tables published last year is
again shown by the records Of this year
the cost per capita having reached in che
hospital an average OF SO per month rer
patient u Is perfectly evident that the
attempt 10 do the charitable hospital work
Of institutions which attract 70 themselves
an average OF less than fifty patients each
must continue 10 be G costly policy unless
the money be paid for specific services rem
dered at reasonable rates instead OF being
given as al present in g lump sum for
maintenance
Attention is called TO the MauIsbv Home
for Children and Newsboys Mr. Lewis
states that there is no possible public rea-
son FOR the continuance OF any appropria-
tion for the benefit % this society on ac-
count Of the work Of the George Maulsby
Memorial Home. Every child which Is now
accommodated there could be cared for
~ the Industrial Home School. and the
entire cost for the maintenance OF the
children could be paid for a little more
than what IS disbursed for the salaries Of
the officials OF the Msulsby Home
The increase in the estimates for the
Washington Asylum is commented upon
by the Superintendent of Charities There
has been for some tine an average in
crease Of 81 per cent in the number Of In
mates supported at this institution. he
states and the average cost for usluten-
ance has been sS4-74 per inmate. The heat
ing Of this institution is also made the
subject OF much comment and the cree
tion OF dead house and provision for an
extra physician are suggested.
A great deal of attention is paid TO pub
dc and private charities and the attention
Of the Commissioners is called 10 the new
unofficial charities that have sprung up in
the last year. The Aid Association for the
Blind and The Prisoners Aid Society are
recommended 10 the favorable attention Of
the Commissioners The establishment Of
the National Junior Republic between the
cities Of Washington and Baltimore is
noted The history OF this organization aud
its government by board OF trustees
made mp Of citizens OF both cities is dis
cusscd.
number u recommendation are made
for future appropriations, almost all Of
which have been published with the reports
of the beneficiary institutions The most
important feature Of the latter part Of the
annual statement is the recommendation
for the donation OF Freedman Hospital 70