The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18
FOR PRACTICAL METHODS
The District Board Of Charities
Seeking Better Results.
Secretary Wilson to Visit Baltimore,
I,bflrdelphiu. md Other Cities and
Study the Work of Organized
Charity nx Conducted There-Some
of the Needs of the District.

The District Beard of Charities has
authorized George S. Wilson, Secre-
tary Of the Board, to attend the
meeting Of the New York State Con-
ference of Charities, to be held in
Albany for three days, beginning Decem-
Der 3 Mr. Wilson will leave next week,
spending some time in the ciies Ct Balti-
more, Philadelphia, and interN eling cit
les. studying charity problems as ,hey
exist. After the meeting of the confer
ence in Albany he will go to Boston, and
will visit several New England cities.
observing especially the manner Oh con
Quoting hospital work.
Mr. Wilson explained to a reporter OF
The Times yesterday that the District,
ually feeling its way into practical
system of public charities. including hos
pital care and treatment. care OF the
insane, rs well as Of the poor who ha e
to be relieved temporarily or otherNlse
with food, clothing, coal, and the nects-
saries OF life. MIR. Wilson stated mat
upen his trip he should pay good deal
of attention to the methods adopted IN
the different cities relative TO the re-
ceiving of persons in hospitals. he re-
ferred to the fact that it was at this
point lnrl tue VI tiAS t'AS'AANe
seem to be the most lacking
I'VE have as yet no public hospital" he
said. patients which the District must
take care of being placed in several pri-
yate or semi-private institutions, ana IL
is left with them TO say whether the IN
dividual patients shall be taken in or not
If the hospitals have ROOM and the pa
ticnts are not afflicted with incurabis
disease. the hospitals will take them In.
but i: is fact that there is no place
where the District authorities can take
sick man or woman and be sure OF the
patient being received. except at the lit
tie hospital at the Washington Asylum,
which was built for the purpose of al
fording accommodations for the sick OF
that institution alone. Hence. the Dis
trict Is poorly equipped to take care OF
the INDECENT sick which are constantly
thrust upon our hands for care"
MIR. Wilson stated that there was an
economic side of the question to be con-
eidered He explained that it takes $780,
600 or 1000 to supply the needs OF the
poor under the head Of what Is commonly
called relief work. while it takes 100000
or $500, 600 to pay for the hospital treat
ment and the care of the INDECENT sick In
the District.
I'VE have now a site for municipal
hospital" said Mr.. Wilson. and may say
IN passing that the Board OF Charities are
particularly well pleased with the success
which has crowned the labors of the Com
missioners in securing SO good site at
% reasonable a price. Now 1t is incum-
bent upon US to have the best hospital
outfit and the best conducted Institution
IN the United States, II Congress will give
us the money. To this end my trip to the
Northern cities will be one Of observation
and the collection OF Information for the
guidance OF the board upon my return.
Doubtless the construction OF the hospital
buildings will be entrusted to commits
sion who will view buildings elsewhere
and learn what are the pest appliances in
the line of buildings fof a modern hospi-
tai. But after the buildings are put up il
will be necessary to set the hospital run
ming, and l may say that the Board Of
Charities are already at work upon that
problem and will continue to work upon II
until il is solved in practical way"