Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-20
THE DISTRICT WORKHOUSE
REPRESENTATIVE OTEY.S SUCCESS
TIONS TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
An Increase of Number of Overseers
Recommendations in Methods
Report of Intendnnt.

Representative Peter j. Otey Of Virginia
is very much interested in the District
workhouse and its employees. and just after
the adjournment of Congress he addressed
a communication to the District Commits
sicners upon the subject. He took occasion
to visit the institution and examine the
| employees. and he found. he said. that there
was ground for the complaints which vera
published in the daily press. That there
ought to be an increase in the force of
overseers goes without saying he informed
the Commissioners. when it is admitted
that men compelled to remain on duty
thirty-six hours. Mr. Otey expresses the
hope that the Commissioners will ind some
way of shortening the hours Of duty and
otherwise improving conditions there.
The bakery. kitchen, bed rooms and SAM
tary conditions Mr.. Gtey found. as far as
he could see to be all right, but he thinks
the food of the prisoners should be cooked
at the workhouse instead of at the aims
house. where 1t is put in tin pans and then
wheeled down to the workhouse. Under
certain conditions of weather the food Is
necessarily filled with dust and dirt, or is
subjected to the ill effects of rain and snow.
and at all times is more than apt to reach
the workhouse cod. The vegetables gwen
the employees seemed to Mr.. otey to be all
right, but the beef allowance ought he
thinks. to be changed. Speaking OF the
beef. he said:
1.-The larger part of the beef used is $40
per hundred. This Is piece beef made UP Of
flank and ribs. and is used for making
soup. and then sliced for the prisoners. !
do not think any Of this beef should be
served to the employees; but find that 1t is.
1 find that roast beef and steak are bought
in lots of about siXty-five pounds. The
first thing that Is done is to send the
choice of this to the officers. When this is
done, there is not enough left for any of
the employees to get any roast beef at all
for dinner and it has settled down to Gus
tom, they never do. But they are given
piece beef-34 cents per pound beef-for
portion of what was bought for roast beet
is boiled. and. l am told, soup made, and
sliced. and thus given to the employees. In.
deed all of the juices are boiled out Of IT.
even II soup be not made
Suggests a Remedy.
IT am sure this can be obviated by SIM
ply purchasing every day enough roast beef
and having it roasted. and buying little
less of the "a cents per pound beef. l saw
none of the mutton. 1t is served once a
week. The idea seems to pervade the man.
agement that everything must be boiled,
and 1 only infer that the mutton is boiled,
as the beef is l believe that the employees
are entitled to better treatment, both in re-
gard to fare and hours Of labor, and
far as 1t is in your power to remedy the ex-
listing evils without congressional action 1
beg to request that you do so. | would say.
give them roast beef roasted for dinner,
and cut off that "a cents per pound beef eA-
cept for soup
rooms at the workhouse are very imper-
fectly heated, and he thinks this ought to
be looked into before next winter. He
calls attention to the fact that coffee is
served twice a week at dinner, and every
day for breakfast, and tea for supper. but
states it is charged that in making the
coffee milk is put in. He suggests that
some people do not care for milk in
coffee they be given a choice.
Il do trust" said Mr.. Otey. in conclusion
that with the use of the contingent fund
you will be able to afford some relief to
the employees of the workhouse, even If it
be necessary to put off any needed i'm
provements in the almshouse. These en-
ployes at the workhouse, 1 fervently be-
lieve, deserve better treatment, and l be-
lieve with some investigation on your part
you will. if you can possibly do SO, accord
1t to them.
Intendant Submits Report.
The communication of Mr.. Otey
ferred by the Commissioners to Mr.. w. H.
Stoutenburgh, the intendant of the institu-
ton. who has submitted report thereon.
In his report Mr.. Stoutenburgh calls atten-
ton to his repeated recommendations that
the force of overseers and watchmen be
increased. so as to remedy the evils COM
planned of, and to his efforts to secure
such an increase. An increase of one man
has been given by Congress. and he hopes
to be able to afford the men some relief
through the contingent fund, available
after July l.. although he fears he cannot
cradle extent until Congress provides at
least four additional overseers.
In the construction Of the workhouSe'
saws Mr.. Stoutenburgh, no kitchen or cook
ing facilities were provided. as 1t was
deemed better that the work should be CEN
tralized as much as possible, and expert
ence has shown, he states. that NO mistake
was made. In stormy weather covered
wagon is used for the transported ton Of
the crates containing the food.
AS to the statements of the employees that
they are never served at table with roast
beef and that what is purchased for roast
iag is boiled. Mr.. Stoutenburgh says the
Statements are. not true. Either through
tsu ORANGE Or mali6sUsness the employees
he We. charges Mr.. sSteIf shburgh, misied :
Mr. Otcy, ana sir, Stoutenburgh gives dist
of the food sssyeT dc she table: at which the
officers ana employees Seat; t14ls list con
tains poultry. eggs, ham, beef, mutton.
roast beef, steaks. fresh and salt fish. oys-
tiers and corned meats. In the making OF
coffee he has instructed the natron to have
it served with orSwithout milk as may be
Il am" says Mr. stoutenHurgh, very
much obliged to Mr.. Otey for the interest
he manifests In this Institution and hope 1t
may lead to more liberal approprat tons by
Congress for It's maintenance"
copy Of Mr.. Stoutenourth's report WIN
probably be forwarded TO Mr.. Qtsy by ths
Commissioners.