The Washington times., 1901-07-01

opening OF the new nSCal year today Is
the assumption of it's executive duties by
| the Board of Charities. There win be adj
ditions to the Fire Department and Police
Department. Several new messengers and
clerks will be employed in the various Of
| fees. but these are mere extensions or
reorganizations of services long estab-
lished. In the case of the Board Of Char
tiles, however, a new department of the
municipal government goes into operation.
| with responsible duties under entirely new
supervision
What two years ago was feeble ad-
jUnct to the Board Of Commissioners, with
limited powers and exercising mild super
vision over public charitable effort, is
now, under the authority delegated by
Congress the directing agency for the ex-
penditure of relief funds, and the bureau
for the care Of the INDECENT sick and help
less Of the District. Duties until now per-
formed by the Health Department.
| through the physicians to the poor. by
the Police Department. in finding hospital
room for the sick, and by various hospit-
ais through their Staffs of physicians, have
been co-ordinated into system with the
Secretary to the Board of Charities in
control
The system under which public charity
Times reporter on Saturday by George S.
Wilson, Secretary and executive officer of
| the Board of Charities. He stated that
| the board would today informally take
| charge Of all the charitable and reforma-
tory work in the District of a public char
acter. Mr.. Wilson called attention to the
! organic act establishing the Board Of
| Charities to show the scope of the powers
| to be exercised by the new department.
Among other things relating to organiza-
/ ton, etc, the act of June 6, 1900, defines
| the duties of the Board of Charities as
follows:
The said Board of Charities shall vis-
it, inspect, and maintain a general super
vision over ali institutions, societies. or
associations of a charitable, eleemosynary
| correctional, or reformatory character
which are supported in whole or in part
by appropriations of Congress, made for
the care or treatment of residents of the
District OF Columbia; and no payment
shall be made to any such charitable,
! eleemosynary, correctional. or reforma-
I tory institution for any resident of the
I District of Columbia who is not received
and maintained therein pursuant to the
rules established by such Board of Char
/ tiles. except in the case Of persons COM
mitted by the courts, or abandoned in
! fants needing immediate care"
! Mr.. Wilson stated that in the execution
/ of this work a system had been worked
| out which it was expected would work
/ smoothly. he said that the bureau would
maintain several ambulances for the pur-
: pose OF carrying the sick TO hospitals. etc.
Under the new arrangements, Mr.. Wilson
stated that the hospitals would be paid,
under contract, so much for each patient
treated and cared for. and hence would
not receive them except on an order from
the board. In the case of sick people
ordinarily the recommendation for re-
movaI to a hospital would be made
by the physician. and under order
from the office Of the board an ambulance
would be sent and the patient cared for
in the manner formerly dcne by the
Health Department.
Mr.. Wilson explained that the emer-
gency work, though now under the con-
troI Of the Board Of Charities. would
not be changed in its practical workings.
The police VIII have the same authority
to act as formerly, and the only iiffer-
eEce viii be that they viii telephone TO
the stables for "A Board of Charities am
buance instead Of the police ambulance.
All cases OF emergency, at night or at
+ other times, Mr.. wilson explained, would
be promptly cared for as heretofore. ''Of
course he said. they will be reported
to Us, and. II Investigations are to be
z
after relief has been given"
Mr.. Wilson stated that persons here
( after viii he received at the almshouSe
only on order from the Board of Chari-
ties He showed that when requests OF
this kind come 10 the bureau, an imme-
date investigation viii be made into the
claims Of the applicant for charity. The
action Of the bureau, he said, would be
based upon the result OF such enquiry.
Ia like manner INDECENT persons seeking
transportation TO other cities will be in
veStigated before order for transportation
viii be issued. Under the new system.
also, Mr.. Wilson said, the charge for
transportation or reduced charge. as the
case might be, Will b. reported by the
Z railroad companies to the disbursiug Off
T Ger Of the District. and paid by him. SO
I that no money tor railroad fare viii
pass through the bureau.
! An essential ltlrt Of the system Is the
card index kept in the bureau Of every
I case acted upon. The name, residence,
age, sex, occupation. religion, etc, all
entered upon card which, Mr.. Wilson
/ said, would be filed and kept for refer
4 euce. Different colored cards, white. blue.
yellow. etc, Indicate hospital almshOuse,
! and insane, and this viii aid in the iden-
/ tiiication Of applicants as tho appear.
AS time goes on, Mr.. Wilson showed that
/ he would have a complete record OF all
| the INDECENT persons who have received
charity in The District OF Columbia. To
the card indexes must be added a system
/ OF daily reports between institutions and
the bureau, which VIII enable Mr.. Wilson
at any time 10 know where and in what
condition his wards are. and 10 what hos
/ pital or other institution new applicants
/ may be assigned
The changes in administration which
win take place today, Ar. Wilson sum-
| married. as follows:
| THE contract system with the hospitals.
providing for specific payment for speci-
/ fic service on the contract basis, instead
/ Of d lump sum appropriation as hereto
/ fore: the separation Of the almhouse from
the workhoase. and an appropriation Of
money to purchase land for a new aims
/ house; an act prohibiting the sending Of
! children under seventeen years Of age,
! convicted Of minor offences. to the jail
\ or wOrkhouse, and providing for the re-
| lease OF such offenders on probation un-
| der the supervision Of the probation Of
/ fcer Of the Board of Children's Guar
dians"
II was explained 10 the reporter that
good results have already been achieved
| for the new system. Mr.. Wilson showed
several applications recently made to the
| local hospitals for free treatment One
| Of these was from a person in an ad-
| joining State 200 miles from Washington.
! The applicant IS a sufferer from rheuma-
| tisn, and sought care and treatment here
on the advice Of acquaintance. Mr..
| Wilson stated that formerly ii would have
been left 70 the management OF the hos
pital TO receive or reject this applicant.
The hospital. he said. having a given ap-
preparation to use up, would probably
have received the patient. Mr.. Wilson
said no one could blame them for doing
50.
But now" the secretary said. this
application viii be differently treated
rTl4Ba mar, is resident af a State and tho