Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-19
MUNICIPAL t0DGIN c
The House Conducted by
Capt. Cutler.
- II
A WORTHY CHARITY
THOUSANDS OF UNFoRTUNATEs
CARED FOR.
All Who Are Able Must Saw Wood
Two Glasses Of Inmates-Charac-
ter of the Food.

| A charity that is not bounded by relig
ious creeds. not limited to race or nation
| atty the only questions asked, is he poor,
Is ne homeless does he need food and shell
ter are answered in a practical way by the
municipal lodging house, No. 312 18th street
northwest, this city, the model of its kind
| in the United States.
| Organized under the act Of May 5, 1870,
as the night lodging house, incorporated
June Is, 1873, under the control Of the Dis
tr1ct Commissioners, and reorganized as 1t
is at present conducted July IA, 1892, it has
been the means Of alternating the sufferings
| OF many thousands of unfortunates the
| reformation OF hundreds and securing en-
ployment for many and rescuing them from
| a vagabond life.
The assistance rendered by the municipal
| lodging house is not a gratuity. The rules
| as laid down by the District Commissioners
| are:
1. The house will be opened from a. w.
| to 10 pm, except for those who have reg
| istered, who are required to return by
| pm.
2. Breakfast served at am. Dinner
s; No person under the influence of liquor
| will be admitted.
4. All applicants admitted will be required
| to saw one-eigfth cord of wood for supper,
| bath, lodging and breakfast.
o. NO person may remain longer than
| three days.
g. All persons having stayed one nign.
| and wishing further accommodations are
required to report not later than 2 pm.
Z. All meals for Sunday must be worked
| for week day
8. At the sound of the gong at 10 o. M all
| talking will cease.
8. All valuables must be left at the office.
10. Any violation of the rules will debar
person from the house.
The Superintendent Talks.
The present superintendent, L. B. Cutler,
| is an old soldier Of the war Of the rebellion,
having an enviable record as captain in
| Burgess Sharpshooters and SD Illinois;
has been in charge since 1885, and has in
| troduced many improvements and reforms;
| among others, prior to 1895 wood dealers
would have their cord wood hauled to the
| municipal lodging house, and have it cut
| and split free of cost. Superintendent Cut
| Ter has made contracts to cut and split the
| wood with dealers and turns into the Dis
| trict on an average $144.6O per annum as
| revenue therefrom.
While kind and genial, Superintendent
| Cutter Is strict disciplinarian. AS he ex-
| pressed it., Il believe in doing the most
| good for the greatest number. While the
| persons lodging here, are far down In the
| social scale, yet they are human beings and
| should be treated as such. 1t is far better
| to be kind to them and endeavor to restore
| habits, secure them work to do and make
| them self-supporting citizens, than, because
| they are helpless and homeless, to treat
| them brutaly, impress the fact of their de-
| plorable condition still more upon them and
| render them still more logged and sullen.
yes, we have sheltered specimens Of all
| nationalities on the earth In this house.
| Cinnamon excepted. The Chinaman is
| naturally Industrious, can live on a hand
| full Of rice, and if he desired to be tramp
the race prejudice against him would make
| him work, rather than take chances Of
| bad treatment through the country. We
! have had every known profession and avo-
cation represented here. Preachers priests,
| lawyers, DOCTORS scientists, all trades and
| pursuits Men of education and refinement
| are frequently here.
II have seen men so affected by their
| fallen condition that tears would trickle
| down their cheeks when they were regis
| tering their names, age, occupation, ETC.
| We have non-sectarian religious service
| here every Sunday. Many ask to be prayed
| for, and over one hundred have been con-
verified. This change Of heart I believe to
| be permanent, as l have received letters
| from many stating they were trying to lead
a better life.
I'VE have fifty beds, iron bedsteads,
| spring mattresses, sheets and blankets.
Every man before going to bed is obliged
to take a hot bath, and to wear a long
night gown on retiring. Their clothing is
thoroughly fumigated and disinfected with
burning sulphur.
some months ago tramp named BaS-
com objected to taking bath, stating that
he had not taken a bath in thirty years
On being given his option to take bath or
go out in the street. he finally consented.
Two men were detailed to scrub him with
brushes He had a shell on him like a
turtle. The next morning he announced he
felt like a three year-o-d colt.
Two Glasses Of Inmates.
1--WE have two classes of inmates-hoboes
and tramps. Hoboes are men who will work
If they can, but are always on the move
hunting for work either more pleasant or
in some other place, always desiring a
change. A tramp will never work unless
| Some few refuse to saw the twenty-one
| sticks of wood into five pieces They are
| Immediately turned out.
There are many good men on the road
| who are neither hOboes nor tramps mechan-
| les thrown out of employment by the clos
| ing of factories. Having no money thew
| tramp to places where they hear they can
get employment. Frequently, when thew
| reach the destined point all the places have
| been filed then they start out again and
| continue journeying until employment is
| obtained. There are few tramps here in
| summer. About one-third come ok every
| three months.
| Each seems to have a regular route
| travelling around in orbit like the seal
| herds of Alaska. Almost every city has
| lodging house like this. They will remain
In each as long as possible, then move on
ward in the fall and northward in the
spring. They are allowed to remain here
| for only three days In every three months
| but in a storm do not turn them out, but
/ let them remain another day. Every man
is treated like human being and all treat