The Washington times., 1902-03-06
DEFENDS MUNICIPAL
LODGING HOUSE
Superintendent Cutler Advo-
Gates Early.Closing Law.
Institution Is Free to All-Neatness the
Rule-How the Home Is Managed
Saw Wood for Lodgings.

The attention of the public has been at
| tracted of late to the work of the Munich
pal Lodging House, on Twelfth Street. op-
posite the City PostofIice. by reason of
the criticism of its work by certain mem
bers of the Police Department. Since the
publication of these criticisms number
of persons have taken the trouble to call
at the institution TO acquaint themselves
with the manner in which it is conducted
They have been met in the most cour-
| teous manner by Superintendent L. B.
Cutler and his assistants. The former has
been in charge of the house for eight
years.
Superintendent's Statement.
Mr.. Cutler states that the placing of
the responsibility for closing the institu-
tion at 10 o'clock each evening upon him
was unjust, as he was but carrying out
the orders of the Commissioners in the
premises.
The only persons who are refused as
sistance at the lodging house are those
who are under the influence of liquor"
remarked the superintendent. These peo-
pie. If admitted, would only cause trouble
and annoyance to the respectable element
whom we were housing, to say nothing
of the drain upon the resources of the
house.
Guests Required to Register.
Neatness is the rule of the establish
ment and despite the mixed classes that
must of necessity be received there the
beds and bedding are as comfortable and
sanitary as most of those to be found in
the average hotel. All applicants for
lodging and food are required to register
in the Office on the first floor. Those who
remain only over night are not needlessly
questioned as to their business, record
being kept only of the name, age, pre-
vicus occupation and former place of resi-
dence.
Not penny is required TO secure food
and clothing at this establishment, and
yet the place Is self-supporting. Any
man however, who is in the possession
of health and strength is required to pay
for what he receives. An hour and halfs
work will pay for supper, lodging. and
breakfast. Tnis work consists of saw
ing and splitting an eighth of a cord of
wood in the shed adjoining the main
building.
For this work the institution receives
50 cents, but half of the amount usually
paid at the yards because of the necessity
of the double haul. from the yard to the
clearinghouse and back again to the
yard.
Substantial Food.
The supper offered the guests of the
house is most substantial and appetiZing.
1t consists usually of an excellent stew,
thick with meat and vegetables. Each
man receives large bowl of this stew
and third of loaf of bread. On the
second floor is the bathroom, in which
every person who spends the night at
the house is required to bathe before he
is allowed to enter the Iormitories. The
bathing is under the immediate SUPER
vision of one of the attendants, who ts kes
all of the clothing Of the lodger and pro-
vides him with clean gown, after which
he is escorted to a comfortable bed pro-
vided with springs and mattress, sheets,
and blankets.
Professional Tramps Excluded.
The valuables, if there are any. are
locked in the safe in the office. while the
clothing is placed in disinfecting room,
where it remains over night and is thor
oughly freed from germs by the time it
is returned to its owner.
Superintendent Cutler stated that it
rested entirely with the Commissioners
as TO whether the house should be kept
open after 10 o'clock each night, but he |
was personally of the opinion that 1t
would be largely for the accommodation |
of the professional tramp element If 1t
was done.
There are probably a few isolated |
cases. he concluded. where deserving /
people are turned away after hours, but |
the majority of those in whose interest |
the house was opened have Taade their |
arrangements long before the hour ar
rives for our house to close
The house is always open to inspec- |
tion. as it is believed that the better the !
place is known the higher will be the |
opinion in which it viii be held.