The Washington times., 1904-10-11
District ImpToVidenCe.

DlSLIlCL lulpIONl46uCt.
The District Commissioners have
received from the Board OF Charities
a budget for the fiscal year ending
June so, 1906. which aggregates
s1.213.O8s. This is the greatest sum
ever asked of Congress for the relief
OF the INDECENT and sick of the terri
tory. Ii represents i'm round numbers
an assessment OF about S3.35 for every
inhabitant Of the whole District, not
counting about S2S3000 desired for
new buildings
The people of the District viii look
with apprehension on the approDria-
tion OF so large a sum for sporadic
distribution. That the distribution is
to be sporadic is manifest from the
following recommendation:
T5 the Worsilgboys Home and children
To- DE washington Hospital slr F5uadLinss.
ID St. Aaus'= Infant Asylum. 5000
Tn the German Orphan Asylum. 0--a..-
Tl rha WomaH's Christian Temperance Ln-ons
T5 the Hope and Help Mission. sl.0a].
To tie support Cf Lle Districts INDECENT Ll-
sane at tie Government Hospital r1F the Inc
sane Sz-zUo1
Memorial Providence. Children F. ana L--l---
Fatlia Hospital, e5.uil
Large as this sum is. it does not
represent either proper aecommoda-
lions for the District OF Columbia or
the care OF the INDECENT in a single
District institution The community.
assessed more than s. for every man,
woman. and child viii look to the
budget in vain to provide any emer-
geucy service. For that purpose Con-
gress makes directly the muninceut
allowance OF 15,010-acc0rding 10
newspaper recoIIecuon-and eminent
doctors with benevolent citizens make
up the remainder OF about $4,000.
So the service is not only scattered
and dinused, but it is insufficient as
wen with regard TO the community s
most pressing and continued need for
hospital attention
About I'VE years ago Congress took
preliminary steps TO correct what
nearly all physicians and most citi-
Zens regard as an extremely unfOTu-
nate situation. 1T ordered the Com
ulissiOneTs 10 prepare plans for gem
eral District hospital. which should
relieve the community OF all depend
euce on private and quasi-pubdc iu-
situations, whether sectarian OF. other
wise. il provided 100000 for The
purchase of ground, and the prepare
tion of plans The Commissioner
acted with expedition About thiry
acres OF excellent ground admirably
located north of the city was bough.
and the cost was about $4,000 less
than the Congressional appropriation
A contest was held for plans. Awards
were paid no the architects who were
given second and third honors-ans
the successful competitor was in-
formed OF his success and told that hi.
pay would come ia the form of "a 3 pei
cent commission on the erection o
buildings 10 cost about $2O05.0 goo.
From thar day 90 this taa matter
has hung FIRE. Year after year th.
District has gone ON paying thi
homeopathic institution or that see
tartan reluga-Vorrby Institutions ID
Of them. but none of them govern.
meataI-slms ranging from $1,000 @.
$4,000 or $4,000. The ground Dough
for the general hospital has lain un
developed and unused And Thought
ul citizens have specialized uhethe.
The ilaclon which delayed this inn
DCrlaur public advancement was du,
TO iuartention on the part of Congress
or To inactivity ou the part of th.
Commissioners. or 10 powerful opposi
tiou on the part OF the institution
watch now obtain large allowance
through rha Districts lack of equip
u6LI IT. should be said iu fairness q,
the Comm lssiolers, however. tha
they have made almost iuces=a amt aB
peaIs 10 Congress for means DO baih
this general hospital. and tlaa the e=
Inmates now before them recommeu
an allowance OF 100000 for the DE
ginning of that construction.
This budget Doz-ponez until Jun
go 1906. amy possible amaIiorauoa q
this lucPnF1uieaca- IN is more tina
likely thar the real correction of IN
abuse VIII Lol be accomplished unit
1910. il might easily have been com
pIeted today. In This light the bulge
from The Board OF Charities is O. poW
erfu objeet-lezeCl f1r the District O
Columbia.