The Washington herald., 1906-12-14
WILL AID INEBRIATEO
Associated Charities to Work
for Their Elevation.
CONGRESS ASKED TO ASSIST
Plan Is to Give Treatment Rather
Than to Degrade Victims of Drink
10 Work for Hospital TO Care for
the COnvaIescent Patients.

The Associated Charities has decided to
launch out upon new line of philan-
thropy. and viii endeavor TO reform and
restore to distressed families the bread
/ eaTners who have become periodically in
capacitated by reason OF strong drink.
The association frowns on the present
method of arraying such drunkards in
stripes and sending them TO the rock pile
for thirty days to labor for the District
of Columbia instead OF for their families.
Besides the campaign for more ra-
tional treatment of drunkards the Asso-
ciated Charities also decided to work for
hospital for chronic and convalescent
charity patients.
Prof. Jenny Is Reelected.
At the regular meeting Of the associa-
ton, at which these matters were dis
cussed at length Prof B. T. Jenny was
reelected chairman Of the board of man
ayers. and DIT. SOhe A NOrdbOm-Jurg was
elected a member Of the board
The most important business Of the day
was the decision to organize a new spe-
cial committee to cooperate with the
District Commissioners the board of
public charities, and other public officers
in promoting intelligent treatment of
habitual drunkards and men suffering
from intoxication. In proposing this new
effort the general secretary said there
has been specific need of treatment in
proper institution. and workers have
found that the District government pro
vides nothing for such cases. except TO
commit them to the workhouse for fifteen
TO ninety days. and turn them back
again upon the community not improved,
but weakened in their power to resist
further temptation.
Want Aid from Congress.
1t was suggested that the removal Of
the almshOuse or District home for the
aged, has left vacant a number of good
buildings adjacent to the Washington
Asylum Hospital and workhouse With
out much expense a small institution for
inebriate5 could be developed there. pro-
viding not only for the cases which
would be willing to accept treatment in
hospital, but also taking care Of cases
which must be treated through the
courts and held for a time virtually as
prisoners.
The District Commissioners and Board OF
Public Charities have recommended this
year a modest appropriation for the
establishment of special hospital facIi-
ties for the treatment Of inebriates at the
site on BrightwoOd avenue where hos
pital wards for consumptives are now be
ing erected. The new committee OF the
Associated Charities was instructed to CO.
operate with the District Commissioners
and board Of public charities in promot-
ing public interest and Congressional ap-
prOval for their recommendations. Judge
William II. De Lacy, who has manifest
ed special interest In the treatment Of in
ebriates, was selected to head the new
committee. Justice David J. Brewer and
Miss Helen Nicolay were appointed as
members Of the committee which was en-
powered to add 10 fits membership from
people outside Of the board Of managers
Need Hospital for ConvaIescents.
The need OF hospital facilities for
chronic. incurable cases and for con-
vaIescents dismissed from ordinary hos
pitfalls and not yet able to return 10 ac-
tive employment, was discussed at length.
Cases were cited in which the agents OF
the society have been unable to induce
aged sufferers Of superior character to
accept the treatment provided at the
Washington Asylum Hospital because the
patients have felt that the proximity to
the workhOuse would lead their neighbors
to understand that they had been de
graded and virtually committed as Grim
inals.
The board OF managers fndorsed ear
nestly the recommendation Of the District
Commissioners and Board Of Public Char
tiles, 10 the effect that modest facilities
should be developed at the municipal
grounds on Brightwood avenue for the
care Of chronic cases and convaiescents,
with the definite understanding that this
is not an effort to develop a great munich
pal hospital and 10 undertake in any way
work which is being done or ever will be
done by private hospitals and existing in
stitutions.
Special mention was made of such con
valescents as those who have received
four or five weeks treatment for typhoid
fever in one Of the existing hospitals and
who are then turned out to make room
for other acute cases. These patients
unable TO resume employment for some
weeks and returned 10 poor homes where
they cannot secure proper food air. rest.
and treatment appropriate to GONZALES
cents, are often thrown into a relapse,
which results in the permanent impair
ment Of their working powers. a special
committee, comprising William II. Bald
win, chairman; Col Archibald Hopkins.
Frederic L. Moore, and Secretary Charles
f. Weller, was appointed 10 assist in de
veloping public opinion and securing Con
gressional approval for the recommenda-
tions of the Board of Public Charities and
the District Commissioners on these lines.
Contributions Coming Slowly.
For the finance committee Col Archi-
bald Hopkins reported that subscriptions
received by the Associated Charities since
the beginning of the fiscal year. July !.
had amounted to S9.S52.52, or about one
fifth Of the total amount necessary for the
years expenses.
The secretary's report Of the work ac-
complished during the past month in
cluded the following significant items:
Applications received. 1.220; families re
ceiving charitable treatment, 763 Ma
terial aid was procured or administered
40 times during November to 100 different
cases. Employment was secured in -
instances during the month and trans
pOrtatiOn for ? applicants. Clothing TO
enable needy children to attend school
was furnished to 46 families
No Commissions for Watehmen.
Commissions to night watchmen to pa