Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-11
INEBRlA1E ASYLUM PROJECT
VIEWS OF COMMISSIONER WEST
ON THE EXPENDITURES.
Matter to Be Carefully Considered
Before Action-Commissioner
Macfarland's Opinion.

Commissioner West is considering
proposition for the establishment OF
municipal hospital or asylum for the treat
ment of inebriates which was recon-
mended by Maj. sylvester. superintendent
Of police, in his annual report to the
Commissioners. which was printed in de-
tail in The Star Of Saturday. Mr.. West
readily agrees that excessive whisky
drinking and the drug habit shoud De
treated as a disease, but he is doubtful
whether or not there is a sufficient num-
Der of victims of these habits in the Dis
trict to warrant the expenditure of money
that would be needed to establish an
inebriate hospital He says such an out
lay Of money might not. under the cir
cumstances, be practical.
The Commissioner proposes. however, 10
follow out the recommendation. to Ger
tain extent. at once. and today he called
on George Wilson, secretary of the ms
trict board Of charities to furnish MIN
with detailed report showing the num-
Der of confirmed Grunkards and drug
fiends who are now being maintained at
the Government Hospita for the Insane
at the expense of the District. This re-
port will also specify just how many per
sons an inebriate hospital should be maze
to accommodate and the expense of run
ming the same.
Comparison of Cost.
Mr. West said if it is costing the District
the sum of $4,000 to maintain ineb-1ates
and drug fiends, and under the present
plan they are being properly cared for.
It would not be businessike or practical
to ask for an appropriation of at least
S1cO.OCO to erect and equip the hospital
and then spend possibly $4,000 year for
it's maintenance.
In spite of the good service it would
render, Mr.. West said, there would be
no economy in such a movement when
it Is considered that the same patients
can be cared for at the government hos
pital at much less expense. The report
from the board of charities which l have
called for will give me a basis upon which
| to work, in connection with Major Syl-
westerns mendaton.
When Commissioner Mcfarland was
! asked for his opinion upon Major Syl-
| westerns recommendation he said:
The Commissioners have been working
! to obtain provision for the proper hospital
| treatment of inebriates. and it is part OF
| the municipal hospital plan to provide
| suitable wards for them on the mun1cipa
| hospital site on Brightwood avenue. The
| unfortunate delay in acting upon the rec
| concentrations Of the ommissioners. witt
| respect to the construction Of the munich
| pal hospital on that site, has compelled
them to make temporary provision at
| the makeshift Washington Asylum Hos
| pttal between the Jail and the workhouse
Temporary. Provision.
Last session the Commissioners OBJ
tanned from Congress an appropriation
for the conversion of the old almshouse
| building into temporary wards for in
| ebriates and those suspected of insanity
The work of converting the building tC
these new uses began soon after July l
| and is practically completed. Congress
will have to give us at the coming session
the necessary staff for the management
of these new wards, and then we shall
be able to give better care to inebriates
OF course. they are now taken at the
Washington Asylum Hospital to the linn
| tied extent which accommodations per
| nit 1t is another strong reason foI
building the municipal hospital on tbs
B~ightwood avenue site as quickly as pos
| sible.'