The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-22
Findings Adopted as to
COnduCtof Affairs of
the City Home.
FAULT MAINLY
WITH SYSTEM
Superintendent Davis Referred to
as Honest and Faithful" But
Is Crowded With Work.
Lack Of Harmony
Among Some
Officers.

Acting under q resolution adopted on
November 5th to inquire into the affairs
of the City Home. tho Subcommittee OF
the Council Committee on Relief of the
Poor submitted its conclusions last night,
and the report with accompanying recon-
mendations was adopted by the full com
mittee.
The subcommittee, which has held many
aesstons and has gone into the work
thoroughly, is composed of Or. Ennion G..
Williams tchairmanD, Messrs John b.
Bliley. w. Miner, Marx Gunst, John
l.. Satteriield j, A. Hobson and G. B..
Hobson-
The Messrs. Hobson were both absent
and did not sign the report. but are un-
derstood TO concur in all It's provisions.
There are thirty-sIx separate con-
clusions. and upon these are based four
teen recommendations looking TO an i'm
provsment of conditions at tho Home.
No serious fault is found with the ad-
ministration. On the other hand It ap-
pears that conditions are such under the
present system that tho means for up-to
date conduct OF affairs are inadequate to
the needs and requirements OF the in
stitution.
= Tho recommendations cover every point
In the report and seek TO remedy these
inadequacies.
Reference TO Officers.
After setting out, for example that
much OF the time OF the superintendent
, is consumed with his duties at the City
Hall in administering the public charities,
tiis language Is used with reference 10
.hat officer:
'We find the superintendent To
,be honest. earnest, faithful and
thoroughly fmbucd with the spirit
-dh1t, sEnnld animatc gRe In .chaIEss.-
OF mn insfituffon 10 relieve suffer
fhE and distress. Under HIS nd min.
fstration of ten yenrs. the institu-
tion has developed In uscfulness
md in carrying out the purposes
for which II was and In intended;
hut II appears from the evidence
that the superintendent docs not
kerp sufficiently Informed of the
details of every department and In
suhicienuy close touch with tho of
hcers and employees.
I'VE find that there IL y Inck of
hnrmOny md corporation among
some of the officers and employees"
Tho findings set out further that tile
proper care does not seem TO have been
taken With reference to tho assignment
oi pAtlCfltS 10 tne DOspltaI wards and
the almshouse.
It is also pointed out that many OF
the diseases treated are not definitely
sscertained and that no permanent
record Is kept OF them. The same crit
clsm is made as to surgical operations.
Other Matters.
After describing the many duties of
he physician and his assistants, the re-
Sort says:
The resident physicians lave not
the time. as they state, to give TO
the patients the attention and the
service that they would like to give
and that the patients require.
In the ambulance service, as now
arranged. 1t is practically impossi-
BILE TO render to the emergency cases
that medical and surgical attention
necessary for the prompt and EN-
cicnt relief OF such cases.
Discussing the subject of nurses the
report proceeds:
I'VE are constrained to believe that
the nursing force Is entirely made
auate in number and in efficiency"
Food conditions are criticized but the
report says these, conditions are partly
due to extreme economy" or to the fact
that there is only one cook.
Ambulance and Dead.
Here are the last two sections in the
findings:
THE ambulance is often sent out
side of the city limits. AS a rule. it is
to attend tho injured at one OF the
large manufacturing plants. Not only
are these companies and the injured
parties outside the city limits. but they
arc we'll able to pay for the services
of any physician and private am
bulance.'
That the places provided for the
temporary reception of tho white and
colored dead are repulsively inappro-
pirate. and do not conform to dignity
and dccency.
Recommendations.
Following are the recommendations OF
the COMMITTEES.
], We recommend that the superin-
tendent see that prompt and efficient
cooperation be maintained between
every officer and employe in every
7 department OF the institution,
2. That the heads of every depart
mont make daily and systematic re-
ports to tho superintendent, of the
affairs of their respective departments.
8. That subcommittee of the Com-
nlittee on Relief to the Poor make
monthly inspection of the City
Home. This subcommittee to be COM
posed of two members, who shall serve
1or lour tnontnS ana whose terms OF |
service shall overlap by two months.
4. That IN order tn determine the
actual needs of the Home in the Drug
Department. and the necessity for
permanent pharmacist, that an eXpcr-
fenced pharmacist be employed for two
months who shall at tho end OF that
tlma make written report to this
committee, stating the work neces-
Vry IN the department, the time re-
ulljred, the cost of mutorial and surh
other information as the committee
may desire.
s, That the deficiencies in tile sys-
tenn of records noted IN the findings
bc corrected by the superintendent.
s. That there DO created a visiting