Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-07

| facilities for the care Of patients fol-
| whom no adequate provision Is now
| made. For this purpose an estimate Is
submitted and an urgent recommendation
made for an appropriation for hospital
buildings on the municipal hospital site
purchased by the District several years
| ago.
Central Reception Building.
| The board recommends also that there
J be established in the near future a CEN
trail reception building. where provision
could be made for persons in distress,
pending formal inquiry and an intelli-
gent disposition of the cases. 1t is recon-
| nended that this building should be the
tiles, where applications for all kinds OF
relief would be received. 1t should have
facilities for the temporary care Of all
KINDS Of helpless or destitute people
picked up on the streets by day or by
night. There should be temporary pro-
vision for intoxicated persons for home
less men and women, for lost children,
etc. In word, 1t would be a central
clearing house for cases of distress.
The work of the board is reviewed un-
der the four headings of reformatory anl
correctional institutions medical charities
child caring and miscellaneous institu-
tons Attention is invited to the ex.
tensive improvements made at the Ma.
tional Training School. formerly the Re-
form School for Boys. The workhouse
has been crowded. as has been the case
for several years past, but no special rec
concentrations in reference to this insti.
tuition have been made, pending the re-
port of the Presidents commission or
penal and reformatory institutions.
Under the head Of medical charities at
tention Is invited to the fact that Wash
ington Asylum Hospital is still crowded
Notwithstanding the fact that the tn.
institution during the year. Washington
Asylum Hospital Is still Inadequate to af.
ford relief to those who seek admission
and who will not be received by other in.
situations. 1t is therefore necessary that
additional public wards should be erected
at the earliest possible date, and the board
earnestly hopes that an appropriation
may be granted, as requested. for build
ings on the municipal hospital site.
Care Of Suspected Insane.
The old almshouse building has now
vision for the care of suspected cases OF
insanity, but It is unfortunate that men,
tai cases should be sent to this institution
SO intimately associated with the Jail and
worlshouse. 1t Is urged that provision
be made for psychopathic wards on the
municipal hospital site. o.,
The new hospital for tuberculosis pa
tients was opened July I and is proving
eminently satisfactory for the work foI
which it was designed. That there was
urgent need for this institution is already
proven by the fact that the mems de.
partment is already crowded and en-
iargement will apparently soon be neces.
sary.
In reference to the care of children, the
board urges the establishment of school
for feeble-mfnded children as the most
necessity a n
$4,000 is asked for this purpose. The
new Industrial Home School for colored
children was opened in August and now
has about forty children. 1t is believed
that this institution will prove a valuable
addition to the Districts public charities
1t Is again urged that the matter of the
requirement by the United States Of the
land Of the Industrial Home School for
white children lying within the limits OF
the Naval Observatory circle be settled
as soon as possible. If the school Is to
be moved to a new site. the ground should
be purchased at the earliest possible date,
because of the constantly and rapidly in
creasing prices of real estate.
The new home for the aged and infirm
at Blue Plains, which has just completed
It's second year, Is proving itself a very
admirable and satisfactory institution
The old people seem to be happier than
they were when confined in the old four
story building at the Washington Asylum
Additional land adjoining the grounds OF
this institution should be acquired with
out delay. as the price Of land here, as In
other sections Of the District. Is rapidly
increasing.
Juvenile Court.
The Juvenile Court has had a second
fiscal year of success. Established upon
the recommendation of the Commission
ers as necessary part Of the machinery
for dealing with delinquent children rec
commended in their special report upon
that subject to Congress January 6, 1904
for the purpose of determining the status
of delinquency and dependency and com
hitting children either to the reform
school or the board of children's guar
dams. or In case Of delinquent children
to the care Of the probation officers OF
the court. the Juvenile Court has done
valuable service. During the last fiscal
year 1896 cases were heard in the Juve-
nile Court, Of which $50 cases were those
OF adults, mostly husbands for non-sup-
port Of wives and children.
The recommendations of the board of
chlldrens guardians are respectfully
commended to the attention of Con-
gress. Since the board was established
on July 1, 1883, to care for dependent
and delinquent children, it has done
most valuable and beneficent service.
1t has cared for about 1000 children,
placing them SO far as possible in fam
lily homes at a minimum expense only
about One-f1fth of its wards costing the
municipality anything for maintenance.
The practical efficiency Of It's work is
shown in that numbers of its wards
having attained their majority are re-
ported as doing well in different COM
munftieS.
June 80, 1907. this board had under its
care / 800 permanent and "a temporary
wards and 81 feeble minded children.
During the year ending June 60 1908,
254 permanent and 264 temporary wards
and feeble-minded children were COM
mitted to its care; through terminating
causes total of 300 passed from the
control Of the board, leaving, June 30,
1908, 1926 permanent and 1855 tempo
rary wards and 81 feeble minded chill
dren under its guardianship and care.
For Best Interests Of Children.
The board makes special note Of the
growing increase Of temporary commit
ments to its care. reaffirms it's opinion
that in the best interests of the chill
dren, temporary commitments should
be made only for temporary emergen-
cies," and asks that the Congress be re-
quested to incorporate the following
provisions In acts relating to the board
viz: NO temporary commitment of
children to the care of the board of
children's guardians shall be made ex-
cept In cases of emergency nor for a
period of more than six months"
The great Importance of it's work In
placing children in private homes and
providing for their adequate super
vision there is urged by the board as
is also its need Of an increased force OF
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