Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-05
that 100000 be made available during the

that 100000 be made available during the
next fiscal year
I'm the interests of economy there
should be erected at once, as indicated,
necessary domestic service building and
power house and ward accommodations
for the following classes of patients for
whom. as above indicated, there is now
no adequate provision: "a Chronic cases,
(O convalescents, (3) acutely insane per-
sons"
Attention is also called to the fact that
the mems department of the Tuberculosis
Hospital Is not crowded, and there is a
waiting list, and it is recommended that
residences for nurses and doctors be erect
ed. thus allowing the use of their present
quarters in the hospital building for the
accommodation of a larger number OF
patients.
Care Of Simple Children.
In renewing a previous recommended
ton for the establishment OF school
for feeble-minded children, at cost Of
$4,000. the board says the necessity
for the institution becomes ever more
pressing
The board Of children's guardians. It
IS reported, had at the end of the year
1926 permanent wards, an increase Of
1876 over the previous year.
The Industrial Home School for white
children, 1t is stated, is in need OF addi-
tiona1 buildings, but the board recon-
mends that the question of the perma-
nent site Of the school be settled be-
fore definite action is taken up along
the line Of providing additional accom-
modations. There is a movement on foot
to have the government buy the pres
ent site for completing the naval OBJ
servatory circle. hence the recommends
ton Of the board.
Room for Aged Negroes.
The board reports that the colored
mems department Of the Home for Aged
and Infirm is crowded. and submits an
estimate of $4,000 for it's enlargement.
Purchase of additional land in the vi
entity of that institution is recommend
ed. the report stating:
eve again Invite attention to the i'm
portance of securing additional land at
Blue Plains for institutional purposes.
One small tract of fifteen acres is bound
ed on three sides by the Districts hold
ings This tract should be acquired at
once.
1.-The wisdom of the purchase of large
tract Of land at Blue Plains is now gen
orally admitted. It Is important that
sufficient land should he secured in the
near future to amply provide for insti-
tutional needs. There are now only a
few tracts of land in the District of CO.
poses that could be secured at what would
be considered reasonable prices.
THE price of land in the vicinity of
Blue Plains Is rapidly increasing The
District bought the original 26O acres of
this tract at a little less than s1fO per
acre. Last year 1t acquired nineteen acres
adjoining the original tract and bounded
on three sides by It, This additional land
was acquired through condemnation pro-
ceedings and cost over $500 per acre.
All Charity Under One Control.
The general recommendations of the
board are that all the public charities of
the District be placed under one control
and substitution of public institutions
wholly under the control of the District
government for wards in private hos
pitfalls.
In discussing these matters, the report
says:
without attempting in this report to
again enumerate all the many contradic-
tory and even impossible conditions af-
recting District charities and their regula-
ton, we wish to direct your attention to
what. in the opinion of this board are
two of the most serious detriments to a
reasonable and effective administration,
the one having relation to public charities
and the other to private charities receiv-
ing public aid.
"The public charities of Washington, as
organized are placed, some under the
control of the District government. others
under the Department of the Interior. and
still others under the departments of
Justice and of War.
"This manifold direction over similar in
situations located side by side is destruc-
tive to uniform administration and neces-
sarily creates confusion and difficulties
which could not exist under unified con-
troll
Repeated reference has been made to
this fruitful cause Of contradictory and
Injurious conditions. but Notwithstanding
the efforts of the board of charities, this
evil still exists. and SO long as it does eX-
list will continue as an obstacle to better
regulation.
Private Subsidy Evil.
1.-THE other evil referred to has relation
to private institutions aided by congress
sional appropriation. The system Of ap-
preparation in aid of the support of pri-
waite charities which, at the time of the
creation of the board Of charities, had
for a long time been in existence was
that of lump appropriations directly made
to these charities. and measured not by
the usefulness or need Of the institutions
benefited, but by their influence or per-
suasion
after the many infirmitieS of this sys-
tenn had been brought to the attention of
the Commissioners Of the District of CO.
lumbia and through them to Congress,
the contract system was substituted for
what might be called the subsidy system,
and this contract system is now in force
while the change has been productive
of good in many directions so far as the
application of public funds to private in
situations is concerned, it does not, in the
opipiop of this hoard. meet the exigencieS
of the situation, and is subject to weak
nesses and proper criticism. .
eve believe that remedy for the evil
suggested can only come through more
complete equipment and occupation Of
the field OF charitable endeavor in the
shape of institutions wholly under the
direction of the District government,
broad enough in their aims and complete
enough in their equipment to take care
of all who should be the object Of public
oh rit ~