Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-24
CURE OF |NEBR|ATES
Movement for Hospital Re-
calls Former Attempt.
ACT PASSED BY CONGRESS
Why the Proposed Institution Failed
to Materialize.
POPULAR SENTIMENT CHANGED
More Sympathy Felt Now Than
Then for the Victims of Drink
Habit-Meeting Tonight.
POPULAR SENTIMENT CHANGED

The meeting called for this evening at
the Good Samaritan Home, at which the
matter of the proposed inebriate hospital
will be discussed. brings to mind the dis
cussion which took place in Washington
thirty years ago, and, moreover. a sim
liar proposition. AS stated in The Star
II few days ago. there has been agitation
this subject at various times for the
last half century. Probably the nearest
that the District ever came to having
an inebriate hospital was during the
period from 1874 to 1875. when Congress
had the matter in hand. A debate on
this subject may be found in the Con-
gressional Record for April 3d. 1874.
An act to incorporate the Washington
Inebriate Asylum in the District of CO.
lumbia'' was approved March 30, 1876.
The hospital was not built. The explana-
ton offered by persons interested at that
time in a hospital is that the act allowed
a hospital, but put the burden of finan-
cling it on the individuals of the District.
and, furthermore. there was not so much
of the feeling of sympathy for inebriates
as exists today. If the memories of
a great change of sentiment in this re-
gard. Also it is recalled that while this
hospital matter was uppermOst in the
minds of those interested there were
constituted an inebriate and when a man
was really drunk. In all of this heated
discussion the project never assumed a
more substantial appearance than that
drawn up by the Imagination, and finally
it dropped out of sight for a while.
The Proposed Asylum.
That old public document shows that
the asylum proposed could own sixty
acres of land. and it's property should
never be more than SJOOOOO in value. The
fund OF the institution was specified at
$4,000 but could be increased to as much
as S30O.OOO whenever the directors or
trustees found It advisable. This money
was to be raised by subscription-this
probably being the point over which
many A wordy battle was waged Each
subscriber of $40 or more should be a
stakeholder The stockholders should
elect annually a board of twenty-five
trustees-each SO of subscription allow
ing one vote. The board should elect
from their own number president a
vice president and treasurer who should
hold these offices long as they should
be trustees.
The act provided for a first board of
trustees. who should hold Office until a
new one should be elected. The gentle
men on that board were:
W. w. Corcoran, George ii. Plant
George w Riggs, w. w. Moore. Samuel
Norment. J. W. Thompson. Matthew G.
Emory. John T. Given. A e. Perry. John
G. Hardness, William Stickney, ]. e. Nc
Kelden. DR.. Joseph Burrows William ].
Murtagh. Columbus Alexander. William
X. Riley. ID. d. Cone. Thomas Berry,
George w: Stickney. D. p. Holloway.
John w. Simms, T.. G.. Darlington. James
III. Stone Dickerson Nailor and DIR. Jo-
seph T. Howard Their first duty was
outlined by Congress finding a loca-
ton for the hospital and receiving the
subscriptions. which never came.
Reception of Inebriates.
The institution was empowered to re-
ceive ANY inebriate who should make
voluntary application and to retain him
thought best. Also the act contained a
clause which would allow any justice of
the Supreme Court of the District of CO.
lumbia to commit any person to this hos
pital upon petition or complaint. duly
verified and presented by relative Of an
inebriate or habitual drunkard. or by any
officer of this asylum or by any police
officer" OF course. the Judge was re-
qured 10 first have commission ap-
pointed to inquire into the case in the
same manner is directed by law in re-
lation to the care and custody of the
persons and estates OF people of unsound
mind. The person charged with being
an irebriate could defend himself in court
The justice could commit the inebriate
for not exceeding one year. Pending the
examination the person charged with ha-
bitual drunkenness should stay I'm the hos
pital.
The person so committed would have to
stand the expense of the treatment If his
finances warranted il, and by the act
ANY person who by the use of intoXi-
catinS uGuors or other intoXicants has