Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-03
Estimate for Next Year.

Estimate for Next Year.
"Basing our estimates of the several
amounts required for maintenance OF this
institution for the fiscal year ending jane
3d. 1911, on the actual cost OF mainte-
nance for the year 1909. as shown In the
foregoing financial report. it can be readi-
ly seen that with a daily average of 40
patients. the normal capacity of the hOspi-
tal and placing the per capita cost at 81. 10
per day. which is slightly less than shown
for the fiscal year just closed, $4S, 100 Will
be required, which is $685. in excess of
the current appropriation, and is divided
as follows: Increase in salaries, $1,000.
and increase i'm fund for maintenance
5000. Increases are asked i'm the SAL
aries of fourteen employees for specific
reasons hereinafter mentioned, and four
new employees are badly needed, viz,
an assistant cook, one additional ward
maid and two additional iaundresses.
Special appropriations TO the amount Of
$1,000. which is $3.50 in excess of the
current special appropriations, are asked
for equipment. repairs. fencing part Of
the reservation and the erection OF a
mOrtuary
THE first item of increase is in that
Of the salary of the superintendent, and
in this connection 1 beg to call your at
tentfOn to the recommendation made
last year when an increase was asked
in this item for the reason that the ex-
ted for the responsibilities incident to the
proper management Of its affairs
should be paid commensurate with his
duties and responsibility" The salary
recommended Is not excessive. and COM
pares favorably with the salaries in SINH
lar positions in the various state institu-
tons.
1.-The salary of the superintendent of
nursing is estimated at $500. instead or
$500. as in the current act. Nine hum
drad dollars the amount
usually paid superintendent OF nursing
in other hospitals i'm the larger cities.
The special nursing done in this insctu-
ton requires a superintendent or nursing
Of sound judgment, dignity and tact, ana
unless the compensation is attractive We
cannot hope to retain the services OF the
present incumbent or secure an 1ndlVid-
ual who possesses the requirements nee
essary to make a success OF this depart
present incumbent or secure an indiViu-
THE salary of the engineer is estimated
to be increased from $40 TO SyU. De-
cause, i'm addition to being an engineer, he
must be an electrician, and S9Uo per an
mum is the usual salary paid to this class
O. mechanics.
IAN incompetent engineer or electrician
By one false move would cost the fnstitu-
ton i'm repairs several times more than
his annual salary, and IN oroer 10 get
the best men they must be PAID the same
sa,ary as paid by private corporations.
nurses OeI1dIu 1AO1C A0SASy'
The superintendent points out that the
better class of graduate nurses will posi-
lively not expose themselves to tubercu-
losis for such a small compensation as
$50 a month, as shown by the great num-
Der Of changes made in the nursing staff
of the hospital during the last year.. 1t
is earnestly requested that this item of
increase he urged before Congress above
all others DIR. Smith also states the
impossibility of retaining a good cook at
the present salary.
Consulting the financial table,, he
says las to cost of maintenance We see
that the per capita tax cost for the year
just closed was Sill per day. of which
70 cents per day was expended for main
tenance and IS cents per day for salaries
Assuming that during the coming hscal
year. for which this estimate is made
will show an increase of III per cent I'm
our daily average number OF patents.
which is very conservative estimate or
the increase i'm patients, little more
than the estimated increase of G,Uo
i'm the item for maintenance will he re-
quired, but IL is thought that with due
economy in administration this amount
will be sufficient. Ii might be mentioned
that the above mentioned az cents per
day per patient included the cost or FOOD.
fuel, ice, gas, electric lighting, power
shoes. dry goods, clothing, drugs. medical
and surgical supplies ana other neces-
sary items. To reduce this estimate would
result as a hardship. and in all probability
would necessitate the creation OF a de-