The Washington times., 1915-12-09
Indetermlnate Terms and Parole
System Are Urged BY Board
In Its Annual Report.
ASKS FUNDS FOR HOSPITAL
Need For City Institution De-
cIared Imperative-Work-
house Population Stationary

Declaring the greatest barrier, 10
tbo reeornnntion Of prisoners Is the
present system of short 'saatences,
tho BOARD of Charities in It's annual
report for the fiscal year ended June
90. submittcd to the Commissioners
TODAY. recommends legislation pro-
yidjng for an indctcrminate sentence
and rarole system for prisoners sent
to tho werlIhause at Occoquan.
Under such system prisoners
would be sentenced for maximum
OF two years. and be subject to pa
role at any time prior to the eNpira-
tion Of that period
"Onc of the results of the present
system CT short sentences" says the
repnrt, lis the repeated commitment
OF the same persons 1t Is perfectly
obvious that while Improvement may
ne effected in some cases, In the vast
majority no Eubstant'&l reformation
can be accomplished in periods of ten,
fifteeni or thirty days"
Municipal Hospital.
Attention is directed by the board
to htc need of an appropriation f"r
beginning work on the new municipal
hospital, provision for which Is made
in the Commissioners estimates.
The history of the past year." says
the report, serves only to emphasize
the urgent need for the earliest pos
sible provision of such an institution.
Notwithstanding increased facilities
at private hospitals the demand upon
the old Washington Asylum Hospita!
for the care of public patients con-
stantly increases"
The board recommends changes II
the law to permit direct commitment
of prisoners TO the workhouse instead
4F u. l,f0 tnN, Inn,
and pail. This arrangement was sat
isfactory during the period of or
ganization of the workhouse when
only a limited number of prisoners
could be received, II is stated, but
there now is no such reason.
Progress On Reformatory.
Considerable progress. tn. ereport
states, has been mEde toward estab-
fishing tho new District reformatory.
A site for tho permanent buildings
adjacent to the workhouse tract has
been selected and II appropriations
be provided, as requested in the estt
mates, prisoners can be taken to the
institution on July /, 1916.
The daily average number of free pa
tients treated at the various hospitals
under the supervision of the board dur
ing the year was 9l2. as compared with
4S9 the preceding year. The daily av-
craRe population at the Tuberculosis
Hospital WAS l24 as compared with 100
during the preceding year. This does
not Indicate, however. the report says,
an increased prevalence of the disease
in the community, as while the number
of deaths from tuberculosis accorded in
1879 was 7t6 in 1914, it was only Gil, not
wlthstanding the increase in population.
OWrkhOuse Population.
There has been 10 marked increase
in the number of inmates at the District
workhouse during the last three years,
the report states. For the fiscal year
1913 the daily average population was
go: for 1914 1t was ga, and for 1915,
ga 49,. ...-..... -
Marked progress was made IN the
development of the agricultural and in
dustrial activities of the worl6house
during the year, the report says.
Recommendation is made that the
industrial Home School be moved to-
new location in tho country. Pro-
vision for this is made in the Com
nlssioners estimates MS well as for
inc boards recommendation for the
erection of now municipgl lodsInr
house. This institution, the ,renort
states, has been moro c0nEested aur-
ing the last year than durinrS any
year in recent ,tinieS. The~nunibcr OF
IodR inEs furnished homeless mon
vas 10,%3S. as compared with 7427'
the preceding year.
Number of Insane.
The average number of District in
sane in the Government Hospital for the
Insane during the year, the report
states. was 1881, an increase of twenty
eight as compared with the preceding
year. All District of Columbia patients
are now chargable to the District gov
ernment, and reimbursement is sought
from the estates, families, or friends Of
such patients. The amount coIlecte6 In
1915 was $l8,S27.15. ,g'TtNt -
The daily average number of boys in
Ihe National Training School for Boys
during the year was 1884, as compa red
with SS6 during the preceding wear. AT
the National Training School for Girls
the daily average number was eighty
as compared with seventy-eight. The
INDUSTRIAL Home School for Colored
Shlldren cared for daily average mum
The report is signed by John JOY Ed
son, president; DIR. George M. Kober.
Emile Berliner. George Il Hamilton'
and the Rev. John Van Schalck, jr.