Evening journal., 1919-02-01
Commission NEEDS
MJRE AID FOR BLIND
Bill Pending in Legislature
TO Increase State
Appropriation
PRIVATE CITIZENS
HAVE HELPED WORK

lylo mas Deen STedtlg uduuiCdpptu "
insufficient funds. The high cost OF
operation has made necessary the
strictest economy. curtailing the work
along many lines 10 its great disadvan-
tage, and yet the cost OF operation has
been double the state funds available
for this purpose. The fiscal year ends
in April when the next State appro-
pristlon Is due. The treasury is eX-
hausted, $4,000 in bills. and three
months operation OF a minimum cost
Of 100000 are yet to be met. II the
work for the uplift of our less fortu-
nate fellow citizens appeals TO the pa
triotism Of Delaware. immediate and
substantial relief must be extended 10
this good cause.
We are proud OF the splendid work
for the blinded soldiers. Their sacrlilce
deserves all that can possibly be done
for them. Il Is estimated there VIII be
about 100 OF them. A splendid estate
has been donated, and several hundred
thousand dollars has been expended 10
its adaptation 10 their use. Eaeh re-
ceiyes a large pension per month ana
fifty per cent. more II he have family.
A large corps OF trained instructors IS
provided for their re-education TO their
altered condition Of life. All this IS
right and just. Nevertheless the dis
proportion OF what Is done for the blind
in civil life Is too great Often these
men are blinded In pursuit OF duty
often by accident In which they are
Innocent Of oontributory neglisence ana
still oftener by disease for which they
are not responsible, In all OF which tne
State has a responsibility and a duty,
Unless they are encouraged and helped
10 work out their own salvation they
must become a burden upon society or
friends. There are 300 cases Of blind
ness in Delaware. The State appro-
prlation for their reconstruction has
been 100000 TO the commission for
the blind. BY the aid OF private phil
anthropy. the Blind shop has been es-
tablished at a cost OF $4,000. which Is
the property OF the state. From this
establishment twenty-five men have been
ENCOURAGED or established In self sup
port. A bill has been presented 10 the
LEGISLATURE now In session increasing
the appropriation for this commission
10 ten thousand dollars. This amount
will hardly meet the necessary expenses
OF this work, which should be largely
AUGMENTED, FIRST in increased field work,
searching out the blind and ENCOURAGING
them 10 new efforts, finding the chill
dren and obtaining for them their Just
rights OF an education, teaching the
new blinded occupations open TO their
altered condition in life and Offering
them work. This field work and home
teaching have been necessarily restrict
ed during the past years due to the
lack OF funds.
second-The increased business in the
shop requires further supervision ana
additional executive force.
ThIrd-The compensation 10 the blind
worker has been too small to allow nim
10 make a wage near commensurate
with living expenses and this compen-
sation 10 our blind worker Is much
smaller than in other States.
The LEGISLATURE Of 1911 appropriated
the sum OF fifteen hundred dollars Tor
the nurpose OF paying a handicap OF
tbrce dollars a week 10 blind sppren-
tices for two years while learning a
trade The appropriations committee OF
the Legislature Of 1913 reduced this ap-
n~onrIation 10 FIVE hundred dollars. Tnls
amount suffced at the time but the
nunoher OF such blind men learning
trade has now increased and the appro-
n-iot,on ls now insufficient to pay the
band,can for the men now learning a
handlcraft and still less to provide Tor
snv new men which could be encour-
seed 10 make an effort TO rise above
their disability by earning q living win
their hands Il Is earnestly recon-
minded that this appropriation be In
creased 10 one thousand dollars.
The blind mechanic has not over o0
nor cent OF the efficiency OF his sighted
romnetItor. He must use his sense OF
touch not only 10 do the work but Tor
location and ofttmes for inspecting the
work finished. This entails a handicap
which must be compensated, otherwise
the mechanic Is DISCOURAGED, and his
isst state Is worse than his first. For,
these reasons, II the work for the blind
in Delaware Is TO proceed on progressive
lines the cost OF the work must be
considerably increased.
n Is earnestly hoped that every pa
triotlc and progressive citizen. VINO
must be a friend OF the blind. shall ad-
vocate this relief TO his representative
in the LEGISLATURE.
The fiscal year Of the commission
ends in April, but statement Tor the
calendar year 1918, taken from the
quarterly reports shows the follow
ing: -
peceipts from cash sales .. : t3,9o2.5o
inventory. i2-2i-is ......... 5.tu49
Net operating expenses -. IiloOo
s 26,57i.93
DISBURSEMENTS.
49,. h,,nd labor -. 4.i55.5i
wages. sighted help ....... 2'i!6 80
overhead shop expense 2'2o2- q
building expense ..........' oI.'eo
Material used in mfg. ...... i2'lz'o'
2i.7O9.oi
,.,,o~v l-i-is . 4,s72s9
8 2e.57l,93
The looms made $50 yards OF carpet,
10 large RUGS. and 9s5 small rugs and
ennloved two men part time. Tne
cane shon reseated 1864 chairs and oc-
cunied six men regularly. the oasket
shcp made 20 baskets and repaired 5zS'
and occupied two men part OF the TINE.
The broom shop produced 500 dozen
hroons and occupied fve men. There
.,,nre IA njanos tuned, 2Ss books OF en-
hossad tyne were read by fourteen
Mind readers. There are at present
soxon,ecn = active workers depending on
,hc blind shop for their earning capa-
CITY. Besides this there are nVe men