Evening star., 1933-04-09

an inveStlgatlon into the manage
ment OF the almshouse at Tewkesbury.
T.wk.,hrr Mass, was in progress
Ae"Aesoury fifty years ago, with
Almshouse. sGi0s1fss tbss 81 sraeltiss tss
country. The Star Of April 4, 1888,
says:
THE revelations concerning the
Tewkesbury Almshouse 60 very far
toward sustaining the charges made by
| Gov. Butler, prior to his election,
against the management of the crimi-
nal, reformatory and charity institu-
tions OF that State. Each days develop
ments add to the criminal brutality
and cold-blooded selfishness of the
management. It Is almost incredible
that in this advanced age and in a
State distinguished for all that places
a people IN the first rank of civiliza-
ton and enlightenment, human life
should be held so lightly and human
beings treated SO brutally. The testi-
mony shows that the superintendent of
the almshouse practically murdered in
mates by system of slow torture and
sold the bodies of the victims Insane
victims were entrusted with the care
of the sick, even the administering of
medicine. 1t Is to be hoped that Gov.
Butler will not permit his labors to
stop with reforming the abuses he has
discovered, but that he will prosecute
and punish the parties who have traf-
life."
The Washington Gas Light Co.
asked the Commissioners fifty years ago
Gas Company tear tor perMssiNm up tWentS to
Denied Permit. 1d blocks dass,s.,,. OF g., street .s
purpose Of laying new and larger
mains. The Commissioners were un-
putation arose which involved questions
OF rates and quality Of illuminant. The
Star of April 6. 1888. says:
IF the reports Of the affair be cor
rest, the Washington Gas Light Co.
was not strengthened much in public
esteem by the interview Of its man.
ayers with the District Commissioners
yesterday. If better and cheaper gas
can only be afforded by tearing up well
down new and larger pipes, 1t win be
manifestly to the advantage Of the peo-
pie OF Washington to secure the neces-
sary relief by extending the desired
privileges to a competing company
rather than by extending further favors
TO corporation which, to say the
least, has received a great deal and
given very little in return. And its
management ought to understand that
the time for a more liberal and enter
prising policy on its part Is now at
hand. If gas light is not to be super
seeded entirely by some other method
Of illumination, 1t should be apparent
to the managers of the company, as it
is to everybody else, that unless that
concern keeps pace with the spirit of
the times In which we live, by furnish
ing both better and a cheaper light
than It now gives, the day cannot be
Tar distant when a movement will be
made in behalf of a new company by
men in whom both Congress and the
people Of the District win have that
confidence which persons asking for o
valuable franchise ought to be able to
inspire, and which must In the end re-
suit in a strong and literally managed
opposition company. The fact that the
existing corporation has heretofore suf-
fered from only a sort OF predatory
guerilla warfare Is no evidence that it
will never have to meet more fofIni-
dable foe. II its managers are wise in
their own day and generation they viii
therefore see that the way to evqiI
competition Is to prevent the necessity
for it, and that this can only be done
by keeping abreast Of the improvement.
and progressive spirit Of the age, ir.-
stead of resisting its reasonable de-