Evening star., 1934-10-28

next July, only so per cent OF the
population will have books convenient
for readers either in their homes or
places of business--the standard set
by Congress in the library act. Branch
libraries are sought for Petworth,
where $4,000 citizens live. and Ana
costa, with 10000 residents. There is
also pressing demand for enlargement
of the central building.
C. w. A. Has Been Aid.
Mention of the code, a product Of
the new administration, brings up an
other Of the New Deal aces, the C.
w. A., later transformed into the E.
w. A. There are many departments
which would have been stumped for a
method of getting along during the last
fiscal year had they not been able to
get assistance from these agencies.
The recorder Of deeds, for instance,
reports that his office is months be-
hind in its work, and has been able
to keep as far up to date as 1t has
only by the use of z. w. A. workers.
Health Menaces Cited.
Some Of the conditions reported
constitute menaces to life and health
of the first magnitude. For instance,
DR.. Edgar A. Bocock. superintendent
of Gallinger Municipal Hospital, says
in his annual report to the Board Of
Public Welfare:
The average number Of patients
treated daily during the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1884, was nearly three
times as great as the number when the
newly organized hospital was first
opened 1880. To accommodate this
rapidly increasing number Of sick in
dividualS, it has been necessary to
reopen abandoned wards, to cause
small compartments to be used for
larger number Of patients than orig
inally intended %.
In spite Of these efforts much un-
avoidable crowding has been present,
with the result that the best possible
nursing and professional care could
not at all times be rendered -.
"At the termination Of the fiscal
year, the hospital recognizes that it
has essentially reached the limit of
its available expansion capacity and
that the time Is at hand when added
accommodations must be made If
continued policy of Capitalization Of
the INDECENT sick is to be continued
- .. The hospital approaches the
new fiscal year cognizant Of its made
quacies and shortcomings largely
based on overf1lled wards and build
ings. far too small number Of en-
ployes available to render the best
Of care to the number Of patients that
are constantly on hand and demand
ing attention.
Personnel Inadequate.
"All departments of the hospital
show shortage Of personnel, but in
none has the shortage been so keenly
experienced as in the nursing service.
The wards have been constantly
crowded and the demands for nursing
care have continued at very high
rate. For the performance of this
work no additional graduate nurses
have been available, and as result
the care of patients has necessarily
not been Of the most desirable grade,
With the limited number of permanent
nurses available, added responsibilities
in undue extent have been placed on
student nurses. The professional care
of patients and the administration Of
necessary treatments have been re-
tarded."
1t is the same story with the Dis
trict Jail, whose superintendent,
Thomas M. Rives, reports:
THE need for adequate facilities to
properly take care of the ever-increas-
ing volume of work is greater than
ever. I cannot too strongly empha-
size the seriousness Of the inadequacy
of the present facilities" The COM
mitments to the jail rose by 1880 in
1884 over 1888, and the average daily
population rose by seven times, al
though 1888 conditions were consid-
cred overcrowded. Jail guards are
compelled to work seven days week."
Welfare Director Elwood Street de-
clared two weeks ago: THE jail is
insanitary and UNIT to house prison.
ers. 1t ought to be kicked into the
river"
Lorton Overcrowded.
"At the Reformatory at Lorton
there have been two recent threatened
outbreaks, one serious enough to cause
large detachment Of police to be
sent to that institution. There the
daily population shows an increase of
more than 100 above its overcrowded
conditions In 1888. It now averages
LIST. Among these inmates are
a a a a a a a 4 a a a