Evening star., 1938-04-07
NICE WILL SPONSOR
ALMSHOUSES' END
Report by State Aid Official
on Brutal Neglect Held
SpIendid Work.
By the Associated Press.

SpleIlulCk WOFk.
By the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, April Gov. Harry
w. Nice said today new investiga-
ton Of county alr1shouse., made by
an official Of the Board of State Aid
and Charities. showed them 10 be
"mcnaces to public health" and that
neglect Of poorhouse inmates amount
ed to brutality
He said the next Legislature should
regard almshouse reform as one of
its major jobs.
he said, lin any event-wnether 1 am
then public official or not
The latest report. recommending
abolition of the poorhouse system
a move advocated periodically over a
quarter OF a century-Was splendid
piece of work." the Governor asserted.
Mrs. Hariette S. Kearfott. chief
clerk of the Board of State Aid and
Charities, reported yesterday to the
Governor she found conditions "intol-
cradle" in the States Is poorhouses.
Abandonment of the almshouses, es-
tablishment of a uniform program for
the care of the aged INDECENT and one
or two hospitals for chronic cases
needing medical care were asked.
Mrs. Kearfott investigated the aims
houses at the Governors direction and
found "in many institutions" feeble
minded adults were not segregated
from other inmates, that venereals re-
ceived practically no medical care"
and that bedclothing. heat and food
were inadequate.
1T is hard to believe Mrs. Kear-
fott said. that we, the people Of
Maryland, have allowed the inhuman
conditions under which these unfortu-
mates live to exist"
Urged 25 Years Ago.
Few medical or other records were
kept at the institutions, she said, and
their management had not kept
abreast" of the times.
Centrally located chronic hospitals.
properly departmentalized to meet the
specific needs Of the cross-section of
people now living in these poorhouses
would be humane and practical solu-
ton Mrs. kearfott said.
She was not the first to recommend
the almshouses be abolished. Twenty
five years ago Gov. Goldsborough said
they would be. A bill to abolish them
was introduced-and defeated-in
1881. Just few months ago State
Senator Raymond E. Kennedy decried
poorhouse conditions.
Mrs. Kearfott said that at the time
OF her inspection the total poorhouse
population was 648 The counties
provide s141,l80 year for these in
mates. an average per capita allow
ance of s218 a year.
She reported the Allegany, Freder-
ick and Washington County homes
were larger and different type insti-
tutions'' from most. but still have
the atmosphere of the so-called poor
house,"
Conditions Found.
OF her visits to the various insti-
tutions, she said:
Many blind were seen-men with
out hands-men without legs-cancer
caseS-an imbecile colored woman
locked in bathroom.
1nebriates, adult feeble-minded,
blind, choronically ill and the for
gotten man or woman are all housed
together.
Sanitary conditions, medical care
ana human atmosphere are almost
lacking"
In one Eastern Shore institution,
which she described as zone of the
BEST she visited, Mrs. Kearfott said
they had several colored inmates
turned over to them for keeping, who
had been patients at Brownsville Estate
hospltaD and as yet were not ready
20 make adjustments in private homes"
In Baltimore County woman hav-
Ing gangrenous foot, feeble-minded,
sat screaming during most of nv visit.
In the same institution colored man
without legs sat in a dark corner.
In one almshouse the superintend-
ent admitted vermin, but said that
while he did his best to keep the sit
uation under control it was impossible
Food in most was Of the poorest, in
fact in several only two meals a dav
were served. In the counties most of
the farms were we'll stocked with poul-
try and cattle, but diets did not seem
to include any of these items, other
than milk"
Included In the report were the fol-
lowing observations of two county
institutions near Washington:
Montgomery-Two white female in
mates, IA white males. six Negro males.
Appropriation, $500 annually.
Inside of building housing inmates in
fairly good condition. Rooms were
spotlessly clean, but very inadequately
= 80
The colored males have their own
quarters as well as their own dining
room. = q The bathrooms were very
clean"
Prince Georges-Six white woman
inmates. ten white men, three Negro
women, five Negro men, The build
ings in which the white inna3es i've
are in fair condition. The col0red In
mates building is badly IN need of re-
pairs. These buildings were fairly
clean. =" u