Evening Star Newspaper, October 12, 1891, Page 9

THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON D.C, MONDA 2f< and easy washing is to be found Oa every package ot Pearline. Fol- low it closely and you will have Pearline's dest work. All "5 work is good, but all who vse it dont get its best. | “veryone has something for | rine to do; it will domore | veryone than anything i) e.ce. ‘Yeware of imitations. #2 JAMES PYI. ‘The secret of mz happineer is, Iam cing * Woltf sAGMEBlacking ant ar AEE ea eT ‘ASK IN ALL STORES FOR PIE-20N | atthe | BEECHAM'S PILLS Cure SIGK HEADACHE, 25 Cents a Box. OF ALL DRUGGISTS. Fensrrvne, Canrers, Xe. It's not necessary to quote prices, we've cut them low enough, and our fiures on each ar- ticle will tell the tale. Quality, we have rum ‘wp, and you'll get better value for less money than ever before. Small profits on hizi-clase foods bring purchasers, amd that’s what we want. PARLOR AND BED ROOM FURNITURE AND CARPETS DS ALL STYLES AND NEWEST DESIGNS. Ours is sone-price house—and alow price at that—but we make terms to suit every pur chaser. We have always done it, and as long as ‘we find ft a convenience to our patrons we shall continue todos, Give usa call, BUDDEN'S NEW FURNITURE STORE, 013 7TH ST. X. W., between E apd Fata anlttr Ove New Howe ‘As ready for your inspestion. 118 FIVE FLOORS Are completely stocked with everything that is new and desirable in Housebold Furnishings, and is well ‘worth a visit, OUR FIRST FLOOR Contains s carefully selected stock of Bed Room, Din- img Boom and Office Furniture. OUR SECOND FLOOR Is devoted entirely to Carpets, and contains the latest spd most desirable fall and winter colorings Alb “eee OUE THIRD FLOOR ntatps s stock of Parior Furniture which for variety of demen and uniform excellence of material ts not ourpemed by any Louse in the country. SOME STARTLING PRICES: Piush or Hair Cloth Parlor Suites, Cash, 828; credit, $50. Solid Osk Bed Room Suites, 3 pieces. Cash, $17; | Pi! rwecit, 615. Gene Bed Reem Sutton, Sete Cueh € credit, 15. SIX-FOOT OAK EXTENSION TABLE. Cash, 24.25: credit, $4.50. Cy hee Ree Ramen, Ont, 8h ee, Woven Wire Springs, Cash. $2.25; credit, $2.50. Brussels Carpet, per yard. Caab, Wc. :credit, Bie. Carpets sewed and laid free of cost. Ro chargetor ‘Waste um watching. TERMS: Pasy weet!y or monthly payments. No notes and 6 per cous discount allowed for esttle- | frequently not abie to do heavy work, and the mance is thirty days GROGaN's CREDIT HOUSE, . Someratse iY Ew. KANN & SONS RIN 2 Bestiaiore. carablinued since ro hare Speoed & Wir NE OP isk” EXECTRO SILVER-PLATED WARE. < | Replating and repairing inthe best manner =~ “ete” | tolprovide public outdoor relief would slmoet ® fers prices. - Seaterci_Couroarisa. ERPS'S gOCOK BREAKPAST. “By a thorourh knot the operation: elee Gaset: He Set) Dey With bes tk. Sold only »aEe Tit pod Une vy grucetm, soveled CROs yaly GAMES LIPS & CO. Bumemrpatbic Chemists, Lendos Faeiand. colored we bioud «nde propery sourisked frame."—Cieté | sideration of the pi sturked. | SUPT. WARNER. DISTRICT CHARITIES. | Superintendent Warner Mckes His First Report. STATE-AIDED INSTITOTIONS. Evils That May Grow Out of the Policy That Has Prevailed. A Showing Made by Statistics Which Mr. Warner Thinks Somewhat Surprising—The Tendency to Multiply Institutions Sup- ported in Part by the Government—Inter- esting Suggestions for a Future Policy. The first annual report of Mr. A. G. Warner, the superintendent of charities, was handed to the District Commissionerstoday. Mr. Warner was the firstappointee under the law approved August 6, 1890, which created the office of su- perintendent of charities. Mr. Warner says that as he took the oath of office April 11, 1891, he was called upon to write his first report atter an acquaintance of only four months with the charities of the District—months in which many of the persons actively interested in the charities of the city are away from home, mak- ing it for the most part impossible to secure meetings of the boards of trustees and other official bodies, whose advice and criticism might have aided him in the formulation of definite recouamendations. For these reasons Mr. Warner says bis present report must be little more than a description of existing con- ditions and all suggestions of changes should be of a tentative character. Mr. Warner states that the act creating the office establishes an arbitrary classification of institutions for the purposes of District administration. While | directing him in general terms te consider and | report upon all the charitable work of the Dis- | trict it gives him specific powers of investiga- | tion and control only over a group of institn-| tions that are provided for im the District ap- | propriation biil under the heading “For Char- | ities.” Curiously enough the District alms house, a branch of the Washington asy lum, is classified by the approprittion bill under the heading Reformatories and Prisons,” aud therefore the superintendent of charities has no official relation to it. He mentions other institutions excluded on ac- count of their classification in appropriation acts irom his supervicion, although receiving appropriations to cid in work which is of « charitable character. There ure, he says, at! the same time some institutions grouped as belonging to his department which their friends would willingly place elsewhere..Such, he says, is the Columbia Institution for the Deaf a Dumb, which is a private corporation, sup- rted mainly by federal subsidies, but the fact that an amount to defray the expenze of educating the deaf and dumb children of the District is placed in the ap- propriation bill under the heading “For Charities” brings it to the oficial attention of the superintendent of cherities. In its early years the Columbia Institution in its own annual reports was “charity,” but now Mr. Warner says its presi- dent desires to have it otherwise classed. Dis- cussing the question of the proper cl: in such cases Mr. Warner remarks: we admit that there is something opprobrious in the term ‘object of charity’ (which I do not admit), it is hard to see why weshould fasten it upon @ person who is sick and destitute and must go to the free wards of « hospitel while being treated, and then not apply it to one who is dexf and destitute and must be boarded gratis | while being taught." When a matter is placed | in the care of the present president of the Co- | lumbia Institution for the f and Dumb, Mr. | Warner says, further supervision or inspection | — be considered supertiuous. ii as District funds are used to education of these classes, soun: administration seem to require that some Dis- trict authority should be made responsible for | their properexpenditure. He therefore recom- | mends that if it be considered best to take the matter from the care of the Co penne of charities, where it now is, it be detinitely trans- ferred to the care of the trastees of the public and the amounts required be piaced under the head “public schools” in the annual District appropriation bill. Conditions Peculiar to Washington. ‘The shifting character of Washington's pop- ulation, the report continues, must be reck- oued with in any attempt to provide for the re- lief of poverty and the prevention of pauper- ism in the city. A large number of Wu ihe benevolent and the indigent classes reside here only temporarily. On the one band this makes it ‘disieul it to procure # permanent and relicble revenue for the charitable institutions trom private contributions, and on the other it gives us @ large number of applicants for relief who ly belong to other states, but who have Brifted in here while seeking unsuccessfully to secure a position or ® pension or the payment of a claim. While this consideratior is important it bas bly been given undue importance by the managers of the local charities. Those who are acquainted only with Washington and who compiain of the shifting character of its pop- ulation forget how shifting is the population of all American cities. The number of inmates in our alms house who are natives of the Dis- trict bears about the same proportion to the total number of inmates as doce the number of native Baltimorcans who are inmates of the yview alms house in that city to the total population of the institation. An examination of the re; from other states does not con- firm the impression that we are especially un- fortunate in the matter of having to provide for destitute persons wae sould be cared for elsewhere. What we may suffer in this matter is more than made up by our indepeudence of industrial crises and the fact that we heve no large masses of ig Sammy hovering on the brink of pauperis because of bad trade con- ditions. Indeed, the problems of pauperism are not as intricate or as diiicult in Washing- ton asin most American cities. ‘he poor of iw office-bulding population, however, are in some respects not easy tohelp, because they are much-talked-of “work test” is not easil; plied in relieving them. shor) THE COLORED Poor, Of the dependent population that for one | PFi reason or another has drifted to the national capital the colored people who require help with. In coutriving to keep out of the alms house, and even out of the hospitals, they have well, considering their un- propertied amd auedueated condition at the close of the war. An instinctive and often superstitious aversion to these institutions has prineipies of | ¥ ton do not give to the charities of the city in which they live, but to those of the comniuni- ties from which they come and which they still regard as “home.” We are told there is here no local pride which prompte people to build and endow great institutions and that there fs | braneh ‘no Wealthy class from which contributions can be obtained for the support of wide-spreading charities. My own observation leads me to think that while there is much truth and force in these considerations, yet that the complaints are based partly on conditions fast passing away and that the springs of private benevo- lence have been in part dried up because of the policy adopted by Congress of granting nurer- ous subsidies from the public treasury. Each of the two tendencies has reacted upon and in? creased the other. If Congress has feit bound to make appropriations because private contri- butions were few and mall on the other hand there cau be no doubt that private contribu- tions have become fewer and smaller because of the congressional aid obtained. Public Subsidies to Private Charities. It has been serioasly urged upon me that because of the peculiarity of the people of Washington noticed above public asristance should be given to all useful charities—to all that are “doing guod,” a» it is called. Inthe View of the ini opinion the #0 here so limite: y way bene publig moaey. 1 on my part to recommend an &ypropriation for a giver charity wou! hat I consid ered it useless or ill-administered. Any charity that Loped to live would ave to secure #n ap- propriation asa certiticate of good character or discredit the judgment of the superintend- ent. Some of the institutions that Lave applied for grants have urged thie very consideratio: that unless they bad public money peop would think there was something ihe matter with them. * On the other band there are those who hold that publie grants to pri corporations are always pern! funds should be expended by public officials or not atull;that it is inconsistent for a government that refuses to subsidize educational and re- ligious institutions to make an exception in favor of charitable institutions; that such sub sudies are used too often by those that receive them for the purpose of building up religious, or merical, or social sects and factions, and that if the state is not capable of administer- ing institutions of its own it is certainly too awkward to discriminate properly between the various and often competitive organizations that volunteer to act as distributers of its bounty. All these consider: urged upon me by those what is best for the char cannot be doubted. Between those who hold to one or the other of the extreme views just described there are those who consider the question oue mainly of administration. The stute having certain duties to perform toward the poor, can it dis- charge them most efficiently and most economi- cally by establishing institutions of its own or by aiding private institutions in their attempts to do the same work’ What might be the wise course in one case might not be so in another. Varner quotes the conclusions of the committee of six appointed in Penn- syivania in 1839 to investigate the subject of charities and corrections in the state to the effect that these subsidized charities tend to be more and more managed bya few pezsons, who really cuoose their successors. In New York, Mr. Warner tays, the policy of public subsidies to private charities has been consistently fol- lowed and has had very unsatisfactory results, especially in ite tendency to increase the num- ber of dependent children. So maniiest, says Mr. Warner, has been the evils entailed by this system of pnblic sub- sidies to private institutions that in some states, asior instance in Mlinois, it is definitely forbid- den by the constitution.’ On the other band, it ehould be said that in some branches of work the private institutions that receive public aid have done better than the strictly public ones. ‘his Lunderstand to be genersiiy true as re- gards the education of the blind and of the deat and dumb. The freedom from partisan politics which the private organization gives enables a institutions to do much better work. But i siould be said that the evils of private man- agement do not usually develop until the insti- tutions have been in Operation some time, and the recent investigation of the Philadeipkia In- stitution for te Instruction of the lid shows that even in this line of work the close private corporation is a duagerous agent in do- lng work that the state pays for. THE RECORD OF THIRTEEN YEARS. A table is given showing amounts appro- printed to various charitable institutions in the District for thirteen years. Mr. he gives at some length the historical explau: tion of how the national government has come ioexpend durmg the thirteen years $941,361 for the sick poor of the District, because the very fact that i¢ has done so appears to be imperfectly appreciated by many interested in the charities of the District, and even by some of the District officers themselves. At the beginning of the thirteen years covered by the table only eight private charities received sppropriations from District funds, while during the eurrent year twenty-eight private institutions are thus subsidized. A table is given showing appropriations received by the public ations of the District as compared with the privste institutions. In 1890 there were nine public and eight private institutions receiving appropriations, and ix the present year seven public and twenty-eight private institutions. In i880 278,048.82 was appropri- ated for the maintenance of public institutions and $46,500 for private institutions. whereas in the present year $119,475.50 has been appro- printed for public and $117,630 for private institutions. For the whole period of thirteen .256.65 has gone to public and 31,141,752.53 to private institutions for coi struction and maintenance Private institu- tions received 300,512.53 under the head of construction and public institutions $155,130.70 under the same head, A TENDENCY TO SUBSIDIZED INSTITUTIONS. From this table, says Mr. Warner, we see that the amount given for maintenance to private charitable institutions at the begin- ning of the period was little less than one- third of the whole amount, while at the close of the period itis a little less than one-half. The number of public institutions has fallen from nine to seven, and the number of private institutions subsidized has increased from eight to twenty-eight ‘The most surprising fact, however, is that the District has given to private institutions nearly twice as mach mouey to be used in acquiring real estate and erecting buildings as it has granted to its own public institutions. Were we to deduct the £66,900 charged to the work Louse,a purely correctional institution, it would appear that more than three-fourths of the money appropriated for the purpose of permanent improvements in charitable institutions was given tc private corporations to spend. With the single excep- tion of the Littie Sisters of the Poor no inst tution receiving money to be used ir con- struction has ever failed to receive sub- sequent appropriations for maintenance, and an urgent appeal was made on belalf of this institution to the last Congress, and as been pressed upon me since my coming into tire office of superintendent. It is thus evident that the drift 1s toward xubsidized rather than toward ublicly administered institutions for provid- jug for the poor of the District, and if the strong tendency bronght out by the figures given should continue for a few years more we would be so fuliy committed to the policy indi- cated, vested intercsts would e 80 great, log roliing would be so feasible that the course of development could only be altered by great effort and atgreat sacrifice. Without assuming that such a development as undesirable we may safely assert that it should not be allowed to come about without being decided on, and that it shonid not be decided on without being con- sidered. As the principal work of the super- intendent of charities must fora time be the formulation of a policy in this matter, I give certain tentative propositions to indicate how the matter at prosent lies in my own mind. Mr. Warner's Propositions. 1. Many things that is bighly desirable that vate benevolence should do it is not proper for the state to do or to aid in doing. For in- stance, to provide for the aged poor more of Washington 10, 21 end 823A st. Ww. | are, of course, the most difficult class to dea} | liberally and ostensibly more honorably than in done in the poor house isa work frequently and properly undertaken. by private berevo- lence Churches are usually glad to do this for the destitute of their own faith and for an in- definite number of others. ‘The state may not aid them in thin work for several enabled them to dv better in be om gy self- | First, + than could have been hoped. But the sxporience of the city shows that any attempt certainly resuit in undermining their spirit of self-dependence to an alarming exteut, and as Matters now stand iNingness of many of ‘this cf the populntion to abandon ren to care of the public and the largely pertiouate number of colored juvenile resent the gravest benevolent peo- strict. Aw we are free from x the berevolont t just that we should “any serfows con popuiation. As yet say eon- roblem indicated seems to have been ‘Turning next to that population which relates to the well-to-do and | presumptively benevolent portion, we are con- stantly rcminded that the people of Washing- ‘the domand f or a" “Tee uamounte to to. givers are very lim- sopposed to hnve an in- kot and the poor afraid todepend on it sre probably good many hundreds of old peo- ple in Washington at the present time whose children or relatives would move away and rt them or otherwise turn them adrift were dreaded than the for them. her de- erepit wothor for aliow her to go to the alms ‘yet looking more hon- Thirdly, for the Setter for ', for state for others is » dix ie hard to defend. When of the foregoing considerations wore urged upon those managing an institution | where a few old people aro given a permanent home they : “Some might perhaps at replied different times be sent to the almay house, - Thi i Eastern a8 to reputation) and tho potter's field at the end. Many—indeed, most—are of euch a class as would 1 pain us all, and you also, to end them there.” The reply to this eau only be that many of a similar class are probablyalrea:!y at tho alms house. Either it is a proper place for the state to place them or it is not. it is others may as properly go there, if it is not our sym- pathies should go out first to those already there and we should see to it that the place is made a proper one for them to stay. Fourthly, to make more costly provision for ono class of dependents, and by 6o doing to increase their numbers may not properly be done from the public treasury, beeause, while benefiting them, tre may #o increase the burden of tazation na, conceivably, to tax yet other across the pauper line. Most American taxes toud to dif. fase themselves and to diffuse themselves alon; the lines of least resistance. the increased comfort of certain old what wa do not see, but ought rlways to is the increase of tax burden, but positive, which often rest at last on very weak shoulders. No such shifting of the bur- den is possible where the support is freely given by individuals. Fifthly and lastly, better provision for sore dependents than- the alms ose affords is ostensibly more honcrabie thax alms house reiicf, but it is not realiy A pauper, in the legal sense of the term, is ono who receives unearned materin) aid from the state; and thercfore the bencficiaries of pri- vate institutions receiving money aid are to all intents and purposes paupers, and might a8 well be called so. A temporary dodging of the fact und changmg of thé name will not change the f.ct, but may spoil the nomenclature. We have thus reviewed in a single instance the reason why the stats ought not to do or assist in doing that which it is entirely proper for ividuals to undertake. Other examples will appear when we come to speak of the particolar, institutions receiving or aeking subsidies. 2 It frequently does positive harm to a charitable institution and sometimes wholly de- stroys its usefulnese te receive public mouoy. I cannot conceive how a charity organization society or an associated charities society cau possibly do its work as well with public money aa it can without. It must command the inter- ested confidence and snpport of the communit; and it will hardly continue todo sc unless ft looks to that community for support. If the community have not confidence enough to sup- portit its mi i iastitation that receives no public money is freer in all its oper. ions and is mrore highly valued by those th ustuin and munage it. The beneficiaries also feel differe: towards their benefactors. When visiti . one subsidized institution in Washington the request was made that nothing should be said before the inmates that woul inform them that the institution received any public money. [could understand the wish and presume that the inmates would work more foithfally, more grateful for favors received and finaily “turn out better” because they were kept im ignorance of the fact. Yet I doubt the possibility or desirability of thus trymg to use public money und at the same time trying to conceal the fact of doing so. 3. State subsidies tend to dry up springs of private benevolence. “Ii you will get me an Appropriation as large as that zeceived by the instivution across the way I will never get up another ‘fair’ or ask help of xny private per. y son,"* was the frank admission to me of the in charge of one of the Washington inetitu- tions. “Why don't you go to Congress?” is the commonest question with which the well-to-do of Washington put off those who solicit them 10 give nid to the local charities. The general secretary of the Associated Charities informs me that after that 2rganizatior had received a thousand dollars frou the Commissioners their private coutributions prompily fell off. It be found that those charitable organizations that have beer: receiving public subsidies for a series of years are those that now have leust | contributed to their treasuries by private pez- | sons. Private givera seem disinclined te have their “mites” overshadowed by a congressional appropriation, and prefer to work for those en- terprises that obtzin ncthing from government In many lines of work philanthropists were the pioneers, and after they had shown what was possible the state began to help, then took up the entire work, 2ud theprivate donors turned tueir attention to other lines. This has beeu, roughly, the history of the education of the blind sad of thedeef and dumb. It is a highly proper development, but the point of import ance to us here is that as the state takes hol. the private philanthropists let go. By compar- ing table I and table Ill it will be seen that those institutions that have received public sudsidies during ‘he longest periods receive the t, proporti» nately, from private sousces. So thorougl.ly do somo of the Washington | charities ap, ccciate the force of the two pre- ceding po.uts that after mature consideration they have decided not to ask for public aid, though at first inclined to do so. ‘They feel that they will be freer in their movements and more thoroughly supported by the community if tney do not even ask it. Lhe Children’ Jountry Home beng in need of funds Ine Suly asked me to recommend that the Commis- sioners give them a small amount to help thera through the summer. Lexplained why, in my opinion, it would be a serious blunder for that iustitution to tke such a contribution, even were it offered, and refused the request’ point blank and witbout hesitation. This faci, to- gether witb a statement of the work of the jome, being mad> known through the daily pere, the result wae that within three weeks home received from yoluntary contribu- tions nearly five times as much as they had asked che Commissioners to gi Other insti- tutions, te which, in their own interest, I xe- corded the favor of a refusal, have not yet had so much occasion to thank ‘me for the dis- line, but I am confident that they will be benefited by it in the eud ond that certain institutions that are now on the list of subsidy receivers will eventually find it to their own interests to iead w more inaependent existence. 4. The distin-tion which most people and many state constitutions seek to muke between “wectarian” and “non-sectarian” inrtitutions is of small importance for our present purpose. ‘There is no general agreement a to definition of terms, and until some new reason for using them develops they wili be discarded in thes reports, The only distinctions that aro now made are betweeu public aud priyate institu- tions, and between open and close corporations. 5. The advantage to the state of getting its dependents cared for by private organizations receiving public subsidies ie greatest when such » policy is first adopted, and diminishes with the Japse of time anc the grovith of the community. This wil) be spparent when we enumerate the sdvantagesand cisadvantages of the policy, aud the truth of the proposition may be verifiec by examining the lustory of states that have experimented alcug thi 6. The advantages of grerti ie. m1 for the state’e dependents withcct spense, Here shoud be include. the servires of the bourde of trustees and lady visitore and man- agers. of treasurers und other officinls, whose duties are often onerous and who give freely of their time, ability and *ympathy, Here slso shouid be reckoued the practically ‘unpaid services of the membere of the chari- table or educational brotuerhoods and sister- hoods. (b) When the community is small ond the number of dependents of s particular class is small it enables the state to muke provision for them at much lees expense than would other- wise be poesible. (©) Where speciat technical skill and training is needed, a8 in the instruction of defectives, the tenure of office is more wacure, and & thorough specintist will be more willing to un- dertake the work and. more likely to continue in it. Partisan politicians are not as likely to interfere. 7. The disadvantages of adopting the above policy are: (a) Those alrendy indicated in propositions 2 an (b) The state is responsiblo for the care of its dents, but bas uct direct control of ¢) The institutions, especially the close cor- porations, tend tc pass into the management of Qsmall group of persons, cnaily got inte rate and are much harder to get out public in- stitutious. The institution and its growth comes to be an end in itself, irrespective of the needs of beneficiaries. ‘The system, when ex- to new needs work. ; (d) A sort of process of fission, ‘ natural science, leads to tha undue to uso a term multi- plication of institutions. Disagreements among managers take ines of religious Or mellical o social clanverage and Dew nesta tions are started, whilo the old ones at the mame time remain in existence. Institutions are sclicited and - y Soe f OCTOBER 12. 1891—TE’ PAGES. line by the pernicfous laxity of the charitable institutions in the matter of admissions. 8 Where the state makes adequate provision for the wyatematic supervision aad. inspection of such institations as receive public subsidies the dangers to be feared are greatiy reduced. The passugo of the act creati superintendent of charities for umbia led to the reorganizatio: of some of its subsidized charities even before any. Person had been appointed to il the Position § jost important points in connection with the administration of charituble insti- tution are the rules governing the admission of beneficiaries and the manner in which these rales are prectically applied. One reason wh¥ the system of private institutionsh..s succeeded so Wellin the instruchon of the blind and of tho deaf and dumb is that the number that can be incinded in these classes is strictly and ob- viously limited. With other clases, 8 desti- tate children, the sick, &c., the state should have some standard of indizency and some ae- surance that the standerd will be applied. A table is inserted giving a general view of the finances of twenty-six Di for the last fiscai § following items ure take: strict charities From this table the of | chiliren are al facilities Minor trustees, and which could be obsained ot | anadvantageous price. It is said thet all needed iunds for maintenance could be secured from | piliate parties, Ido not think tat the Dis t can properly give the aid asked for the reason institations covering the same | branches of hospital work for women and | subsidized, ani have j to the work that offora, The desire to provide that poor women desiring to be treated by woman physician mar be 80 treated is one with which Ieympathize, bu: lé not feel that the taxpayers of the District cau be asked to contribute largely to another hospital in order to secure this reeal If private persons can compass the establis ment and maintenance of suck » bospital they will deserve wcll of the community. ‘The Hospita’s. In reference to the Columbia Hospital for Women and Lying-in Asylum the report save: fere the present low averago attendance to continte 1 ahould be inclined tothink thut the an= propriation asked and her-tofore given, #20,000, Was too tauch. However, at the prospect | seems to be that undor the new organization | the hospital will be brought up more easly to ite full capacity, and ae the class of servi NAMES OF THE INSTITUTIONS. MEDICAL CHARITIES. { ‘entra! Dis and Erergency stern Dispensat Homeopathic Dr Physteany INSTITUTIONS FOR CHILDREN. Chareh Orphanage of St. John’s Parish. f Colored St. Ann's 1 Sa Wasuington Hospital Tots sees INDUSTRIAL AND REFORMATORY | INSTITUTIONS. | Association for Works of Mercy Hone of the Good Suepherd Homa Scloi Mission Schoo! of Cooker St. Kose Ludustrial School: ‘Total ... ‘TEMPORARY HOMES. i Hope and Help Mission, iit Lodwinw House Association. yam. tor Foundiiize a Association "s Christian Home. 21,100.00 G32. 3.600.00 eis) 200.00" With one exception, Mr. Warner says, re- ferring to the charities named in the table, “they are private inctitutions receiving Dis- trict subsidies. ‘The aggregate value ef the roperty owned by these insututions is £1. 09 and their total indebtedness is $87,660, leaving as the aggregate value of the various plants $1,240,739. During the year they re- ceived as income from endowments $5,856.28; from private contributions and donations, in- cluding the proceeds of fairs, entertainments and so forth, $32,908.19, and from the District treasury $121,945, muking a totai income from benevolent ‘sources of $160.709.47, of which the District contributed about 76 per 11 | cent. In addition to this the institutions re- ceived from pay patients or inmates or from the work of mmates $22,509.58. In expen ing the ‘sums at the'r disposal the inztitutions paid ont for salaries $48,425,20, for other /orms of maintenance $113,760.20, tor construction, including purchase of real estat 285.31, of debts pre Daring the year a daily average of forty-eight porsons gave their entire time to the work of the institutions here listed for no other tangible consideration than the Dare neccssaries of life. Most of these are members of religious orders, but not all. ‘wenty of the institutions receive patients or inmates, and the average daily population of these amounted to 94,628 beneticiarics. THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTROL. Is must be apparent, the report says, to one who scans this table and who remembers that a large share of the property owned by the institutions has come to them by congres- sionai grant that siuce the government con- tributes more than three-fourths of their an- nual means it bas a right tos dominant voice in their managewent, and if it refrains from exercising such right it is on grounds of ex- pediency alone. Congress has always reserved the right to amend the charters of the charita- Die corporations it has created, and all pay- ments in aid of the purchase of real estate since the act of March 2, 1889, constitute a lien upon the property, which insures the repay- ment of the money to the government iu case ‘he property is ever used for other than the uurposes proposed at the time of the grant. (hese -precautions, together with the power of the purse which belongs to the appropriating power, give the government adequate theorcti- cal control of the institutions it subsidizes. ‘The Medicat Charities, The report then gives a summary of the work of various charities and makes various sugges- tions concerning them, beginning first with the medical charities. An account is given | first of the work of the fifteen physicians of the poor, paid $40 per month each. The systew, r. Warner thinks, isa good one if properly administered, and he suggests thatan improve- ment in the service wouid probably result if there were some organic connection between the system of the physicians to the poor and the dispensary system. At present the two agencies overlap euch other. {n relation to the dispensaries the report observes that a cer- tain element of competition exists between those of different medicai schools und even be- tween those of the same school. ‘It is tiis real but unacknowledged competition thut has led in other cities to such grave abuses ‘of medical churities. Some years ago it was ostimated that in Philadelphia one-fifth of the entire population was receiving free medical attendance, and present conditions in that city ave believed to be as bud. ‘That other in- fluences than pure benevolence may enter into the providing of free medical service is_ shown by the fact that the colleges of dentistry in Washington consider it protitabie to advertixe at their cwn expense that they will perform any work ir their line gratis, only charging for materiats. Here the element of ‘charity ie avcwedly eliminated, ae it might often bo witk rropriety in other’ cases. I have, there- fore, desirea to find some betver gauge of service rendered to the community by a given dispousasy than the mere volume of work formed. “Lo make thia alene tht criterion of subsidies to’ be given obvicusly might put a premivm on the indiscriminate giving of medi- ca: nid the effect of whick, as of all: indis- eriainate giving, ispernicicus. Theugh Ihave discussed the matter with experienced practi- tioners who ackno' the presence of the evils indicated, no mec! test hae yet been and.” tor ‘The Dispensaries. In reference to the Central Dispensary and | enco: Emergency Hospita. the report remarks that the District has practically contributed all the money that this institution now has invested in plant, and that the District also provides three- fourths of its annual income. At the same time its work should be extended in the direc- of tion widing un emergency ambulance which might go at any time with » surgeon and surgical appliances to the soene of any acci- dent The institution is anxious to dered is necessarily and properly of en expen- | e kind, I recommend that the amount asked, | $20.000, be appropropriated. i |" “Aa the federal g vernment has reserved the | riglit to amend the charter of the institution as the title to its propertr vests in the U States, it will be possible to alter ite organi tion sliould it appear at any time that the aian- agement by a close corporation cannot be entis- | factory.” A summary is given of the work of the | Children’s Hospital, whieb received but 48 pez | cent of its income from the government, and | Mr. Warner recommends the granting the | usual appropriation of 10.000 asked for by the | appropriation. In reference to the National Homeopathic Hospital the report Jfor for & maternity ward da { kiteben and Ieundry, $7,000 for mnt an4 $1,860 to sacet outstanding depts. that during the past year the sum recei from the Distriet by the hospi pay patients, #5442. y equals the entire amount expended by the horpital for nance, including sularies,"$12,517.54. the ported to him, does not equal the amount it has actually ‘received froia the District for “construction, including the purchase of real ertate,” though he is sasisfied that the exti mated value of the property, £49,000, ie too low. He disapproves of the approprintions asked for for the maternity ward aud new laundry and kitchen, Deennse, in the first ease, he dozs not n Further think it good poliey to connec: a maternit ward with a large general ho ad in the second case the sdowing race large share of the cost of construction ad purchase airendy borne by the District and Lecatse it seems to him the mouey is more urgently neode? elsewhere. He does not recomu the appropristion of $1,860 to pay back because ue deems it inadvinabie, as a raic, fo: Congress to pay debts contracted without con- sulting it. He recommends the «mount of 37,000 asked for maintenance, as the re-/| tory, and as cli about the institution evidences thrift and ediiciency. tegardiug the nied- a ¥,a3a whole, it may ve | said that we have too many general hosp: Specialization, as at the children’s and wo.rei hospitals,is along theright line. We also greatly need hospital tor contagious diseases. | There | seems to be @ tendency amoung institutions | privately administered to sbirk some of tie most disagreeable but very essential parts of | charitable work. Few cities of the size of | Washington are witnout # lospital for con. tagions diseases. and I loath vo recom- | mend any considerable extension of the work | of existing institutions for medical relief until such a hospital has beer estabished in this city.” Institutions for Childrea. y ti Warner observes that we do not find| abuses nualogous to those that have grown up | in New York. Buteven here the institution urge their appeals largely on the ground of the number of children cared for, and ask for aid in constructing uew buildings on the ground of present overcrowded conaitious. Ticre, as in New York, the managers of each institution are tree to admis «hemsoever they will, and in some cases it is to be feared there is a lack of | proper inquiry. “The state has no standard | of indigeney and no assurance that any given standard will be applied." Laxity in this mat- ter must lead as it everywhere it ex- ists, to che mischievous unloading of children upon the public by their natural guardians, to the lifelong injury of the children, the corrup- tion of the and the progressive bur- dening of the public. 1t in most fortunate that the institutions of this city are not yet t grown beyond proper di- mensions. Few of them shelter more than a hundred children, ard with this aumber a cer- tain amount of individual attertion is still sible. But at the same tine and at the best institutior. Life is a misforrune to the ckild thet experiences it. They have small chance for spontaneous and vigorous development. They are “institutionized.” Even with oar smail and ntly well-msnaged institations the complaint is beard that the children *hat come from some of them ‘are so good for nothing.” 1t does not seer to me that *he tendency of ome of the izstitutious to hold ca to tue chil- dren for an increasingly long erm is one te be T have been re told that the “plac- ing out” system of for children could not be successfully in this commu- rounding ‘That it would be some- what more difficult than in other places ap) to be Le Bat eae i Dperieoced euly’ ta tndisetion whose were in favor of the latter | Maintemince.” He recommends the appr’ p Present worth of ‘the institution, as re- | | suite reached seem to be thoroughly satixfac- | ¥ In reference to institutions fo ebildren Mr. | ? ry % Se abiic official was re- sponsible. “Many of the chari'able institutions Of the District, the report says, seem to have secured a permanent place in the annual ap- propriation bill in jast this way Propriations for aia in bu < ing to appropriations ancnally made gradunlly | os | ‘ion of $2,000 for toe coming year. He r ‘ c propriasion “f $1,000 for sbe | ion fer the Lulet of Deswtute ani Children. As to the Home for Colored Fouad! age, managed by « commit. tre of tie National Assoctation for the Reiiaf of | Destituve Colored Wom and Children, the | report reccmmends in place of tue €2,000 up- | propriated last year thai Congress appropriate £00 to be used for the boarding out of inlants. Provided, that coloved children sball Gret pe ed tor, and provided further, that the in thear diverot mends the usta! ° associacior to exp or the purpose andicated, Or uy use it toemploy an agent aud secure quarters for carraug oa the work ‘ Hie recommends aa appropriation of $7,000 for 3s, Anu's Iaiant Asylum, an increase of $500 over the present yeor, in she Bistors to pay a litive move is now poasible | for banrding oat i he recommen. £6.00) asked for the Wichington Hospital for Foundli a — Ladwotrial and Reformatory. Under the head of induetria: and reformatory institutions tic. Werner gives first au account of the Honse of Meccy, and says that, consider- ing the average number of ‘nraates seventeen t eiguteen, the amount given by Conguess lw year seers to him large, and Le recommond coming vear an ap propriati: He recommends the appr requested for the Hous of In regard to the Inductcial Home Schoei report says: “The children at the Indust Home 8 di by soawe of the manngers wisich it woaid seem distinctly unfortunate to have fied. Une is the desire to 1.000 aske for maiiter rovement of grou ings, Le recomme appropriation of $13.000 for current expexses ana promotion of | indasiries, an increase of £1,500 over the | amount given the present y. He says he cannot recommend that the Mirsicn Seboei of | Cookery be spriniion Lill to | y Lecazse it sccius to acharitable in- . tenance of § not think it amounts elready given for construction by the hoip asked by Sister Ciara to en- building. ‘Temporary Home: The report gives an account of the work of institutions grouped uader the head of cem- porery homes, and recommends the usual ap- propriation Woman's Chi and Help } Women #, gra large the 12th street: the Nat 214 435 atreet r ex-Luion Bob report says we have ‘Temperance i Temporary ome all buj received their pubi sunually appropriate Support of i the current d vy ent p @ 1 niunicipal loag vege thousand dollars ( WD), oF so iach Provided, That have power to ent of the same, snd to we secure suatable premises for wars ying on the work. | My reasoas for recommending this charge 4. That homeless women in the city eitner work of the society am “specially wUefied that it te the sortety to continue public mover is not de sbown by years of i received no such aid. APPLICANTS POR APPROPRIATIONS. Applicadons for ay propriations of less urgency Lave been made by or on of the following institutions: The Little ter= of the Poor, Aad Society fovistion, iaairtairang the Hone for Incarabler, the Pensosra Free how dergarten, the Nasonsl Home for Destituts Tufants, the Wael Norses, St. Josonl « State one Asylum, per trom their own standpomt an ap: would do iacre harm than good. Wweational rther than charitable sod the reasons for refasing some e been already indicated veport. Some The Girls’ Reform School, his is a public corporation, the trustees be: % appointed by che Presideut. No money Lats ever been appropriaved to its use, although suck appropriatior all tho District « Lest as to its necessity and by many of wnt citizens of Waxhington, To my Lit appears that the lack ofa giris reform: school im the District come the mearent to being thorowrhiy diggracef@ of auy fact counectod with oar charities, The female de- Parimoat of the work house, where the inmates wwe grouped iu large celis wituout empioyment, we wo place for the large mamber of girls weub there. Iefore the assembling of Congress and after there Las been aa opportunity te confer with bo trustees amd others f° shall communicate ‘it: you nguin and at length upon this «ubject At present ] merely wish to urge the insertion u item for this institution in the annua) estina.cs. The smount named is the one pre- viously asked for by the trustees and is what if Would be desiruble to have were the money available. ‘Lue amount may be reduced some- Vhat if 1 befoand possible to avoid purchamng expensive veal estate or in case it be found Wise to errange with one of the private tustite. tions already exieting for part of the work. Hoaring this, bh T, if tt be comdered tuad- visable to ask for the Tull amount the request should be made for some per cent of it with the underesanding that the balance will be ap- proptinted.mext y 1 recommend au appror ation of €75.009 for the girls’ re‘orm school, Summary end General Observations, Shorewith gives a comparative view © appropriations for the pact and current anl \se appropriate recommended ting June 90, 1893. The list of @ instruction of the deaf and aed, (= euucation of the foeble- will be asked for thro the Depart. cf "the Interior. ‘The satin ot Use ape pristions is at prosent rather doubtful, but itis aecoaary Lem quite willing tw indore advance Dr ets reconmuen dations amecnis, These amounts will ada about PopTnvons ached, making # Jewncting the extracrdmary iss for eeiablianing @ retorm school ommended exceeds by munity actually appropriated eur, and will fall below the »risted for the year ending June for amonnie: 90, IN¥:, », Tbs Astor katie Joba's parise oe F Se ot tue Good She, herd st ne Selwot ea 1h throusut Departus sm (other toa rctormetery and B00 Oy 40 3.300 we ber * } 1,590 00 2.000 00 300 ‘L000 wo 000 00 2000 10,000.00 10,000 00 20,000 09 2.000 OD 2.400 OD ge eye) See ee 70W 0) 6,000.00 | Gow 8.082 00 3.000 00 | 3.0% OD | Sa OO | Eon ot 26u0y | Le Ov} ey % nabs By ences or without can be properly ; dea ive by the Women's Christinn Awso- | . ‘They have facilities for separating ¢, own ther building, und, if ° ct their work, in order to provige properiy for this one. The proportion ar support that comes from the District is wo large that they will surely be willing to adapt them- selves to the needs of the District in this mat- ter. The work of the two institutions that by this arrangement are left without public aid is | thorouguly commendable, and I hope and be- | lheve the: the benevolen: people of District | will not jet it fall to the ground or suffer. In | bas bee many ways they will be freer and will have better iniluence on their beneficiaries if they | take no money from the taxpayers. The | amount that the taxpayers can properly beasked | to do in this direction is quite strictly limited, and one institution can bo their ageat in the matter better than three. ible to operate such institutions, ported Eergely ‘by pubic money, without a work tost not do about as much harm as good. ther has any one of them appliances for ridding a man’s clothes of vermin, another o- sential for any waytarers’ house. It will cost less to operate. ene house properly equipped to equip and operate lized show (a da ted. By going from oue institu- tion to anoiber and taking the stations, when nothing better offers, a than can stay in the city all winter and pay nothing for lodg- ingsatall. To send ail ap; its to a contral | institution, where the test could be rig- adly applied, and where if a man appeared re- ‘cquainted with more than a score of *yooking th > theit Mistory ond me, ring in:to ing their reiations to each other, of to thes y own wishes and lating and editing the and of learning and if, ot their heavy ode, and — Ment suppose that this report is Eravecrrora: both of statement and ment. In P confidently count on & ested in the charities j fii i i 7 Ht i i f E i 1 i I # F f & £ s i ii fh | | i | : | 'y he would be recognized and arrested | and efficien weuld rid loafers Fr it & $ £ 5 i