THE ALMSHOUSE.

On the 1st of November, 1875, there were 155 inmates in the alms house. Admitted since, 456; born, 20; making a total of 631. Of this number there were discharged 366; died, 96; making a total of 462. Number of inmates now in the almshouse, 169. Of the 456 admitted since November 1, 1875, 271 were males and 185 females; 244 were colored and 212 white. Of the 456 admitted, 148 were born in Virginia; 91 in Maryland; 85 in the District of Columbia; 1 in Ohio; 1 in New Hampshire; 1 in Alabama; 12 in New York; 4 in South Carolina; 2 in Kentucky; 13 in Pennsylvania; 3 in North Carolina; 4 in New Jersey; 2 in Maine; 1 in Arkansas; 2 in Connecticut; 1 in Illinois; 1 in Massachusetts; 1 in Rhode Island; 51 in Ireland; 11 in Germany; 3 in Poland; 2 in Switzerland; 9 in England; 1 in Canada; 2 in Prussia; 1 in Scotland; 1 in Wales; 1 in France, and 1 in Portugal. As will be seen by the above, 85 of those admitted during the year were born in the District. Seventeen States of the Union and five foreign countries contribute their quota to swell up this exceedingly large number of inmates.

The reports of the intendant and matron, which are annexed, give in detail the workings of the institution.

GEORGETOWN ALMSHOUSE.

The Georgetown almshouse, which is the property of the District, was two years ago, by authority of the honorable Commissioners, permitted to be used for the purposes of the Georgetown Industrial School. We have there twelve aged and indigent poor, for whose support the District pays a monthly sum agreed upon.

THE WORKHOUSE.

On the 1st of November, 1875, the number of prisoners confined in the workhouse was 150; received since, 2,099; making a total of 2,249. Discharged during the same period, 2,000; eloped, 79; died 6; total, 2,085. Number now in workhouse, 164. Of the 2,099 admitted siuce November 1, 1875, 1,612 were males; 487 females; 1,156 were colored and 943 were white. Of the 2,099 admitted, 532 were born in the District of Columbia; 385 in Maryland; 621 in Virginia; 6 in Connecticut; 2 in Georgia; 9 in South Carolina; 9 in Ohio; 4 in Texas; 68 in Pennsylvania; 65 in New York; 18 in Massachusetts; 6 in Maine; 12 in New Jersey; 3 in West Virginia; 6 in Kentucky; 5 in Rhode Island; 7 in North Carolina; 1 in California; 2 in Delaware; 3 in Alabama; 3 in Louisiana; 3 in Tennessee; 6 in Indiana; 2 in New Hampshire; 2 in Illinois; 2 in Florida; 1 in Vermont; 3 in Michigan; 1 in Arkansas; 1 in Mississippi; 181 in Ireland; 38 in England; 39 in Germany; 3 in France; 4 in Denmark; 1 in Prussia; 16 in Scotland; 7 in Swit zerland; 1 in Hamburg; 1 in Mexico; 1 in Russia; 4 in Canada; 1 in West Indies; 1 in Newfoundland; 3 in Sweden; 6 at sea; 1 in South America; 1 in Wales, and 1 in Italy. Of the 2,099, 490 were committed for profanity; 563 for vagrancy; 752 disorderly conduct; 89 carrying concealed weapons; 41 throwing stones in the street; 52 indecent exposure; 3 selling liquor without license; 11 enticing prostitution; 2 fast driving; 1 injury to tree-boxes; 2 kindling fire in the street; 6 disorderly assembly; 1 peddling without license; 2 notorious thieves; 1 depositing the contents of a privy in the city without per

mit; 1 driving on footway; 1 disturbling theatrical performances; 29 trespassing on park; 2 injuring public property; 16 injuring private property; 1 injuring trees and seats in public parks; 1 obstructing streets; 1 obstructing pavement; 2 playing ball in the street; 1 disturbing the peace of Georgetown; 2 violating market regulations; 1 injuring trees in public streets; 1 carrying on business without license; 2 disorderly in the market; 3 violating cart-law; 3 disturbing church; 1 injuring street lamps; 1 unlicensed wagon; 1 raising false alarm; 1 taking sods from a public alley; 2 excavating a street; 1 violating a dog law; 1 violating a license law; 4 profane and indecent language; 2 injuring a building; 1 forestalling a market; 1 firing a gun in the street. Of these 2,099, 56 were thirteen years and under; 185 were sixteen and under; 209 were eighteen and under; 413 were twentyone and under; 612 were thirty and under; 307 were forty and under; 215 were fifty and under; 66 were sixty and under; 27 were sixtyeight and under; 6 were seventy-six and under, and 3 were ninety-seven and under.

THE OLD JAIL.

As is well known, during former years the building known as the Washington Asylum was devoted to the dual use of an almshouse and prison, the north side or wing being used for the incarceration of criminals. The large increase of both classes of inmates rendered it absolutely essential that some change should be made. On the prison or workhouse side, there were nearly often two hundred men and women huddled in such narrow limits that it was next to impossible to preserve the cleanliness of the place, and at any moment it was probable an epidemic disease might ensue. How to provide for this class of unfortu nates was a question. There was no building owned by the District government ample to accommodate them, and, as a last resort, your honorable body obtained permission from Congress to use the old jail as a temporary work-house or city prison. The prisoners were promptly removed thereto, and it is still used for that purpose. Later in the session a bill was introduced in both houses of Congress turning over the old jail building to the District, with the condition that it should be torn down and the material used in the construction of a new building for work-house purposes. There was an appropriation of $9,000 added, but owing to a disagreement between the houses on the terms of the bill, and by its failure to reach a conference committee, the entire proposition failed. As a new jail building must be speedily constructed, I respectfully urge upon your honorable body the necessity of presenting the facts in the case to Congress as soon as it shall have re-assembled, for the purpose of securing the immediate passage of a bill authorizing you to tear down the old jail and erect with the material taken therefrom a new one on the grounds of the Washington Asylum, which building shall at once be safe and commodious enough for the present as well as the future wants of the District in this respect. In this work the labor of the prisoners can be utilized, and with but little outlay of money one of the most pressing needs of the District can be secured.

PRISON LABOR.

From the organization of the work-house an effort was made to util ize, as far as possible, the labor of the inmates. In the early days they were compelled to work on the grounds connected with the institution

then known as "the farm," as well as perform such work about the premises in the shape of repairs, &c., as they could do.

After the change in the form of government they were required to work at grading certain streets in the vicinity of the asylum, and now a portion of them are detailed daily to work in various localities, under the direction of the superintendent of streets. The amount of labor they perform, or the character of it, I am unable to state, but I am not satisfied that working the prisoners on the streets in work-house garb, in what is called a "chain-gang," is exactly the spectacle to be presented in the capital city of the United States. The terms for which they are imprisoned are too short to instruct them in the branches of mechanics usually pursued in prisons, but it is possible to devise some method of employing them within the grounds of the jail, or in the immediate vicinity. A serious objection to placing these men on the street is to be found in the fact that in very many instances they are sentenced for thirty days for a first offense, which is often of a trivial character. The majority of the cases are charged with intemperance, loud and boisterous language, or alleged vagrancy. They are arrested in the night, and in the morning, before they have an opportunity of sending for friends, if they have any, they are tried, and the offense being proven, in default of payment of the fine imposed they are sent tot he work-house. The fault in these cases is not with the court, as it simply administers the law; but it is an unnecessary degradation in very many cases, some of which have come under my personal observation, to clothe these men in the criminal's dress, and compel them, thus attired, to work under the supervision of an official overseer on the highways. The reverse of this class are a number of vagrants and drunkards, who are almost habitual inmates of the workhouse. As the law now stands they cannot be sentenced for a longer period than ninety days, but I recommend that the law be changed, so that this class can be incarcerated for a period of a year or more. I also recommend that, when the new jail is built, a portion of it be fitted up as a work-shop, in order that their labor may be utilized, as we could then compel them to work, and, while protecting the public from such pests, make their incarceration in a measure remunerative.

POTTER'S FIELD.

Attached to the asylum is the burial-ground for paupers and unknown dead, commonly known as "potter's field." More than a year ago this ground, after being thoroughly cleaned, was laid out as a cemetery for the poor, being divided into grave sites and sections, and the entire portion was inclosed with a neat and substantial fence. A record of the deaths and burials, giving name, date of burial, and such other facts as can be ascertained, was established, so that, notwithstanding the statement of the coroner of the District in his recent report to the contrary, all the necessary data concerning each person interred therein can readily be ascertained at this office. Further than this, since the change was made in the cemetery each body buried has remained, the graves being carefully guarded against desecration.

SMALL-POX HOSPITAL.

The small-pox hospital is still located in the frame building situated about 1,200 feet northeast of the asylum proper. In my last report I cited the fact that this building was old and unfitted for the purposes to which it is devoted, and recommended that a site more isolated be

selected and a building erected expressly for the purpose. That recommendation I earnestly renew, as in the event of the loathsome disease becoming epidemic the present hospital is too near the jail and asylum, and its accommodations inadequate.

THE HOSPITAL.

The hospital, consisting of one new wooden and four old buildings, is now in excellent condition. The particulars of its management are given in the report of Dr. William M. Page, the visiting physician, hereto an nexed. His recommendation for the erection of an additional ward on the north side of the yard, at right angles with the two male wards, meets my approval, and I urge that as soon as spring opens the work be commenced.

REFORMATORIES.

Under date of March 6, 1876, I called the attention of your honorable body to the fact that many women in this District spent a large portion of their time in the work-house as prisoners, and suggested a remedy in a communication of which the following is a copy :

To the Hon. COMMISSIONERS, D. C.:

GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to state that there are now confined in the workhouse of this District a number of women for the crime of "vagrancy," enticing prostitution, and the like. These poor creatures repeat their offenses so often that the majority of their lives are passed in the work-house, during which no special effort is made toward their reformation, nor are the influences or the surroundings of a workhouse calculated to direct a change in their mode of life; in other words, they are poor outcasts, heartily shunned by their own sex and abandoned by the other.

The object of this communication is to call your attention to the necessity existing for a reformatory institution of some kind, under the direct control of the District government, where these women can be sent and cared for, and where their time and labor can be utilized both to themselves and the State, and where a special effort can be made and certain influences thrown around them looking to a change and reformation in their lives, and molding their minds and character toward a happier and better end.

To do this would require a separate and distinct building; such a building the Government owns and possesses. I refer to the one known as the Georgetown Almshouse, a large and commodious brick building, surrounded by grounds beautifully situated, a little outside of Georgetown; the locality is healthy, and while isolated from the city proper, is yet not so far as to be inaccessible to all who may desire to visit it. Five thousand dollars expended in repairs and furniture would be ample to make it suitable for fifty persons, and ten thousand dollars for the first year would cover the expense of food, clothing, medicines, salaries, and such machinery and fixtures as might be needed for the establishment of several branches of trades. In connection with this communication, I take the liberty of transmitting a draft of a bill covering the points in this letter. If it meets your approval, I ask that it be revised by your honorable body to make it as near perfect as possible.

Very respectfully,

TIMOTHY LUBEY,
Commissioner, W. A.

Since that time the truth of the statement and the urgent need of some prompt measures for the relief of this unfortunate class has been daily brought to my attention as commissioner of the Washington Asylum, and I beg leave again to renew the recommendation contained in the above. The following statement of the period which twenty-six of these persons have passed in the work-house, under sentence for the crime of vagrancy, prostitution, &c., is a startling exhibit, and should commend the subject to your careful and earnest consideration.

Statement of periods which twenty-six females, sentenced at various times for vagrancy, enticing prostitution, &c., have served in the work-house during the years 1875 and 1876.

Throughout this country and Europe a class of institutions, both penal and reformatory, for the benefit of girls and women, have been founded and fostered by the State with the most beneficial results, and the last reports from all agree that while they entail a necessary expense they have been the means of reclaiming many wayward girls, and reforming many outcast women. In all of them the inmates are required to perform some class of labor not inconsistent with their physical strength; for instance, paper-box making, sewing, knitting, laundry work, and in some, light gardening. In all they are required to do necessary house-work, sewing, repairing, washing, &c., of the institution. Long ago the managers of these institutions discovered that moral suasion was a more potent power for good than harsh measures, and all now agree that the only way to reform the wayward, vicious, and even criminal girl and woman, is to abandon the usual imprisonment system, to group them together, as it were, in a community, insist on the discipline essential to good government, require willing obedience to proper laws, provide such employment as will render the period of their detention less irksome, seek to impart to them such education as the elementary books afford, give them glimpses of the outer world through the columns of the daily press, feed their imagination by the reading of proper books, maintain and improve their physique by wholesome recreation, and above all, by the channel of religious instruction, to teach them the duty they owe society while on this earth, and lead them to a firm belief of their forgiveness and happiness in the world to come. By this means they have succeeded in the majority of cases in sending from the doors of their asylums women thoroughly reformed, who went forth with pride and self-reliance to become good and useful members of society, workers instead of idlers, and standing exemplars of the truism that human nature is never so depraved but that kindly efforts can redeem it.