Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-02-22
THE FREEDMEN'S HOSPITIL IN
TESTIGATION.

THE FREEDMEN'S HOSPITIL IN
TESTIGATION.
Some of the DeveIopements-ACh Chan.
ter of True Inwardness.
The subcommittee of the Senate appprOpr-
atlons committee, investigating the Freed
mems Hospital has received from the
Secretary of the Interior transcript of the
Stenographic report of the interview between
him and the commission of doctors originally
appointed to Investigate the Hospital and also
a Transcript of testimony taken by the Secre-
tary in his late unexpected visit to that nstitu-
ton.
The first transcript gives an accurate ac-
count Of the dialogue i'm a rather notable inter
view. With this foundation for its opera
uonS the imagination, easily supplying the
details of stage business, enables one without
difficulty to enjoy even now the curious and
instructive drama of The Investigators In
with wit bis private secretary, Mr. Mitchell, and
Solicitor Marble receive the members of the
commission, who are a trifie uneasy at the I'M
expected summons, but who are somewhat
sustained by the consciousness of having
smelled many an unpleasant smell and of haV.
ing seen many adisagreeable sight in obedi-
The visitors are not reasSured when informed
that the Secretary and Mr.. Marble. examining
independently, have been struck by the vari-
ance between their report and the testimony
taken by them, accompanying it, and that it
has been concluded to send for them and to hear
any explanation that they may desire 10 offer
concerning what may be called the flour myS-
tery.n 1t seems that in January, 1877, As bar
res .o OF flour were provided for 219 patients: in
barrels for 2S5 patients, while in Angus with
255 patients only 19 barrels were purchased.
and In September, with 2i6 patients, the
with their explanations. One suggests that,
when flour was low, Dr.. Palmer made contracts
and purchased in excess of use; but, when
questioned. he is constrained to admit that he
has no KNOWLEDGE OF accumulation pf
flour at the hospital, and had not examined to
md whether -four had deprecated in the
have been bought. Secretary Schurz soon
gives this explanation its QuietuS, by showing
that from July, 1874, to July, 1877, the number
OF patlents was about the same, between 296
and 20, and the number of barrels furnished
was between "A and 81: and that no accumula
ton appeared in the whole period. Another
doctor steps into the imminent deadly breach
and suggests that the Colored Orphan Asylum
was furnished with bread until the first of
July, and that when this supply was discon-
tnued less flour was needed. 1t is now deve
Oped by close questioning that no authority
was discovered for furnishing bread to the
asylum. When the doctors are shown that in
July Al barrels OF flour were provided, showing
only an inconsderable decrease from the pre-,
cedlng month they discover that the asylum
was not dropped until the lSt of August but to
explain how it was that q barrels were re
| CURED for 2i6 persons in September and Only
| ~ barrels for 255 persons in August, even the
orphan asylum is of no avail. One of the doc
tors now figures that the asylum would re
| qulre barrel OF flour day, or 80 barrels a
month: When it is pointed out to him that
| this estimate would allow considerably more
to each orphan than to each grown inmate of
the h0Sp]tal, he remarks SSententiOuSly: Child
| rem growing require as much food as laboring
men," All the explanations being unSatisfac-
Tory, IL stlll remains mystery how A barrels
| of flour should be required in one month and
only ~ in another for the same number OF pa
| tients. NV
So ends part first. The Secretary and the
r.t1N a. tI,.,
| doctors have explained singly and often con
lradictorily; now they have Thought" now
they have understood" and now they have
! failed to respond.
The remainder of the performance is simi
lar to what has been described. The doctors
find difficulty in making it perfectly evident
assistant engineer discharged in MAY, 1875
was borne on the rolls at the rate of SO
month until October, 1875: The extraordinary
egg expense OF the hospital also illustrates
the doctors. 1t appears that from ITO to 100
dozen eggs month were purchased. an aver
age OF more than half dozen month to
each inmate; but that none except sick pa
tlents were furnished them, and these only at
rare intervals. The suggestion is offered that
the eggs unaccounted for were made into
delicacies for the patients: whom, it may be
added, Dr. PurviS in the intervals between
their SumptuOus repasts has SpiayfulyScratched
over the head with pen or urged to healthfu
TO explain their neglect to condemn the fear
full condition of the water closets, the evils
arlslhag shig ir4m rom the III use OF the same towel and
purchase OF spoiled meat and hearts and
tongues for the inmates. Secretary Schurz
gives point to the examination by reading
some especially appalling statements in the
testimony, and then appealing to the doctors
for their reasons for disregarding it. In reply
tfe hsr character OF the witness But
that the witnesses agreed as to their testi-
mOny?" And the doctors answer NO" 1t ap-
pears that the commission relied on the dis
Interested tpS1lmQOy of thp hnfchar nd hob
rather than the inmates for reporting that the
10od was Sample, sufficient and g0Od.' And
WY Why did a t they 90 this? Because the inmates
Further examination on this point causes
the Secretary to remark: 1T seems that un-
t6syp IN S and emoyes testify all side
But, say the doctors, the charges originated i'm
bad feeling. Quickly comes the question did
you ever heard OF any charges that originated
After somewhat similar dialogues in refer.
ence to the alleged diversion of hospital apprO-
failure OF the commission to examine into the
accounts of the hospital and to comment on
s aSrse 9 and
at large among the inmates, the visitors with.
drew:
their explanation is accepted, is that they
thought that their inquiries were to be outside
OF the testimony and that it was merely their
opinion. IS. that were wanted wa without an expla-
way: Consequently for two days and half at
the beginning, and for a shorter time at the
end Of the investigation no reporter was EN-.
plOyed. Reliance was placed on the words of
DIR. Palmer, the butcher, baker, steward, and
some medical students, and little on the testi.
mOny. of the inmates of the hospital, who
would seem to be the only disintereSted wit
nesseS. The commission had not read the
tesfimOny-it was not even all written out
when they made their report. According to
this view the doctors appear guilty only OF
strange emisapprehension of their mission, and
OF unfitness for searching Investigation. But
by abandoning this ground in large part of
the interview, and by attempting to explain
away Irregularities which they had overlooked
and 10 defend the hospital against testimony
which they had ignored, they put themselves
in rather an absurd position.
The transcript of the testimony taken by
Secretary SchurZ in his visit to the hospital
brings out some damaging facts concerning
certain affidavits sent from the hospital to the
Secretary few days previous in defence of
the institution; Several of those examined
swear positively that they did not know the
contents OF the affidavits purpOrting to he
made by them, and did not hear them read.
VIM: Brown, who was advised by DR. Puryis tn
"lOOk over his mind' and make a Statement
at first refused, but was finally "got arOund.'I
and persuaded against his will,S Bat he did
not swear to an affidavit, and only portions of