Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-01
The Freedmen's Hospital Investiga.
ton.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

otnatOf EATON, from the Senate committee
Oh appropriations, has made a report of the
result of the investigation into the affairs of
the FTeedmens hospital, which is concurred
IN by the whole committee. The report states
that In accordance with the direction of the
senate the committee called upon the Secre-
might nave and received two reports of in
VestlgatlonS, with numerous afidavitS, letters
ana mass OF testimony. The first committee
was appointed by the Secretary, consisting of
one employe of the Treasury and two from
the Interior department., who reported in
August last that they had inspected the vari-
the patients are well fed with wholesome,
well-prepared food, the bread being of excel
lent character. that "all purchases are made
unaeT IHIl and Tree competition. at the lowest
A few days after this report, charges were
hled In the Interior department by a cOlOred
1oOd was given to the patients, deficient in
quality, insufficient in quantity, and badly
cooked; that the wards and water closets are
Kept IN bad condition; that patients are
neglected by the physicians and nurses; that
supplies, for the hospital are bought at high
prices OF retail dealers. etc; On these charges
tmee physicians, Drs. Hood, Ewing and
Walsh, with instructions to examine and re-
port thelr conclusions in writing This board
spent month in examining witnesses at the
hospital and in personal inspection. The
Senate committee say THE board was ex
ceently constituted for its purpose, it being
learned in diseases and familiar with hospitals
and its conclusions after weeks of personal
inspection and patient examination of wit
nesSeS have value which could hardly be as
serted of any report made by non, professional
investigators" The report of the board is
then gwen in full. 1t takes up the charges
is sustained by, facts, and that no founda-
tiOn has existed, or does now exist, for the
charge of maladminiStratiOn in any respect"
The committee say the board was ordered to
ha oh
published in the daily papers, but the report
respecting them has never been published;
that the, Senate would not probably have
deemed the expense of further investigation
necessary If this report had been before it,
But, observing in the Stcnographic report of
an interview between the Secretary aud his
Solicitor and the members of the board that
the latter found their conclusions in part from
Their Judgment OF the credibility of witnesses,
The committee examined a large number of
witnesses to judge for themselves the degree
OF discretion exercised by the board in de-
tel mining upon the credibility of witnesses
The committee say: This seemed the more
necessary. because the inmates OF such inStitu-
tlOnSaS the Freedmen Hospital and especial
ly OF that hospital, are drawn from the
most needy and .wretched classes of society
many OF them mbecile and some idiOtic. some
degraded to DeaStllneSS by lOathSOme vices,
and others bearing the impress of life of ex-
reme want. Some among the inmates are of
good character and fair Intelligence, consigned
mere oy disease and poverty Much discrimi-
nation IS necessary i'll Judging testimony
drawn from such sources. The greatest mis-
fortune that could happen to these unfortunate
beings would be to turn them from the hospital
into the streets to die for they have no other
SHELTER. Witnesses SO situated. of such grade
OF intelligence and moral stamina would be
apt to avert such consequences by testifying so
nOunce their fate, and to vary their testimony
as difference influences moved them.'' The
committee then show how witnesses waverel
back and forth in their testimony and the ap.
parent causes for it, making an interesting
statement thereon, but too long for insertion
here: Finding this condition of things, the
was left confused by the cringing Servility or
fierce partiZanShip of some of the inmates of
TIE hospital by calling as witnesses outside,
diSinterested persons.
The committee say that they personally in
spected the wards, beds Kitchen food. Sc,
and found everything cleanly and in good
order They endeavOred TO ascertain whether
This was a new condition of things, caused by
the pending, OF any previous investigation,
not only by questioning patients and employees
as far removed as possible from Over-aweing
ln1iue noes, but by calling outsiders They cite
on this point number of witnesses. Upon
such testimony the committee conclude that
thSclean condition of the hospital, and the ex-
cellence of the food, which was apparent to
them, and could not well be denied, were not
new, but were part OF careful system that
mac mac cSen ehaofced he 6y the surgeon in charge
The committee personally inspected the
DOCKS and accounts of the institution, modes
VI purchase, &C., ana DelleVe The business or
the government at the hospital is conducted
with entire honesty and economy. DR.. Pal
mer maintains a sharp competition among
dealers, and purchases at the lowest rates good
articles OF wholesale Dealers" The committee
says ON the Item OF meat, 1.-THE committee do
not have the slightest doubt that the meats de-
livered at the hospital were good merchanta-
bic meats" In the heats of last summer there
were two or three occasions where part of the
meat cooked had become tainted at night
from Temporary lack of ice at the hospital
an an accident that might happen in any family
The committee discuss other similar questions
insane paupers, and other matters named in
JOhnson's charges, and conclude with the
statement that they concur with the two
former committees that the affairs of the hos
pital are well conducted under its present
management.