, 1889-12-12

as | get hold Of the reports of the ex-ter-
ritoriAl officers, which are now being
printed"
The reports are being printed by the
Puget Sound Printing Company OF Ia
coma. They are due here tomorrow.
CARE OF THE INSANE.
Charges Against tho Management of
the Steilacoom Asylum.
Dr. j. Waugop, superintendent of the
Steilacoom insane asylum, is here to ue--
mand an investigation of the charges of
cruelty to patients, made by the Walla
Walla journal. That paper recently
published letter signed by 81. I. NJ
In general terms 1t sets forth that the
female patients have been assaulted by
an attendant, and that one woman was
not long since removed from the hos
pital in delicate condition, and that
after the birth of her child she was re-
turned to the institution as crazy as
ever. Upon seeing this, DR.. Waugop
Immediately came to this city and
told Representative Judson of Pierce
who is one of the trustees of the asylum
and also member of the senate and
house committee on hospitals for the
house, that he wanted an inquiry. Rep
resentative Judson thinks there is no
truth in the stories, and secs no neces
sity for AN investigation.
Or. Waugop was asked to-day about
the charges. He said: There Is posi-
lively no ground for such charges and
am surprised that newspaper would.
poblish an annony nous communication
of this kind. Four or five years ago
woman was brought to the asylum when
pregnant and was sent home in the
course OF time, but there
lately. My idea of the origen of
the story is that some patient
has sent Il out in a letter. According
TO the law we are required to furnish tho
patients with writing material. but have
no authority to inspect the letters for
Objectionable contents before they are
sent out"
The territorial commission has drafted,
with the assistance of DIR. Waugop, a
long bill for the government of asylums,
which it submitted to the joint code
committee tonight. Steilncoom in
stitution will be known as the Western
Washington hospital for the insane
and the new one as the Eastern Wash
ington hospital for the insane" When
the latter is i'll running order, it will re-
ceive patients from east of the Cas-
cades and the former from west
OF the Cascades and the eastern
patients now in the Steilacoom asylum
will be transferred to Medical Lake.
Each hospital will be under the control
of "a board of three trustees, each of
whom must furnish a bond of 5000.
The bill makes n number of changes
in the present law, of which the follow
ing are the most Important: The regu-
lar officers and employees of each insti-
tuition and their annual salaries are as
follows; Superintendent $500; assist
ant physician, $780, stewards, $500;
druggist, $500; matron, $3.50; head
warden, $3.50; engineer, 500; assistant
engineer, $40; ward attendants, male
and female, each, 500; outside attend
ant, 500; teamster, S4OO. laundress, $500;
carpenter, 5000; cook, $500; baker, 5000;
assistant cook, 800: assistants in
the Kitchen and dining. room, $500;
total salaries tor each hospital, $1,000.
In addition to their salaries the EN-;
ployecs are to receive subsistence, and
the superintendent, assistant physician,
steward and engineer are to be furnished
quarters for their families. In making
improvements the trustees are limited to
an expenditure of $500 year. The old
law allowed $1,000 year. An allowance
of sl6 is made Tor the monthly support
OF each patient. The number present
basis of the computation If 1t be neces-
sary TO discriminate in the reception of
patients, cases of less than years
duration are to be given the
preference, then chronic cases and
then those for whom applications have
been longest on file. and where cases are
mertorious in all respects, preference is
to be given to iudigents. Whenever n
patient is discharged he shall receives uit-
able clothing and not more than $50 in
money. The letters written by the pa
ticnts are TO be inspected by the super
A. Al. Il. ~
lie must submit them to the trustees.
The present law is not so stringent in
this respect. and letters containing insane
stories, OF which there is no ioundation
have been frequently sent out. II the
person is admitted, his or her relatives
or friends must give the superintendent
bond for 800 to pay for clothing. and
unless it is delivered In good order TO the
superintendent he is not bound TO re
ceive the patient. No case of idiocy,
imbecility or harmless chronic mental
unsoundness shall be committed to the
hospital, and the surerintendent may
discharge such patients if they have
been admitted.
The Medical Lake Asylum-An APP
preparation of 4 1OO.O 900 Asked For.
President Drumhciier of the Medical
Lake insane asylum commission sent
the following letter to the house this
morning:
To the honorable senators and represen-
tatives ofthe state of Washington:
GENTLEMEN: The undersigned COM
missioners for the insane asylum OF
Eastern Washington at Medical Lake
most respectfully ask your honorable
. bodies TO make sufficient appropria-
ton to complete the building now under
construction. 1t will be necessary to
complete and furnish the 50 me TO make
an appropriation for tho following; To
build and complete kitchen aud laun-
dry, boiler and power housr.
engine room and bake ovens,
to lath and plaster the entire building
throughout. inside Flushing, includin !.
the hardware and painting, plumbing
throughout. electric lighting plant AMI
fixtures, laundry machinery, kitchen
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