The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-02-04
BAD TREATMENT OF INSANE.
SCANDAL AT ASYLJHS BRol"hf
BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE 1.-
DR.. Nitter of Spokane infroS'
Joint Resolution in tn~ House
Providing for n Thorough 1nses
x,S.,sa, Into Serious Charges

Special Dispatch 70 the Po7t-inteiiisence
OLYMPIA FEB. s-The scandal grcs1nE,
our Of sse charges az Fll.sFi1asla zefae''s So
tnc0nlpsst Grey a the Medical Ia @e hhsA.'e
asylum vas brought 20 tie stient1s9 oi t4S
hapse tosMy, when Or. Whittier o. Si'e-
kara introduced a Joint resolution calling
81 he speaker % the house and The pFeSl-
deaf q me senate 20 appoint JOINT IA
vssfig4.iug COMMITTEES 10 visit ihe a.! IAN
a.. ascertain TIE tacfs- During Ire d~eSAse
on tie resolution the tart was CEoas+-- o..
slsas serious allegations have aeSn mace
AGAINST Supt. LoCkhart. ana L1ac among
NE officers and employees Of the institution
mere has existed for a long time fTicG1oH
and had feeling, which Is any thing puc con-
daeire 10 the welfare OF tbs hospital.
Or. w!tter introduced the following Joint
.sW-nsreas. Serious charges OF misnanage-
Yneut against thoSe in charge st the hos
piial for the insane al Meitcal Lake have
been made IN various newspapers, there
Resolved, That joint committee of
three lie appointed. consisting q INC MEM
hers from the house and ore member from
the senate TO visit sad thoroughly invesA-
gate the spitals for the insane al Medical
Lake and StelScoom. and report concern
ing their condition 70 this legislature
Unfair III Not Cruel Treatment.
Speaking in support Of the resolution Or
Witter said:
OF common report ana most upfaVoraole
comment that charges cf gross incompe-
tency and miSynana cement have been made
against the officials in charge Of he retreat
for the insane a: Medical Lake. The
charges have been particularly directed
against Supt. Lockhart Inmates, II has
been alleged have been treated. If not
cruelty Al least unfairly. The number OF
employees, II has been said, is insufficient
"a protect the inmates from each other.
Other allegations have been made concern
iEs the conduct Of the institution. which il
-
amply Justify. in my opinion. an jnyes ga
jlon by a committee of this legislature
Allen Of Spokane said that many pro
fesslonal men in his county. knowing the
facts had expressed 20 him q desire that
the asylum be investigated and gae facts
made public.
Maxwell of Paciac-No. MANY weeks ago
a party was sent from our county TO the
asylum at Steilacoom. He came back in
few days much the worse far The expert
ence. He had been badly hart. l think the
resolution should pass.
Wickersham said that unless facts could
be brought before the house he would not
favor Junkeiing trip for three members
q tie legislature al The expense Of the
state.
Nit,er. In reply. said: Before leaving
Med.ca Lake. Since 9:t heb nsI' have T Fey
letters from parties there and elsa where in
Spokane county informing me as 10 the
condition Gf affairs. Bat q few days
ago there appeared 4 letter IN the Spokane
Outburst, written. as | am assured. by a
responsible party. detailing the existence
of a condition al the asylum which the
died I sincerely hope that the resolution
viii pass. These institutions should be In
vestigatsd."
Wickersham moved tAat the matter 6e
referred 70 the committee on hospitals for
the insane, Of which DR.. Witter IS chair
man. Carried.
sheep Fund mn Killed.
Lambert's BILL providing for the crea.
~ a 1rf 3Ar7ry Aa.
on dogs FOR the reimbursement of owners
Of sheep destroyed by dogs. came zap on
second reading, This measure narrowly
escaped being killed on being reported
from the committee several DAYS ago
Several amendments were offered - the
bill, In the midst Of these Gose Of Walla
Wa'fe moved that II be indefinitely post
ponei
Calvert took UP the tight for the bin.
He declared that the owners Of dogs In
Whatcom county were wiling 70 paw an
annual license and that there vas equity
in the proposition TO use revenues thus de-
rived for the remuneration Of farmers who
suffered from predatory dogs. There are
no sheen - speak of in Waiia Waus" said
Judge Calvert. turning his attention to the
that the dogs they have cannot run fas.
enough 70 catch sheep. daughter In
western Washington. however we have
fine sheep and logs thai can r,3r The oW,n-
or % dog in the city Is iuet as much sub
iact 70 the provisions OF this bin ga one In
the country for there Is no telling when
ne Will be taken 10 the fields and allowed
TO prey on he focks, hope the bin VIII
rot hs killed ."
The members got considerable Fun ont az
the delate or this hill FINALLY The motion
10 Indefinitely postpone was pvt and car
RED
re3fard cf Pierce na.3fef the house that
a b9nGf1et n honor Cf the members % the
legislators ~ al PARTIES wouls he gfve-, NJ
the Tacoma hotel Tuesday evening ut S.aA
hv Serst0f-e'ect Foster IN behalf " Mr.
roerer AL ste COR, .,i-.ee ~, .y,a, &.,,,,,-t
~ extended cordial Invitation 70 the
members - both parties - eftend The
invitation also includes :ha ct-!eF clerE az
tNe horse. tNe secretary - tha so~afe and
she accredited vnweu7Ber correananderts
Intending the Aewls'a sure
TFe'ftr's rcS0tufson fnfrofa@eT eoar ~ sfe~
enc ~ens9'vv ~ the Sameua' tbat she Neusa
~ lisa shou'i sfio~rn TIL Monday. was
07Tsef arf This afternoon nanv members
iert the capita ci,v g2r heir homes