Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-06-30
Las Vegas, June 20, 1903

To the Hon. Miguel A Otero, governor /
of New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mex
leo.
Sir: The committee to investigate
the territorial insane asylum, appoint I.
ed by your official order on the 9Th In
slant respectfully submits the follow
ing report of its proceedings and find
ings.
The committee was organized by the
selection of Mr.. X. J. Palen as chair
man on the 18th instant, the day des-
ignated in your official notice to the
members for the meeting of Tie com
mittee, and the necessary steps were
taken to give the utmost publicity pos
sible to the manner of procedure to be
observed in the investigation by pub
lie notice in the newspapers at Las
Vegas and by formal subpoena to all
witnesses whose names could be ascer-
tanned by the committee or were fur-
nished by the representatives OF the
parties who had been instrumental In
procuring and publishing details OF the
alleged mismanagement of the asylum.
Steps were also taken in all cases to
procure the attendance of absent wit
nesses. and in this particular the board
of regents of the asylum heartily CO.
operated with the committee by paying
all expenses and transportation of such
witnesses. and extending every facility
to your committee for procuring their
attendance
Request was made of your commit
tee by representatives of the parties
making the charges to be present in
person or by attorney, which was
granted, and during the greater part
of our sessions they were so represent
ed. A similar privilege was granted
the board of directors of the asylum
and exercised by them. Five full days
with long sessions open to the public
were given to the hearing of the testi'
y mony attached to this report
Before proceeding to take the testi
mony, your committee made careful
and thorough inspection of the asylum
and thoroughly looked into all the
command and management of the pa
tients and in the discharge of the gen
eral affairs of the asylum, and the
asylum appeared to be in the most ex
cellent condition, and its affairs judi
ciously and properly managed Perfect
cleanliness prevailed, there was an en-
tire absence of repulsive features, the
patients appeared to be as we'll caret
for and under as little restraint, al
was compatible with their mental con
dition and 1t was matter of surpris
to the committee that so satisfactor,
condition of affairs should exist will
so little appearance of the exertion o
force or restraint. The patients az
~ peared to be well nourished and you
y committee saw nothing in the cours
a of its inspection meriting criticism o
unfavorable comment
We found that the charges agains
the asylum might be conveniently d
vided for the purpose of our report III
der the following heads:
First Quantity and quality of tn
food furnished the patients and whetl
er the patients were subjected to an
deprivation of food as a punishment.
Second. Work, whether the work r.
quired by the patients was of an el
cessive character and what was tn
effect on them of such work as was n
quired or permitted.
Third. Cruel and inhuman treatmen
Male ward-The so-called Ferri
wheel baths; the use of the gag; tn
dip and shower baths strapping to tn
doors, and other unnecessary re
traint; blows or kicks inflicted on pi
tients.
Female ward-Striking, kicking
choking patients throwing them vi,
lently TO the floor; dragging them b
the hair or ears; subjecting patient
to unnecessary exertions when in a
enfeebled condition. straping them I
the floor; whether there was failul