The Washington times., 1904-03-20
BILL TO RELIEVE
HOSPITAL HELPERS
Better Pay and Hours at
Insane Asylum,
ANNUAL LEAVE AND HOLIDAYS
Hard Work Performed by Employees,
Attendants, and Nurses of This
Public Institution.
ANNUAL LEAVE AND HOLIDAYS

The employees. attendants. and nurses
at ST. Elizabeth's Hospital for the In
sane will use every possible effort to
procure favorable action by Congress
on the bin offered in their behalf per
tanning to the regulation of their hours
OF work and compensation. There are
about 300 employees who VIII be bene-
flied, If the bill offered by Representa-
tive Bankhead becomes law. The bill
was introduced on January IS. and the
employees at the hospital are anxious
that some action be taken before the
present session Of Congress ends.
The bill provides that all attendants
and nurses employed at the Government
Hospital for the Insane shall be allowed
fifteen days annual leave. all national
holidays. and all Sundays. or their
equivalent number of days each year
with pay, and also fifteen days sick
leave with pay each year.
Scale of Pay.
The bill also provides that IN the pro-
stationary period, attendants shall re-
ceiVe SIS a month; associate attendants.
after the probationary period, first year
$50 per month. second year 50 per
month. and after thar time Of service
$50 per month; nurses in training. $50 a
Alul4ln LOT the uISL year anu 81 per
month for the second year; after they
have graduated their pay shall be $40
per month.
The pay of female attendants shall
range from $24 per month To $40 per
month.
The employees at St Elizabeth's say
that under the present system they are
Obliged TO work on an average Of Is
hours day-that is, one day they work
L and on the following "A hours.
When not actually on duty, IL IS said,
following
and regulations: Unmarried attendants
and nurses are excused from D. m.
unul 10 p m every other day, or
hours out OF IS: in addition TO this they
are excused ] night each week from 8
j. m until II midnight, or hours out
or every 4s hours; the attendants and
nurses who are married and have fam
lilies away from the hospital are eX-
cQsed from y. m until q. m. every
alternate night, or y hours cut Of every
As hours
When not excused. az loJec. attend
ants and nurses are required 20 be in
their respective quarters hours each
night, subject 70 emergency calls.
Their Health Endangered.
After long. hard days work, it is
said, the attendants and nurses are
obliged to retire to the:r rooms. which.
they say, are in the same ward with
those of insane patients. There Is no
rest. they complain. for they are often
Obliged To listen 10 the meanings. NUT
terings. shrieks. and tattoos beat by
insane patients. and in 50 doing their
health and mental condition IS endan-
geTed.
Il IS also said that attendants ana
nurses are compelled 20 pay Tor their
ovn uniforms. which cost from s. to $40
each and which ere often IL IS SAID
torn and destroyed by the patients in
their care
At present, 1t is said. the wages OF
attendants and nurses range from Sl4
10 $3.50 a month
Under the present system the leave Of
absence OF attendants and nurses IS
regulated as follows. Annual leave.
ttteen days. one-haI day each week.
every third Sunday, national holidays.
Two, and sick leave thirty days. The
sick leave is allowed ct the rate Of two
and one-half days each month. provided
the emplOye is sick IN bed.
Considering the increased cost Of liv-
ing. long hours OF work, and other
hardsIdps which they are compelled TO
bear, the employees at the Government
hospital feel warranted in asking Con
gress 10 make provision Tor a better
ment OF their condition.
The bin introduced by Representative
Pankhead provides for an appropria %
uon Of $4,000 for this purpose