Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-10
RESPONSE TO COMPLAINT.
Board of Visitors Endorses Manage
ment Of st., E1izabeth's Asylum.

At recent meeting of the board Of Wis
itors of st. Elizabetil's Asylum the COM
plant of the attendants regarding reduc-
ton of salaries alleged to have been made
recently was acted upon, the readjustment
as made by the superintendent placing the
salaries on the old basis being approved
In so far as the complaint as to the quail
ity and quantity of food served is con-
cerned, the board in a report adopted yes
terday afternoon, gnkys that after having a
number OF the ensployes before it written
reports were received from the storekeepers
Of the hospital. all Of whom have been long
in service, and soEae of whom appeared be-
fore the board and were orally questioned,
as were the house steward, the head cook,
four supervisors>snd others. the uniform
testimony being that no change In quality
or quantity OF food has been made by the
present superintendent
follows:
Waste has been checked In several i'm
portant directions, but not to the detriment
or discomfort of either patients or employees.
Complete equality prevails throughout the
hospital. For example, butterine has been
used for some four years, and is served at
the tables of all officers including the SUI
perintendent. -
las the result of this careful and patient
.
be heard was given all the time that he
wished to state his case. the board found,
and now records as its unanimous opinion,
that no Objectionable change has been made
In the hospital by the present superin-
tentlent. and that no just ground Of COM
plant exists on the part of either patients
or employees
Itemizing the statements made by those
who brought the charges, the board answers
each, as follows:
1. That the eerned beef served was some
times tainted. They instanced especially
that of last Saturday, the 4th instant.
were brought to the board carefully ex-
amined, the cooked sample tasted. and all
found to be in perfect condition.
2. That the steak served is sometimes.
or usually tough. AS 1t requires 100 pounds
of steak to supply the hospital for one
meal. and as the choice portions are re-
served for the diet kitchens, round and
other less tender cuts must be used for the
ger eral tables. The cook in charge of the
general kitchen later testified that care is
taken to prepare this steak in the best
manner. some being brofled and some fried,
some well done and some, underdone. to
suit varying tastes.
3. That specked potatoes have on one or
two occasions been served. This no doubt
happened, but Is natural oversight in
the poor condition of potatoes at this sea-
4. That boiled potatoes are served in
their skins. This has always been the Gus
tom at the hospital. as 1t is in hotels and
private houses in many instances.
5. One or two persons pronounced the
tea and coffee weak.
g. That In some cases an insufficient sup
ply Of food was on the table. But when
more was sent for from the kitchen 1t was
always forthcoming.
Z. That in some cases the clothing was
inadequate IN quality. Butt on inquiry the
clothing was found to be as 1t has long
been-the best being issued only to patients
capable of using II Properly; while coarsar
clothing is issued To the disturbed, ana
washable goodsi isheh as jeans, to the very
untfdy. mi 3HsH