Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-11
THE INSANE ASYLUM
More Employees Testify Before
the Special Committee.
INSTITUTION WELL ORDERED
According to the Evidence Of Most
Of Them.
SOME VERY BAD COOKING
According to Mrs. Dean, Who Only
Eats One Meal Day


today, and the committee intends to keep on
working hard. SO that the job may be I'm
ished as soon as possible.
Favorable Testimony.
Mrs Augusta e. kellogg, the first wit
ness. said that her son, contract surgeon
of the United States army, was at present
an inmate of the asylum. She visited the
institution twice every day for the past
two years and testified that her son was
treated in a most humane manner. she
thought all the patients were kindly treat
ed. She thought, however. that some OF
the attendants were rather young for their
positions and not as sympathetic as they
might be-
Sergt William T. Anderson. in charge or
the Anacostia police station, told the COM
mttee that he had been an employe thirty
three years ago. While in charge of the
station he had had occasions to visit the
asylum. He had also been concerned in
various police cases connected with the In
stitution, the details of which he gave to
the committee. He believed that the IN
stitution was conducted as we'll as 1t was
possible to conduct an institution of this
size.
Policeman c. r. Brown of the Anacostia
station was asked whether he had ever ar
rested Foreman Maenche of the asylum
laundry. He had not. Neither had he
ever seen Maenche when the latter fought
to have been arrested" He had never
seen Maenche intoxicated. He had heard
that Maenche had been elected from the
lunch room of man named Soper Soper
has testified before the committee to this
effect.
Storekeeper Harnish.
N r. Harnish. assistant storekeeper of
St Elizabeth's, was sworn. He considered
that good family groceries were used at
st. Elizabeths. Sometimes however, it
was necessary to send some of them back.
All were contract goods. Formerly bananas
and oranges were served to patients, but
DR.. White had "cut them off the list
Goods not up to the standard were prompt
ly sent back. 1t isn't any different at St.
Elizabeths than in the ordinary private
household. so far as the matter of sending
back groceries was concerned. He was
aware that bad meat had been received at
St. Elizabeth's, but he understood that it
had all been sent back.
DO you know of any disposition to put
bad provender before those people out
there?" asked Representative Smyser.
II do not" replied Mr.. Harnish.
DIR. White had consulted the witness just
once concerning the quality of goods be-
ing received. Lately, under DR.. Whites
had been used. The little maple strip pur-
chased went to the physicians. The latter
received from the storeroom much better
food than the patients.
His Salary Reduced.
Mr.. Harnish testified that Dr. White had
re6uced his salary. The superintendent had
called Harnish to his office to talk about
the work Harnish had been introduced
to Sanger the asylum storekeeper. by DR..
White as the auditor" Later he learned
that Sanger had been made storekeeper and
not auditor. Then Harnish had been re-
duced from SIS to $50 month.
Mr.. Hay asked the witness number of
questions designed to bring out what work,
If any. was performed by Storekeeper San
ger The latter didn't do anything that the
former storekeeper, Mr.. Barry, who receiv-
ed 1909 performed.
Barry did many things that Sanger does
not. Sanger receives 1880. DR.. White
perintendents had visited the storeroom
very frequently.
DIR. Richardson used to say" said Har-
nlsh, that we must keep the shelves fill
ed. They are always empty now"
There were five persons employed in the
prior to the readtustment made by DR..
White. Now the cost was s., $50 and one of
the storekeepers' assistants was part of
the time designated to do clerical work.
Harnish considered that the storeroom sys-
tenn at the institution was very good
Frank Davey of this city, a patient at
st. Elizabeth. was sworn. He has been an
inmate of the institution for nearly two
go as he pleased. He occasionally worked,
voluntarily. in the dining room and kitchen
of the institution. Four or five months ago
he had seen an attendant named Thorne
strike patient. The latter was destroying
his clothing. Thorne struck the patient
with his open hand, but not hard enough
to hurt or to leave any mark. He didn't
consider that this constituted cruel treat
ment.
Davey said Thorne never swore at the
patients.
Not Properly Cooked.
Mrs. James Dean of Anacostia, an en-
ploye OF the asylum, serving for the past
five years. was sworn. She received SIS a
month for eight hours work a day. At
the table where Mrs. Dean took her one
meal day the meat and vegetables were
very poor and were not properly cooked
The meat was often spoiled--not fit TO eat.
Beef. cornbeef and bacon were used most
of the time The corned beef and fresh
beef were often tainted and sometimes the
employees at her table spit the spoiled
meat out in their hands.
II can say" remarked Mrs. Dean, "the
cook doesn't know how to cook
did she pass a civil service examina-
tion?" asked Representative Simpson
gravely.
II don't know" replied Mrs. Dean. but
IL she did the subject of cooking was never
brought uS'
II usually make my dinner off cup of
tea and bread added Mrs. Dean, be
cause l can't eat the asylum food"
She believed, however, that the physi-
clans got the best food supplies on the
market.
81 only take one meal a day at the
asylum" said Mrs. Dean, because
couldn't work on three meals day of the
kind they furnish now. Under DIR. Rich
ardson the food was much better
Cruelty to Patients.
90 Efn
northwest Christian worker at the asy-
lum up TO a year ago. was sworn.
ION one occasion she said, II was asked
to visit Mrs. Chartres. a patient there.