The Washington times., 1906-05-12
Worse Under Civil Service.


Worse Under Civil Service.
"I think it's worse now under civil
service" smiled Mrs. Mclaughlin.
1.-The pay is SC SMALL" she said, that
they don't have any pride in trying &C
do what's right. They're hired to do
their duty. but sometimes they don't
do #"
D. J. O'DonOhue. an attendant at the
asylum. said he and one other attend
ant look after thirty-four patients now
on a mild ward" He had never mis-
treated patients. nor had his assistant
ever mistreatef them.
Il wouldn't stand by and see a pa
tient cruelty treated. civil service or
no civil service. without reporting such
instances" declared the witness.
Well" said Mr.. Smyster, Il take off
my hat to you"
The witness said an attendant named
Hogan. had been accused of ill-treat-
ment, but that he considered Hogan
"a gentleman and good attendant"
He had never seen Hogan cruel TO pa
tients.
Our hours Of work. said Mr..
O'Donohue, ARE tiresome and tedious
They are entirely too long We need
shorter hours and more money That.
however. is not DR.. Whites fault. but
that Of Congress-.
civil service examination. He had not
passed a mental examination He had
certified to his previous occupation and
his anne and had undergone physical
eXa nination. Again. at the asylum, he
was physically examined.
That" said Mr.. Barchfeld. 'is your
civil service"
Roger CuIIinaue, formerly in charge Of
White Ash ward. a short time in Dr.
Whites administration, said he and
three, sometimes two. other men looked
~r~so1 1ar,N not foV0rc cot hn
never mistreated 6ny patients. never
strapped any, never straitjacketed any.
He would not have tolerated any such
conduct.
tients in any other wards. The food was
very good at the asylum. he thought.
THE board Of visitors declared the
witness. "came there frequently Dr.
White came through the ward pretty
much every Sunday. I had to work al
ternately twelve and fourteen hours a
day"
Food Not Very Good.
Albert Ball. now employed as a cook
al St Elizabeth's. said the quality Of
the food at the asylum is not very good.
In preparing it. he said, he did the best
he could.
The butter he said. els very poor.
It's oleomargarin. The milk we get is
all right. We have corned beef once one
week and twice the next
II have complained about the guam
tity Of the food. not about the quality"
why not about the qUality2" asked
Mr.. Smyser. Were you afraid?"
We'll" said the witness, 1T doesn't
do to talk tc the bosses 100 much.
Mr. Ball said DR.. White hadn't been
in the kitchen for a year last Christ
mas" He hadn't seen the board Of visi-
TI,e 20 cn,nIoves he said. get food a. lit
tie better than the patients. and the
Supervisors get II a little better than
the other employees.
Athur S. NabOrs. in charge OF ward
at the asylum, said he treated his
patients 'all right" He works alter
mately twelve and fourteen hours a day.
"Dr White" he said has been in
my ward three times in three years, s..3
1 have never seen the board of visitors
I'VE ought TO have more pay. more
men. and shorter hours" he said. But
were afraid to ask for these things
The Presidents order has prohibited US
s'Under the present circumstances. we
have a class Of boys coming in there
as attendants"
q ]. Harbaugh. assistant supervisor
of wards at the asylum, testified there
He said the patients are treated 'as
we'll as could be expected" Two at
tendants had been discharged for NAL
treating patients.
said consisted of questioning those In
charge OF each ward. He does not have
time TO interview patients individually
He had seen black eyes and cut
heads" but took the explanations OF
the attendants in regard TO them He
did not think there are enough attend
ants at the asylum.
''To nv knowledge" said Mr.. Har-
bauRh. DIR. White has been through
my ward. four times in three years. The
board Of visitors has been through twice
In