Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-12
Ing DR.. Whites admins.

a patient became unruly he was locked ur
for little while. He never permitted yfo-
lsnce.
THE patients were there for treatment
not abuse" he added. Witness considered
that the food at the institution was pretty
good"
He had seen the board Of visitors at the
Institution once a month. but they didn't
get through his ward every time. DIR.
White visited his ward once week on
Sunday or one of the other physicians came
Through every day. Culiinan was discharged
from his position in the asylum about two
Albert Ball. thirty-one years old. Of "a
FRANKLIN street. Anacostia. an esnploye al
&c. Elisabeth's for the past thirteen years
was the next witness. For the past four
years he had been a cook in the institu-
ton. He had learned to cook at the In
stitution.
What kind Of cook are your asked
Representative Smyser.
'In my class replied the witness with
. grin, II guess I'm pretty good"
Quality Not Very Good.
Witness said the quality of the food he
had to cook was not very good. The meats
were "tolerable fair
Ball said that In distributing the food
the solids were placed in square tins and
the liquids in cans. and sent around on
trucks. Care was taken to see that the
viands were hot when they left the kitchen.
THE food could be improved" said the
witness.
Very little fruit was used at the asylum
and tomatoes were scarce. He had COM
planned about the scarcity OF things to
MRS. Mullisan. the lady of the kitchen"
why didn't you complain about the
Qualty?" inquired Representative Smyser.
1T doesn't do to talk to the bosses too
much. replied the witness.
Are you under the civil serviice?" con-
tinued Mr.. Smyser-
grin. 'the civil service hadn't reached St.
Elzabeth's then"
Everybody had a good laugh over this.
Ball hadn't seen the board Of visitors in
years. and he hadn't seen DR.. White on an
inspection trip In the kitchen since a year
ago last Christmas.
rs there any difference between the food
furnished the attendants and that fur
nished the patients?'
THE attendants get the best end Of the
doubt and the supervisors come a little
above them.
Arthur s. Majors.
Arthur s. Majors. twenty-nine years old.
living at Congress Heights, and an en-
ploye at the institution for the past eight
years. followed Ball
1--WE treat the patients the best we can,'
said Majors Sometimes we have to tie
them or put them in straitjackets when
they violent"
The witness had never seen any patient
struck. knocked down or abused In any
way. He would not tolerate such things
but would have reported any such occur
renee. Witness worked twelve hours one
day and fourteen the next. DIR. White had
been in Majors ward three times in three
years He had never seen the board Of
visitors
Witness said that In addition to attending
TO patients he had to NOW the lawns and
shave and cut the hair of patients.
And. I'm no barber he added solemnly
witness said that under the present con-
ditions OF small pay and long hours. a very
undesirable class of young men was coming
in attendants.
Mere youths some OF them" said the
witness, untitled to take care of insane
men"
Majors said that he would be afraid to
complain TO the civil service commission
They would possibly have me put Out"
he said.
c. J. Harbaugh for the past sixteen wears
an attendant at the asylum, was sworn
Witness. who was now acting as assistant
supervisor. and visited ten wards.
said that there was lack Of help at the
institution, and that patients were treated
as well as possible under the circumstances.
TWO men-Wtlson and Hodges-had been
discharged not long ago for the Ill treat
rnent of patientss He had seen patients re-
strained by straitjackets and resting sheets.
wards?" asked Mr.. Smyser
Il don't interview every patient" replied
the witness. II take the head attendant. s
word for a great deal
Did you ever see any evidences of Ill
treatment"
i've seen black eyes and cut heads and
the like of that" the witness replied But
the reports showed that other patients in
fieted these injuries"
Harbough thought there were not enough
attendants at the institution. He did not
think young men should be employed as at
PENDANTS He should learn to control HIM
SER before being placed in control of
others. DR.. White had been through
four times in three years. The board or
visitors-two members only-had been
through once In two years The food was
pretty good Patients complained of the
butter and of not having sugar on their
oatmeal Witness had done a little lawn
moving He didn't think. in view of the
fact that he had been hired as a nurse
that running a lawn mower was a part or
his duties.
what you were told to do or lose your
job
William Howe.
William Howe. twenty-five years old. of
12s Jackson street. Anacostia, an employe
OF the institution for the past five years.
said he was now an elevator man In the
about eighteen months ago, he had been a
truckman. engaged in carrying food to the
patients. He knew nothing of any cruelty
toward patients. The food furnished pa
TENTS WAS fairly good. He had, however.
seen some potatoes served that he didn't
know were clean
Patrick Doody. fifty years old, an empIoye
or the institution from 1882 to 1887 and
from 1889 to the present time, told the com
mittee that he was at present supervisor
IN howard Hall. He had held his present
position eight years Patients were given
tne pest possible treatment He was over
the criminal ward, and some of then, we're
very violent. They fought one another and
sometimes fought the attendants. Some
tlmes nuns were used: sometimes strait
jackets. S''"1e
I would not tolerate abuse OF patients :,
SAID MI Doody. The attendants know ina
! VIII not tolerate even harsh language >.
once patient hit him Doody) over The
mead with mop stick and laid him up for
four weeks ~ -'-
Mr.. Doody thought an older class Of at
@ndants than those employed at the ASYLUM
would do better work
j can speak well of the attendants under
me. said Mr.. Doody. They are a good
class or men. He had sufficient hello
The witness took a shot at the civil serv-
ice -
If the superintendent were at liberty TO
choose his own men," said Mr.. Doody. he
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