The Washington times., 1906-06-07
St Elizabeth Board Gives
Some Interesting
Testimony.
INSPECTION INEFFECTIVE
Witnesses Testify to Fact of
Making Calls at Long
Intervals.

An Interesting chapter in the iavesti-
cation Of St Elizabeth's By the special
congressional committee was written
today, when members Of the board of
visitors Of the asylum. charged with
seeing that the institution is properly
conducted and he patients well handled,
testified.
That they visit the asylum some thrss
or four times year. others seven or
eight times a year
That the law makes their Inspection
OF the wards ineffective.
That this thing Of perarnbulatfng
through wards at stated intervals Is an
absolute farce"
That in many instances the written
reports OF the superintendent. DR.. WI
liam A White. are relied on BY the
board for their knowledge OF what takes
place in the asylum
That the inspecting committee nsTer
assumes 70 visit all the wards IN any
month.
Presidents Statement.
DR.. F. n Gunneu president Of the
board. said the board OF visitors. ac-
cording 70 statute. meets twice q year.
but. owing TO other circumstances. 4
generally holds a total Of four or five
meetings a year. In addition TO this, a
subcommittee OF the board visits the
asylum the first Tuesday IN every
month Also IN executive subcommit-
tee meets quarterly 10 audit the ac-
counts OF the Institution
Witness then paid a high tribute 70
Dr.. Whites ability as superintendent
"Our inspecting subcommittee OF
three" said the doctor, goes 70 the
asylum every month and receives re-
ports from the superintendent II then
visits portion OF the buildings or
grounds Since the buildings have be-
come so numerous. IL is impossible for
the whole board 10 inspect the place.
And as / say, our inspecting subcOm-
mlttee visits each month Only a por-
ton OF The buildings and ErCunds-
We can not inspect the kitchens as
we used 10 do.
Although the board made a careful
Investigation. II has been able to ind no
startling faults in the institution
Mrs. Gardiner Hubbard said she
thought she went 10 the asylum every
three or four months She =sished 70
agree with all that DT. Gunneu had said
Judge w A Maury read a prepared
statement 10 show the character Of
supervision over the asylum" He has
been on the board twenty years
lie pointed out that the law requires
the board TO make its visits at regular,
stated. and known tines He said il
Is not the boards duty 70 question the
wisdom OF the law which, by its word
ing puts the people 70 be inspected on
the alert L IS the boards duty 70 obey
the law and make the visits as required
he admitted that az times he had tried
10 think or a more satisfactory method
and system for inspecting the asylum.
WatchfuI Supervision.
He claimed. however. that DR.. Gunneu
and the board have maintained a watch
ful and thorough supervision OF the in
stitution as required by law.
Our services cannot be estimated"
said the judge. by counting on the fin
gers OF the hand the number OF wards
we have perambulated
Judge Naury then denied the testi-
mony OF A c. Hayden that the board
had not been seen in a certain ward
for thirteen years. He pointed out that
on one occasion the board had decided
that II was consuming its strength 10
not much avail by visiting as a whole
all the buildings OF the asylum The
custom Of ar inspection subcommittee
OF three 10 do this work was then in
augurated-
Judge. what do you think OF the ad-
visibility Of establishing a Iunacy COM
mission here?" asked Mr.. Hay.
Considering the many precedents for
such action, il could do no HARM" an
swered the Judge. ''One other thing You
tailed from the army OF the navy whose
duty II shall be 10 swOOp down on the
asylum at unexpected times.
Il want to say this thing OF a body
OF men walking through a hospital TO
find its abuses when il is on exhibition
is a farce, an absolute farce"
Surgeon General John Moore, Z. 5. A,
retired. said he has been a visitor OF ST.
FOR nineteen years. he goes,
and he thought each member OF the
board gOSs. 10 the asylum three or four
times a rear.
Surgeon General Wyman. Of the Public
Health ar Marine Hospital Service, tes-
titled he visits the asylum seven or eight
times a year