Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-18
WEIRD Wreck STORY THE INSANE ASYLUM
Told by Woman and Caused Report of Congressional Com
Mans Arrest. mittee.
FREIGHT SPOILED THE PHI RESULT OF INVESTIGATION
Succeeded Would Of Period Of Dr. Whites Administers
Died. ton
DETECTIVES HOLD CONFESSION TWO VIEWS SUBMITTED
Superintendent Elizabeth
Throw Express oneaed by Both-New for
Passengers Commitment Suggested
RESULT OF INVESTIGATION
Of Period Of Dr.. Whites Administra-
ton.
VIEWS SUBMITTED
Superintendent Of st. Elizabeth Elk
onerated by Both-New Law for
Commitment Suggested.

The report Of the lOlcott special commit
tee. which Investigated conditions at the
Government Hospital for the Insane. was
made public last night. AS has been here
tofore stated in The Star, the majority re-
port, signed by Representatives Olcott of
New York, chairman; Smyser Of Ohio and
Borchfeldt of Pennsylvania, all republicans.
indorses the administration Of Supt. VIII
liam A. White and speaks in favorable
terms Of the general administration of af-
fairs at the hospital, Of the food. etc. The
minority report. signed by Representatives
Hay Of Virginia and Wallace Of Arkansas
criticises some administrative features and
speaks of the food furnished patients in
somewhat harsh terms. Both reports sug
gest a new law for the commitment of pa
tents. All members of the committee are
united in the belief that the charges Of
cruelty brought against the management
Of the institution were not sustained.
DR.. White Competent
The majority members hold that DR..
White is fully qualified to perform the
duties of the position of superintendent
that the charge Of mismanagement of the
hospital and abuse Of patients have not
been sustained; that the physicians of the
hospital are capable men and able to prop
erly care for the needs of the patients;
that the methods of restraint now used are
proper and only resorted to in cases Of
actual necessity; that the attendants per-
patients in a proper manner; that there
have been cases OF harsh treatment on the
part of some attendants, which, however,
have invariably resulted in the summary
dismissal of the guilty parties; that the
dietary used at the hospital is of good
quality, of proper variety and the food is
generally well prepared and cooked; that
the hospital Is modern institution and is
abreast OF the times, and is making proper
progress in the scientific work with which
1t has to do: that the buildings and equip
ment are equal, and in many cases supe-
rior, to those at other institutions: that
the hospital as far as practicable and that
such employment adds materially to their
welfare; that the so-called bull pen" is
misnomer, and the group Of buildings
ranged for the comfort Of the patients:
that the management Of the hospital should
be under one head; that the superintendent
has made a careful classification of the
now existing relative to the collection and
disbursement of pension money of patients,
together with the regulations Of the Sec
rotary Of the Interior In connection there.
with. are just and equitable; that the per
capita cost of the hospital as now fixed
should not be reduced. in view of the Pc
culiar conditions surrounding the hospital
which do not exist at other similar institu-
tons: that there is no necessity for the
creation of lunacy commission; that the
law relative to the commitment Of patients
should be repealed and a new law enacted.
Majority Recommendations.
The majority report concludes with tho
following recommendations:
THAT the statutes should be amended so
that the superintendent should be relieved
Of performing the duties Of q dsbursing
officer of the hospital, and should be given
authority to appoint disbursing officer to
act under his direction; that the statutes
should be amended SO as to make provision
for the creation of separate institution
in the District of Columbia to care for the
criminal insane patients now confined in
the hospital: that steam heaters. to be used
for the purpose Of keeping the food hot
after 1t leaves the kitchens, should be in
stalled in each dining room in the hospital:
that at least one and perhaps two new
kitchens should be installed wherever it or
they should be most convenient for the
preparation of food served to patients and
attendants; that the statutes relative to the
commitment of patients should be repealed
and a new lunacy law enacted; that the
farm could be utilized to a greater advan-
tage to the institution If additional dormi-
tory facilities could be provided there"
Period Covered by Investigation.
The investigation covers the period be-
ginning October 1, 1908, the date of the
appointment of DR.. White as superin-
tendent The number of witnesses exam
ined was 2S7. including employees, former
employees, superintendent of other in
situations and persons filing the COM
plants against the hospital.
Respecting Supt. White, the majority
report states that he is fully qualified
for the pasition of superintendent. is an
able and distinguished alienist, careful
and humane in the treatment of patients.
and conducts the business affairs Of the
institution well and faithfully" The
medical staff Is also highly commended.
Concerning the charge of cruel treat
ment and abuse Of patients, the majority
report says:
There unquestionably have been some
cases of cruelty by attendants, but in no
case was this sanctioned by the superin-
tendent or a member of the medical staff
Criminal prosecutions have been insti-
tuted against attendants for this cause
at the instance of the hospital authori-
ties. The charge that patients were fed
through tubes as a method of punishment
Ia disproved. There is no proof of the
'toweling' of patients. The use of strait
jackets does not exist, and has not for
many years.
THE use of bed saddles was discon-
tinued upon the order of Dr. White
shortly after he took Office"
Regarding the food. the majority report
states:
1.-THE testimony shows that the food
-
obtained with proper consideration for
the health of the Inhabitants of the hos
pital. combined with the economical adj
ministration OF the Institution although
some testimony was introduced tending
to show that at times the average in
quality had not been what it should have
been"
Physical Exercise and Employment.
On the subject of physical exercise and
employment, the report says:
''It does not seem to the committee that
there Is sufficient utilization Of the farm
for the purposes of giving outdoor employ
ment to the patients; but the committee
entirely appreciates that this would be
impossible with the present buildings now
on the farm, as before more patients than
are now used in the work on the farm
could work there 1t would be necessary for
an additional dormitory to be built, and
the committee believes that this would be
useful adjunct to the general work Of
the institution
Under the head of classification OF
Patients the committee makes this i'm
portant observation:
1.-THE committee believes that it would
be of very great advantage to the institu-
ton for Congress to provide for the found
ing of hospital for the criminal insane
SO that class OF patients could be taken
entirely away from the hospital"
Concerning the complaint with respect
to the use Of pension money belonging to