Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-22
Citizen Says Congress Heights
RecreateS in Grounds.
E. J. NEWCOMB TESTIFIES
Tells of Neighbors' Patronage Of
Balls and Concerts.
WILSON PRESIDES AT HEARING
DR.. G. n. Schwinn Describes Care
Exercised in Extending Priv
ileges to Patients.

Congress Heights is not afraid of pa
tients of the Government Hospital for the
Insane. ] would say that 80 per cent OF
the residents OF my section have no fear.
''One reason | give is that on pleasant
evenings. when band concerts are being
given in the grounds. women and children
of Congress Heights turn out en- masse."
L. J. Newcomb OF Congress Heights
SO declared at noon today before a spe-
cial meeting of the executive committee
of the board OF visitors OF the govern
ment hospital. held i'm the boardroom OF
the institution.
The committee granted the hearing
to investigate "A complaint made TO the
Secretary of the Interior by repre-
sentatives OF the Congress Heights
Citizens Association and forwarded by
+. L. Butterfield, secretary of that or
ganization. The conplainants suggested
that no inmate of the asylum should
be allowed outside OF the grounds with
out an attendant.
Assistant Secretary Wilson of the
Interior Department presided. Chief
Clerk Ticker was also present to rep
resent the department
Asylum Grounds Used.
Visitors" said Mr. Newcomb,
crowd about the grounds at many
times. During the day and on warm
afternoons of the summer / have seen
at least 200 children playing in the
asylum grounds
LAS to Mr.. Butterfield's complaint, / can
say that last year his own d-ugnIer CAME
to number of the dances ,hat were
also attended by the patients OF the asy-
lum''
Gen. George NJ Sternberg and Dr. Gun-
nell of the board of visitors askca a num-
Der of questions.
DIR. G. II. Schwinn, senior assis an
ply sician of the government hosiita.
discussed with the visitors the fac, ina
scores of children on role. skates Iegu-
larry use the walk of the asylum .or
pleasure.
Frequently" said he, the children
crowd the walk so that we nave II &c,
off to enable tnem to skate.
He also commented at length on the
fact that the people of Congress Heights
regard the grounds OF the asylum as the
great breathing spot of their section OF
the District. He then read an order
made by DIR. W. A. White. superintend-
ent, about one year ago:
while parole privileges of the ground.
the order set forth, may be granted to
patients by physicians I'm charge or the
several services, none such privilege
should be granted except by the physt-
clan i'm charge. and in each instance
signed entry in the case record should
be made. stating the date and extent OF
the privilege, the reasons for granting IT
and any other matter that may appertain
thereto.
I'm every case when the propriety Of
granting such a privilege may be doubt
full the case should be brought to CON
ference.
BY this quotation DR.. Schwinn intended
to show that under the discipline OF tbs
hospital there is little possibility Of .
patient who is at all dangerous being
allowed to come in contact with any per
son passing through the grounds or with
hn htuhx rfcfd ne
grounds.
Butterfield Not Heard.
Early during the hearing word was re-
ceived from Secretary Butterfiold that he
was a member of the special committee
of the Congress Heights Citizens Asso
citation which had the matter of the com
plant jim hand. He did not think it proper.
therefore. for him to appear before the
board individually, but pre4err.d to wait
until the committee members should ar
range to appear before the board col
lectively.
IT was suggested by DIR. Gunnell, presi-
dent of the board of visitors. that the
chief clerk of the Interior Department
obtain the names of all residents or Con-
gress Heights who may desire to enter
complaint as to outside privileges accord
ed to the hospital patients, and to ar
range to have them appear before full
meeting of the board of visitors of the
hospital after the return OF DIR. White.
the superintendent, who is now on his
way to Washington from Munich.
Gen. Sternberg said that the comp amt.
to his mind practically called FIR a guard
upon every patient that lert the srital
grounds. In other words. IL would pe
the same as putting "A policeman upon
every private citizen who attemp.e ed To
take a stroll along the pubic highway.
1t was also pointed out that the hos
pital physicians i'm their course of treat-
ment. for the general Improvement OF
the patient, must allow him some lib
erty This, of course. TO some extent
throws the patient upon his own RESPONSE
bility and thus goes far 10 1t. engthen
the diseased mind from day to DAY