Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-28
Hearings on Charges Against
st. Elizabeth Directed.
ACTION BY Mr.. BALLINGER
Prepares for Thorough Investigation
of Escapes From Asylum.
TO CONFER WITH DR.. WHITE
Secretary Will See Superintendent
on Arrival-Letter From Congress
Heights Association.

On receipt of letter from the secre
tary of the Congress Heights Citizens
Association today, Secretary Ballnger of
the Interior Department reiterated his
determination to investigate charges re-
lating to the administration of the Gov
eminent Hospital and the escape of
patients.
The SECRETARY is personally interested
in the matter and will confer with DIR.
William A. White, superintendent of the
asylum, Immediately on the latters ar
rival in this city from Europe tomorrow
afternoon. Mr.. Balinger today instruc
ted Chief Clerk Usher of the Interior De-
partment to prepare for the hearings and
decide what board shall consider the COM
plants. The Secretary also has recon-
mended that both sides be given every
opportunity to present their case and
every one who has any information on
the subject for the department will be
invited to appear.
1t is believed the board of visitors of
the asylum will hear the petitions of COM
planning citizens. Officials and attendants
of the institution are expected to submit
arguments in rebuttal..
Discusses Parole System.
F. Z. Butterfield, secretary of the
Congress Heights Citizens Association,
states in his letter to Secretary Balm
ger that every time the subject of dam
ger is brought up the hospital authori-
ties plead the merits of parole system
for convalescent patients as a defense
and thus Sidestep the issue. This Sys-
tenn has been in vogue for years. Gen.
Sternberg of the board of visitors de-
clared at the hearing held at the hospital
last week that if it be done away with
every patient who leaves the grounds
will to, 1a Nf0rI HI =
tendant or that, in other words, it would
be like putting a policeman to guard
every citizen who wanted to take a stroll
on the public highway. With the pres
ent large number of inmates this would
not allow the patients to gradually be-
come used again to the freedom of the
highways and would thus retard their
development back to sound reason, it is
pointed out.
Mr.. Butterfield further alleges that
physicians state an insane man is al
ways dangerous and it is impossible to
tell when he may commit acts of vio-
lence. The asylum officials cOntrovert
this.
Willing to Help Unfortunates.
Mr.. Butterfield, however, says: 1--WE
will be in hearty sympathy with any and
every proper safe system Of practice, in
Guiding paroles, that will be helpful to
the unfortunates in st. Elizabeth's. I'm
questionably proper parole system
would be beneficial to convalescents. but
the streets and woods Of Congress
Heights offer no variety of scenes and
surroundings calculated to stimulate the
patients mind
He further states that if this practice
is safe for the women and girls Of Con-
gress Heights it would be safe to have
these paroled patients go to the city and
enjoy picture shows, theaters. parks,
show windows etc.
The criminal insane, he says, should be
sent to a ward in some penitentiary,
where they can be better guarded.
Mr.. Butterfield says that only a few
days ago a lunatic entered the public
school at Congress Heights and took
seat among the pupils. and when the
janitor tried to persuade him to leave
promptly assaulted him.