The Washington herald., 1911-05-31

In a session which lasted all day,
the House Committee on Rules yes
terday held an investigation of the
Government Hospital for the In
sane, and endeavored to satisfy
itself as to whether the official in
quiry ordered in the Clark resolu-
ton in regard to that institution
should take place.
Although a determination of that
matter awaits more evidence and
statements which Representative
Clark, of Florida, desires to submit,
and also statements on behalf of the
hospital authorities, the guess can
be hazarded that the inquisition will
not be authorized, at least on what
occurred yesterday.
HOSPITAL FAVORED.
From both sides Of the controversy
that necessarily RACES around st. Eliz-
sheth's there came testimony which gave
the institution a bill Of health as clean
as could be expected ordinarily from an
establishment which cares for SO many
people.
Although Supt White and several
prominent persons who are members Of
the asylum visiting board were before
the committee with highly interesting
| testimony. DR.. Isaac N. Kelly. who
leaves the service Of the hospital to-
cay, after being in 1t not quite a year.
was the star witness Of the day.
He went before the committee late in
the afternoon. at the request Of Rep
resentative Clark. and launched forth
Immediately into the details Of an In
cident involved in the recent episode at
the hospital. when three patients made
their escape after overpowering q guard.
After watching the man for weeks, he
said he foolishly grew angry with him
one day and told him he was to be
''railroaded" back to Leavenworth.
Winters refused to eat from that time
and had to be fed with tube while Kel-
ly was taken before Supt. White and
given "a fearful calling down" The said
calling down. might have had its effect
toward precipitating his resignation, but
he naively added that perhaps the fact
that he had failed IN his examination for
promotion had produced a greater effect
toward that end.
Kelly II Dfsappointins.
DR.. Kelly proved a disappointing wit
ness. however. as far as upholding the
Clark resolution was concerned, for in
the close questioning by members Of the
committee he Invariably took shelter, and
agreed with them that Supt. White was,
after all, perhaps not unnecessarily rigid
In his enforcement Of the rules Of the in
stitution.
Kelly said the discipline Of the hospital
was exceedingly strict, but admitted in
effect that he could not see how it could
be otherwise.
Asked about the food. DR.. Kelly as
serted:
'It is the worst I ever saw In my life.
One night In Howard Hall they had for
supper beans, oleomargarine and light
bread. The beans were SO hard you could
not crack them with your, teeth"
What did you do about it?' asked q
member Of the committee.
IT reported It to DR.. Click and he re-
ported it to Dr. White. who got after the
cooks, and then the food was better"
Kelley said there appeared to be suf-
f1cient attendants about the hospital, but
he insisted that there had been but one
guard on the floor Of Howard Hall the
night of the outbreak
Representative Clark queried DR.. White
as to the automobile in which he rode and
received the assurance that the govern
ment provided 1t for his own personal
use.
Urges Car Riding.
.sThe street cars run by the Institution.
do they not?' asked Representative
Clark, sarcasticaify.
Eyes, SIR" replied DR.. White.
ITO all parts Of the cityr'
"Yes, sir"
The Florida Representative seemed sat
isfied with this portion Of his quiz. and
dropped II after eliciting the fact that
DR.. White was a bachelor. and not a
man Of family.
THE government Is getting on very
cheaply." was q sally which the super
intendent could not resist making, in
closing.
'arhat IL your opinion" returned Rep
resentative Clark. sourly.
.That Is my opinion" replied DR.. White
at n not mine" retorted Clark.
Il did not suppose It was" sarcastical-
ly replied the superintendent.
DR.. White denied that he had asked
Congress to build $4,000 house for him
to live In, saying that he had merely
recommended to the Secretary OF the In
terror that the superintendent BE- given .
house.
The Florida representative put few
questions involving the amount Of land
controlled by the government hospital,
and other small matters. and then
branched OF in discussion with DR..
white as TO whether he should spend
lime away from the hospital In deliver
ing lectures for pay.
DR.. White denied that he had ever
lectursd for pay. but admitted that he
6id 70 on lecture apsignmsnts at his
own expense occasionally In the inter-
ests Of the institution. Representative
-Clsrk asked point blank II he were not
away from the institution recsntlyeeor
q week. 81
d. white replied that ~ had lsft Hri-
day night and had retufped Monday.
0sttine down to the e7h1ect q ~ -
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