New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-01
IMMORTALITY CHARGED
Hoffman Island Employees Mis-.
treat Women, Orderly Says.
DIR. DOTY'S RULE ATTACKED
Witness Admits, However, Effort
Was Made to Clean Up When
He Was Expected.

An unsubstantial menu and many I'M
sanitary and immoral conditions are TO- be
found at Hoffman Island. according to the
testimony Of witnesses yesterday at the
hearing before Charles y. Rulger, the com
missioner appointed by Governor Dix to in
vestgate the administration Of Or. Alvah
H. Doty. Health officer of the Port. SO
far the witnesses called have been hostile
to Dr. Doty lie is yet to have his turn
on the witness stand to explain the charges
which have been made of misnlanagement
during his regime.
Commissioner Buger adjourned the hear
| Ing until next week. not naming any date
Benjamin Eagle, an orderly on Hoffman
Island, who continued his testimony yes
terday. said questionable actions on the
part of different employees with Immigrant
women were Of frequent occurrence. lie
cited one instance which he said had been
reported to DR.. Hudson, who was in charge
OF the hospital. The employe disappeared
about two weeks afterward. the witness
said.
Whenever possible Eagle testified. in the
cases of a large number of passengers
married couples were placed in one room.
single men in another and unmarried wom-
en- in a third room. The doors to these
rooms were not locked, the witness said
and employees occasionally had 10 drive the
immigrants back 10 their own rooms. Dur
ing the night there was no one In charge
OF the dormitory buildings, he said.
There was only one cook 10 provide FOR
sn average of from 500 to 100 persons m
the hospitals and dormtories on the island.
The cook was usually assisted by immi-
grants. the witness added. who merely got
more food for helping. Breakfast coffee,
Eagle testified. Was made by putting FIVE
or six cans Of condensed milk in a pot
Of boiling water and adding enough coffee
To flavor g. Potatoes and meat stewed
| together We're varied on the bill Of fare
by being called Irish stew one day and
goulash the next. One egg apiece was
given to the immigrants on Sunday
knives and forks were not provided for
the immigrants. according IN the orderly.
Eagle declared that the windows in the
dormitories had not been cleaned for two
years.
Whenever Dr. Doty visited the hos
pital, which was usually once week" he
| said. "Dr. Hudson would give orders IN
clean up boys, the boss Ia coming. "
In reply 10 2 question ny COMMISSIONS
Bulger Eagle said he had been Informed
that nr. Doty wanted tho employees n
register. so as 10 he able n vote
Charles Dushkind. counsel for the com
plansnts, questioned the witness ST length
about the treatment Of immigrants by en-
ploves at Hoffman Island. Eagle testified
that mother looking through window
saw her child being spanked. She wept
and the matter was investigated Soon
sfterv yard DR. Hudson had Interpreters tell
the immigrants that II any NJ them looked
through the windows they would be de-
ported, the witness said.
DR.. John Winters Branuan. president of
Bellevue and Allied Hospitals. is expected
To testify at a future hearing as an expert
on the modern method Of treating lung
| diseases