The Washington times., 1911-03-26
INSISTS INQUIRY AT
ASYLUM Be RUSHED
R. P. Evans, Attorney, Re-
news Charges of Lax
Management.
WANTS DEMOCRATS TO
PRESS INVESTIGATION
Board Approves of DR.. Whites
Rule-Latter Courts
Probe.

The action o fthe board of visitors Of
in approving of the administration OF
Superintendent William A. White, will
not deter Richard P Evans, the Wash
ington attorney, from demanding an
investigation of that institution by the
Interior Department.
Secretary Fisher will return to Wash
ington tonight Mr.. Evans is today pre-
pairing charges to file against DR.. White
upon the ground that the superintendent
has not given the proper personal at
tention to the asylum, and that close
management is responsible for the re-
cent escapes at that institution. The
Democratic House may be appealed to
in the event an inquiry is not ordered
by the Interior Department
Courts an Inquiry.
Il would welcome an investigation of
this institution, its staff, and its in
mates said DR.. White today. I'm this
manner the attention of Congress may
be focused upon the conditions and
needs of the hospital. l am glad that
the newspapers have given prominence
10 recent occurrences here that has
brought this institution before the pub
lie eye"
DR.. White, admitting that Howard
Hall is insecure and inadequate to house
the hundred o. more desperate insana
criminals generally within its confines,
seeks modern oTiding for this class
OF untortunates. Even an additional
number of guards, reasons DR.. White,
Will not suffice wnen the building itself
is adapted more to the needs of a half
century ago. In fact, DR.. Whites fig
ures show that St. Elizabeth's has as
many or more, guards in proportion to
inmates, as other asylums.
Wants Prison Ward.
Mr.. Evans takes the view that Con-
gress should not appropriate for new
Howard Hall He criticises DR.. White
for his efforts to retain this class of
criminals at st. Elizabeths
Several years ago." he said, lit was
proposed that the Government build
an addition to the Atlanta Federal pen
ilentiary and that in this annex the
criminal insane should be give treat
ment.
DR.. White fought this proposition,
ard it was not authorized by Congress-
There is no necessity for housing this
Vicious type of lunatics here in the
Capital, and in a thickly settled com
Elunity. Let an insane ward be attached
10 some Federal penitentiary. of course
II VIII thwart DR.. Whites ambition TO
preside over the largest insane asylum
In the country, but it will be far better
for society,""
Representative Frank Clark of Florida
has been asked to introduce a bill ask
ing for an investigation as soon as the
democrats come into power in tho
House. Mr.. Clark was instrumental in
obtaining similar inquiry more than
year ago. and was one of the minority
which did not fully approve of Condi-
tons at St Elizabeths
Indorse DR.. White.
The boards of visitors, III view of the
agitation following the recent escapes
from st. EIizabeth's, met yesterday
afternoon and adopted resolutions
strongly indorsing Dr. Whites admins
tration of the asylum.
DR.. White denies that there has been
any inhuman treatment of patients.
They are divided into classes, he SAYS,
according to the seriousness of their
mental ailments, and he emphatically
refutes the statements of Attorney
Evans that the hospital is virtually
managed by young and inexperienced
physicians.
DR.. White asks the public to remem-
ber that the authorities at st. Eliza
beths must cope with the whims and
Vagaries of the hardest class of pa
tients-the insane. Disordered minds
harbor fanCied grievances, he says, and
every guard goes about his duty with
the feeling that he may be struck from
behind. for the greatest desire of an
insane person is to escape from re-
straint