The Washington times., 1911-03-25
CHARGES OUTLINED
AGAINST DR.. WHITE
Will Be Filed With Secre-
tary Fisher Against Asylum
Superintendent.
TWO MANIACS ARE
STILL AT LIBERTY
ST. Elizabeth's Held to Be Insecure
and Head Is Ready for
Investigation.
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here. Occasional escapes are practic ally
impossible TO prevent. since We are try
ing to help these people, and must al
low them some degree OF liberty If they
arc to be benefited"
The police at the Eleventh precinct
denied today that they had been assist
ing in tue search for Martin ana ks,un-
man The escapes have not been re-
rOrted il was said. 1t was also de-
cIared that the hospital does not re-
port all the escapes, and that the police
learned of the assault upon a guard
ami the escape of Winter. Huddle and
Andslev last week mainly through acci-
dent
Secretary Fisher will return TO Wash
ington Monday, and 1t is understood
that Attorney Evans will file formal
charges with the Interior Department
asking a wholesale investigation OF the
Government Hospital.
Discuss Evans Statement.
When informed that Attorney Evans
had given out a statement that he would
file charges with the Interior Depart
ment relative to the manner in which
the asylum was being conducted, Supes-
Intendent White said today that Mr..
Evans had been making similar state
meRts for the last seven years.
There is really nothing much to say
White We do not try to cover up
or hide the conditions here Such as
need remedying can only be remedied
BY act of Congress, and unless Congress
will appropriate money FOR new bllld-
ings and improvements there is moth
ing that can be done. ! have made
recommendations along these lines ana
will continue to make them until action
is taken
he and greatest in
sane asylum in the world. The idea
had not entered my head, but VOW that
he suggests il. ! think il would Oe just
great to have St. Elizabeth's the largest
and finest place of It's kind.
1T is desired that an entirely new
building for the care of the criminal
insane should be built along lines OF
modern construction and that 1t should
he MANNED on a unit basis to permit of
Indefinite enlargement as necessity may
require"
Promises Much Evidence.
Attorney Evans said:
Il can give details to show that DR..
White is unfit TO hold his present po-
sition, and I will file charges TO this
effect next week.
II might say that TO my personal
knowledge there have been 200 escapes
from the institution during the last
two years About 81 PEI cent of these
are still at large. Hardy week goes
by that from two to FIVE patients my
clients, do not walk into my office and
consult with me. So long as they get
In time for dinner everything is all
right.
interest OF humanity the criminal
Wald should be attached to some
penal institution and not to an asylum
where harmless lunatics are incar-.
ceratcd. Here We have the wives ind
nf ID nf he 1ie4 4rfp ~
OF Columbia mentally deranged. but
not all hopelessly insane. in the same
institution with criminals of the
worst type. Is that human or right?
Visitors do not learn the real con-
ditions. There are show places con-
necSd with the big institution and
these are everything that they should
he. The testimony taken in the in
ciety shows that DIR. White had not
visited some OF the wards in two
years"
Congressional Investigation.
The announcement by Attorney Evans
that he will file charges OF alleged mis-.
management against Superintendent
White recalls the fact that in 1906 {. spe-
cisl House committee, appointed by
Speaker Cannon, investigated similar
charges of mismanagement and cruelty
to patients brought against the institu-
ton by the Medico-Legal Society.
A majority report generating DR.
White and highly commencing his ad-
ministratiOn was filed by the committee
while A minority report sustained the
charges. Both reports were submitted
10 the House, but no further action was
taken.
The majority found the charges Of
mismanagement and cruelty unfounded
DR.. White was fully qualified. 1t was re.
ported: methods OF restraint proper, at.
tendantS performed their work we'll an6
properly food good and we'll prepared
and no necessity was found for the ere.
alton Of a lunaCy commission. II was
recommended that a new statute foI
committing the insane should be enact.
ed; that the management Of the hos
pital be put under one board, and sep
arate asylum for criminal insane bt
erected.
Minority Report Censured.
The minority report showed that tho
management under which so many
cases of cruelty can happen must bc
faulty The financial management was
found to be loose; the food badly pre-
pared. badly served, and often not fl
for consumption: too few attendants
the manner of commitment of soldier:
and sailors should be changed so as e
GiYe them jury trials.
The minority report also stated tha
the pensioners do not get sufficient
benefit from their pension money. Tht
was urged, and a recommendation mad
that Congress FIX the asylum salaries
1t was suggested that the appoint men
Of the superintendent be made BY tht
President.
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