The Washington herald., 1912-03-28
COMMITTEE RAPs
INEBRIATEs BILL
Rcdtisld and George Find
Fault with Measure Gre
ing New Hospital.
NO LIMIT ON PATIENTS

The bin proposing TO create a hospital
for inebriates was subjected to broad
side OF criticism at the hearing before
the House District Committee. and as a
result of the attacks Of Representatives
Redield and George. Of New York. will
probably be redrawn before II Is pre-
sented on the House floor with the CON-
mittee's favorable recommendation.
While neither Mr.. Redfield nor Mr..
George protested against the aim of
of habitual drink and drug users of the
city, they asserted that the measure. as
drawn now. would not stand the test of
the courts because OF lie ambiguity.
Attack on Lancaster.
Incidentally. Col. c. c. Lancaster. who
appeared as defender Of the measure.
was likened by Representative Redheld
to a man trying to run an engine on
one track" and. during the midst Of q
feverish peroration, was reminded that
''he might as well be talking about =
bushel Of potatoes in So far as his con-
crete discussion OF the bill was con-
cerned.
The rebuke to Col. Lancaster came
from Mr.. Redfield after he had several
times repeated q question which. he
maintained, the former had failed to an
swer. In each instance Col Lancaster
took up a discussion of the bill In q gen.
eral way that caused the New York
Congressman to wave his hands and pro-
test he was not given the information
desired.
"You seem to be trying to reach an
end" complained Mr.. Redfield. at lest.
but the effort suggests a man who In
sfs r1laaa nf
the fact that one OF the tracks is miss
ing. You ought to be sure both tracks
are laid before running your train"
Soon after this Representative Redneld
informed Col Lancaster that, he might
as well be talking about a bushel OF po-
tatoes." meaning that he was not giving
TO the committee members the informa-
tion they desired To all of this the col
onei made no direct reply but contented
himself with a warm approval Of the
bill
A Talk on "Lost CONTROL"
Representative Georges Contribution
came during the reading OF that clause
in the bill which provides for those
persons who have lost control Of them
selves"
THAT is a broad general term" said
Mr.. George. thoughtfully. That might
apply to a number Of persons. Take
paralytics. for instance. they would be
eligible TO admission In this inebriate
asylum, because a paralytic, as ! recall,
has no control over himself. Then there
are victims Of locomotor ataxia and st.
vitus dance. Surely they are OF the ur-
fortunate class. that have lost control OF
and. therefore, should be ad-
mitted.
'It would seem. IL this measure goes
through IN Its present form. that Il would
be q home for incurables as veil as an
asylum for inebriates."
Other complaints registered were that
under the provisions Of the bill the Com
missioners are allowed to hire employees
for the Institution without limit. They
may also appoint all help at salaries fixed
by themselves and, as chairman John
son put It:
Can pay 81 or 800 or 100000 a week
II they feel like it,
II Is probable that as a result Of the
criticism offered to the measure yes
terday amendments will be added. DR..
]. X. Gleeson, Col Lancaster, and Sec
retary George Wilson. of the Board Of
Charities, were the principal witnesses
yesterday. II was stated by Secretary
Wilson that Is per cent Of the 800 cases
Of habituai drunkenness In Washington
could be cured by treatment in q hos
pital Of the kind proposed. Another
hearing will be held in the near future.