The Washington times., 1916-06-25

rome not summer DAY ana see now the
patients want for a new hospital. they
would not lose a moment rushing
through the bill providing for It,"
So said Senator George b. Chamber
lain Of Oregon to me when I talked to
him about the institution.
Il have been out and inspected the
old place and I know all about It," he
continued. 1T 10 In the most fright
ful condition. and something should
be done, and you may rest assured
that I'll do whatever l can" II Con-
gress, for some reason, foels that II
cannot appropriate money for a new
hospital at this time. II should at
least appropriate money enough to
put the. old one In At condition for
human hsbitatlon. and that y surely
IN charge of the place do the best
they can. i am certain, but that Is
not no. the thins-they need new hos
The foregoing is the gist of what
Senator Chamberlain said anent the
hospital He knows all about the
place, and he understands well how II
is; He knows that vermin too hor-
rible TO mention infest the place. and
that the patients are tortured with
them day and night.
He knows that flies and mosquitoes
are there by millions. and that for
want OF means the hospital is not
against them.
Kitchen Facilities Poor.
He knows that In winter the pa
tients get lukewarm food and In sum-
mcr what should be cool 10 warm, all
for want OF proper kitchen facilities.
ne knows that a patient who Is
ward has to be carried a distance OF
several hundred feet to the operating
room and back again after the opera
ton. thus running the risk OF pneu-
He knows that the present hospital
is far too small. and that the way in
which the patients are crowded is
cruel easement rooms are used and
uncovered porches often pressed into
service. The beds are arranged so
near each other in the wards that
there is absolutely no chance FOR
peaee and quiet. no matter how III
the patient may be, and as for screens
and privacy. that Is unknown at the
Washington Asylum Hospital. The
10 vile.
Mattresses Are Lumpy.
He knows that because Congress new
er has appropriated the amount for
which It has been asked. mattresses of
cheap quality are supplied. In a
month or so after being used they arc
80 lumpy and uncomfortable for the
patients that they cry out and beg (he
nurses to rearrunge them 80 as 20 try
ana find soft spot somewhere between
one of these mattresses is made I'D il
looks as II several people were In It
all covered up.
n
age of eauze and other necessities.
lie knows that the place II so In
| feste1 with rats that n regular army
OF cats must be kept on hand to catch
off their beds whero they frequently
land during some Of their midnight
He knows that because the psycho.
pathic ward occupies what was once
the old jail. and is entirely Inadequate.
that there In no attempt made to segre-
gate the races. and what is worse still
Juvenile patients must be put in tho
same wards with adults. Children.
usually from the various charitable
homes suffering from most slight af-
fections of nervousness are herded with
men Of the vilest nature suffering from
druSs. poison. and mental diseases.
Building Is Old.
| He knows. too. that the hospital
rs II 10 todny occupies buildings that
nre more than seventy yenrs old. They
nre but one story. and are ready to
fall to the ground from the infirmities
Of age. and that no amount Of mend
Ing can make them sufficient.
I talked to DR.. y; W.. Wiley. of pure
soS Of .he opnSm ss. ss % place ana o
present ancient relic should be the
ss %ssss tSs sa III folks "SsP q the Gat!o":
believes In hospitals from the bottom
OF his heart, and does everything he
can to help the Washington Hospital.
| have received the following letter
gard TO the institution:
! have your word with reference
| to the Washington Asylum. I have
had no opportunity to investigate
this particular institution. ind so can
say no special WORD about II. but
my record on the subject is consist
ent and we'll known.
| This is the Capitol Of the American
people. Our future civilization Is to
ventlon Of Crime and Injustice and
disease and to the very best care Of
those who arc unfortunate. ! have
always been, and hope always will
be- In favor Sf as liberal a. apprTGprfn fnr
penal and liberal institutions, look
Ing toward the prevention of crime
and elimination of suffering. How
far this Congress can go. do not
know, and I would not pretend 10
sneak for the Senate Committee on
Appropriations, but ] do know TINT
this committee Is one OF the hest
in the Senate. intellectually speak
ing. and that it's members are chari-
tably disposed.
| THOMAS r. MARSHALL.
Hospitals should be places where al
I'll people could go for the proper kint
Of treatment and not places where onl!
the well-to-do i'll people may. go. Al
IL Ia. that is largely the case In Wash
ington. or course, all the hospit all
getting government eid take a limited
number Of charity patients for 2 lin
tied time. and after that number y
reached and their allotted time expired
over to the Washington Asylum Hos
pitai they are sent, and the come-dcwi
after being charity patient In an.
Washington hospital TO being a regula
patient at washington Asylum Ia quit
a Jolt.
To come from a regular hospital y
this old-time wreck of a place with it
ancient equipment and old, dirty build
inGs Is almost worse than death Itself
No matter whether II be winter or sum
mer, it's the same old story.
Hot in Summer.
In the summer the place is hot be
| yond description, for the sun heat