Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-07-30
BOARD OF CONTROL
HEARS MARS CASE
COMPLAINTS OF CONDITIONS
AT SOLDIERS HOME UNDER
INVESTIGATION.
OF MANY
WITNESSES is TAKEN
Grievances Attached to
Conditions Existing at Home Hos
pital--No Graduate Nurses EN-
ployed Because of Low Scale Of
Wages Fixed by State.

That no graduate nurses are en-
ploNed at the hospital of the Iowa
Soldiers Home. that the hospital ia
alive" with bed bugs, and that the
ltlothins for hospital patients often is
|inaueuuate and unsatisfactory were
the principal bits of evidence brought
flut Thursday ut the investigation by
the board of control OF complaints
made against officers Of the institu-
ton. The case is the outgrowth of
charges brought by C. r. Mars, who
secured n restraining order in dis
trict court to prevent being fur
loughed from The home for alleged
s1anderous statements made about.
officers. On hearing of the petition
Tor the order Judge Wiliett suspend
.e1 the restraining order and suggest
ed that the board hold an inyestiga-
clerk of the district court. Commit
tees representing the Grand Army
ard Woman's Relief Corps were
present at Thursdays hearing
Hospital conditions were brought
out by the chief surgeon and matron.
who frankly admitted improvements
.neisht be made If funds were suffi-
rhntron. appearing for the defense.
proved the most satisfactory witness
tf the day. She explained to the
hoard that graduate nurses could no,
he employed at the wages allowed by
the state-s $50 \ month. This wage
has been effective only since July !,
prior to that date a scale OF $50 to sss
Having been in effect. A member of
the board interrupted to suggest that
the nurses received In addition to
their salary. board, room and laundry.
Few Applicants for Jobs.
Mrs. Shaffner said that because of
the low salaries, the nature of the
work with aged patients and the nat
lfal scarcity of help. the home author
titles had found It almost impossible
to secure nurses. She said there were
sangrene dressings, cancer dressings,
and other like 'distasteful duties
which did not appeal to the average
rnan or woman. especially at $50 n
month.
She said the board OF control was
perfectly familiar with tconulttons.
having frequently visited the .hospi-
tai, both in the day time and at
light.
Witnesses on the stand previous to
Mrs. Shaffner's appearance had stat
I'D that the hospital was "alive" with
bed bugs. The attorney for the state
reminded the. witness OF the previous
Testimony.
s"oh, something about bed bugs he
said.
yes" replied Mrs. shaffner. 1--WE
have them"
Mrs. Shaffner said It was n con-
|atants battle with the bugs and that
some OF the patients also had body
lice. The bugs, she said. have long
l,een in possession, but the lice come
in frequently with patients.
The matron said fifteen female nur-
ses are employed for day duty and
three are on the night shift. In addi-
ton there are eight male nurses, two
of whom are night employees.
The diet, she said, is ordered by
AtHe PHYSICIANS anu the COOKS 40 the
hest they can with the materials on
hand. She said much milk is used and
usually there is a sufficient quality
DO meet all needs. Patients receive
toast and broth three times day
and sometimes custards. oatmeal and
sruels are served. with beefsteak as
"a, special, served on order of the
doctor,
Constant Complaint at Hospital.
Mrs. Shaffner said there was con-
siderable complaint from patients at
the hospital, usually about the meals.
Sometimes the complaint Is made
that the food is served cold. The food.
she said, was brought into the wards
in containers, direct from the kitchen,
and served to the patients as rapidly
as the nurses. could reach all.
Other witnesses told of tho condi-
tons at the hospital but 1t was gen
erally agreed that the existing state