New-York tribune., 1920-05-07

matters under consideration were pain
fully apparent. His answers in some
instances were not only wandering and
unresponsive, but characterized by out
bursts of temper and undignified and
profane language.
Colonel Morgan's lack Of business
and executive ability to manage and
administer the affairs. of the, home is
disclosed by his failure to familiarize
himself with the conduct Of the hos
pital and to insist that proper and ade-
quate rules be established for its con-
duct; his failure properly to organize
and cooperate with the members Of his
staff; his failure and neglect to abide
by the rules for the discharge of mem
bers from the home and his fragrant
failure to keep in touch with the diff
ferent departments Of the institution
and to inform himself with the irregu-
larities and abuses which have arisen
in the hospital; the carelessness and
negligence displayed in the dining or
mess hall and barracks and to take
proper steps to correct them.
when given an opportunity on the
examination to offer any suggestion
for the improvement Of the conditions
of the home and its management, he
replied that he had nothing to suR-
gest clearer lack of efficiency on
the part of the executive responsible
for the management of an institution
OF the size and character of the home
has seldom been displayed"
investigation of the hospital. the
Lieutenant Governor says, resulted in
several instances of cruelty and harsh
treatment being testified to, some by
members, some who were former mera-
bers or employees, and some who were
disinterested from the viewpoint Of
membership or employment.
Testimony was. given by Spencer
work at the ho1pital, regarding a fight
between two demented patients, one
attacking the other with stick or
small club and inflicting an injury to
such an extent shat blood flowed freely
from wound three or four inches
long on the forehead of one of the pa
tients; Longwell testified that two
attendants stood idly by and when
spoken to by him told him to mind
his own business.
The next day, the report says, wit
nesses were produced by the surgeon
IN charge denying the incident abso-
lutely, while at subsequent hearing
the surgeon admitted that such an
affair had taken place, but in diff
ferent ward of the hos pital from that
designated by Longwell.
DR.. Hill, the Lieutenant Governor
says, IN his admission stated that as
result of the fight it was necessary
70 commit the assaulting patient to a
state hospital, and considerable time
was consumed in correspondence with
his relatives and friends whether it
should be the Willard State Hospital
or the Binghsmton State Hospital.
And yet within three months of this
occurrence" continues the report, "Dr
Hill sought to give the impression that
he had no recollection Of it and that
nothing of the kind ever occurred.
Tips Bring Preference
Lieutenant Governor Walker reports
that evidence was presented showing
that nurses and attendants insist on
being tipped by patients before they
will render services for them, and that
the patients who are in the habit of
tipping the nurses and attendants are
shown preference in their care and
treatment
The report continues:
evidence was also produced that
nurses and attendants have taken
money from patients by force and, in
one instance, q nurse was suspended
by the adjutant, then acting as COM
mandant, for such conduct. Many of
the complaints of abuse and i'll treat
ment in the hospital arise out of the
disputed question as to how this money
is taken from patients, it having been
charged and evidence having been pro-
duced to the effect that patients are
choked, assaulted and abused and
otherwise mistreated in the process of
taking up this money
"All of this could be obviated by
allowing each of the patients credit at
once a. week by the cashier, thus doing
away entirely with the handling of any
money by the nurses or attendants for
incompetent patients and removing the
temptation with which they are now
constinually confronted"