Evening star., 1940-01-28

Behind the charge of Mrs. Roose-
welt that the District Home for the
Aged and Infirm at Blue Plains is
"far below standards of decency"
and reminiscent Of poorhouses at
the turn of the century turks story
of an institution at the National
Capital starved by Congress, unable
to provide adequate medical care or
housing for its dependent inmates.
This story was directed to The
Stars attention in December, in a
letter declaring conditions at the
Districts only refuge for INDECENT
old people were deplorable.
Two reporters were sent to Blue
Plains. They arrived, as Mrs. Roose-
welt did, unannounced, and went
through the entire institution. They
found the medical facilities meager
and the living quarters badly over
crowded
There were approximately TOO in
mates, and 130 of them were bed
ridden permanently The beds in
the infirmary were crowded and
there was no privacy. One part
time physician spent two or three
hours a day looking after these pa
tients, who suffer from a variety of
chronic diseases.
Most of the buildings were badly
in need of repairs. The food did not
seem too plentiful For breakfast
that day the inmates had been given
grits, bread and butter and coffee;
for the midday dinner, lamb stew
with vegetables, bread and butter,
apple tapioca and coffee; for supper,
cornmeal mush, bread and butter
and tea.
Seemed Most Neglected.
Although there was evidence that
the staff was doing as we'll as it
could with the funds available. the
Home for the Aged and Infirm
seemed the most neglected and for
gotten of the Capitals institutions.
The story was written and sub
mitted, as matter of fairness. to
Robert E. Bondy, District director
of public welfare.
Mr.. Bondy had just taken Office,
and he was not thoroughly familiar
with conditions at Blue Plains. He
suggested that publication of the ar
ticle be withheld until he had time
to look into the situation himself
and see what could be done toward
improving it. This, he felt-and The
Star agreed with him-might be
more helpful than printing the story
in the nature of an expose, although
that undoubtedly would have stirred
public opinion. The Star decided to
delay publication, hoping that mean
| while some of the conditions re-
vealed might be corrected and the
way paved, perhaps, for more ade-
quate appropriation from Congress.
The further The Star went into the
matter the more convinced it became
that the faulty conditions at Blue
Plains. were not the fault of those in
immediate charge but could be at
tributed to years of neglect.
Mrs. Roosevelt, visiting Blue Plains
with Mrs. Henry Morgenthau Fri
day, said the home seemed to her
to be run on extremely low stand
ards" She complained of over
crowding, lack of recreational or
occupational facilities and pointed
out that some crippled or infirm
young persons were placed among
the old people who make up most
of the population.
The reporters who inspected the
place are inclined to agree with Mrs.
Roosevelt that it is more like the
"poorhouse" or penal institution of
20 or 80 years ago than the modern
types found in some States.
Haskells Pleas In Vain.
The Stars investigation disclosed
that the superintendent, Frank B.
Haskell, each year has gone with his
hat In his hand to the Commission
ers and later to the House Appropri-