Evening star., 1942-06-27
Broader Inquiry
Into Glenn Dale
Food Indicated
Complaints Made
To Officials Who
Visit Hospital


situation at the Glenn Dale Tuber-
culosis Sanatorium to determine
whether patients are receiving
their moneys worth" was indicated
today after a preliminary investiga-
ton brought disclosures of careless
ness in the preparation and serving
of meals at the institution.
On the basis Of a verbal report
from Renah F. Camalier, counsel to
the Senate District Committee. who
visited the institution with Commits
sioner Guy Mason yesterday. Chair
man McCarran Of the committee
said he believed it would be good
idea" to examine records of food
purchases and the quality of the
food served to the patients. 1t was
indicated Mr.. Camalier would be in
structed to continue the inquiry.
After making the unannounced
inspection tour Mr. CamaGer told
reporters the food at the institution
appeared to him to be of excellent
quality and he said the patients, al
though fully justified" in their
complaints of poor meals, were OBJ
jecting more to the methods of pre-
pairing and serving the meals than
to the quality of the food.
Food Called mot the Best"
When he returned to the Capitol,
however, Mr.. Camalier said he had
| received intimations that the food
served to the 600 Glenn Dale pa
tients was mot the best and Sen
ator McCarran expressed belief the
whole question of equipment and
food purchases for the institution
should be studied to determine the
quality and amount of waste, if any.
Both Commissioner Mason and Mr..
Camalier agreed on two points: /.
That some workers on the dietary
staff have been careless in prepar-
ing and serving meals to patients
and 2, that an administrative as
sistant is needed to relieve DR.. Dam
iel L. Finucane, the superintendent.
Of some of his administrative duties
so he can devote more time to rem
edying conditions complained of by
the patients.
The 1923 District appropriation
bill provides for addition of an ad-
ministrative assistant to the Glenn
Dale staff. If it is found this addi-
ton doesn't fill the gap. Mr.. Cam
alier said Dr. Finucane will request
another such assistant.
Investigation of the institution
was prompted by a petition signed
by IS patients complaining about
'unsavory" meals and other condi-
tions. Mr.. Camalier and Commits
sioner Mason said they found the
complaints about poor meals justi-
fed. They also noted that an at
tempt had been made to improve
conditions since the petition was
made public -.=
Several patients told them a sud-
den improvement was noted in the
meals, and while the investigators
were there the main kitchen in one
OF the wings was being given a
thorough cleaning.
mo Excuse for Filth"
Mr.. Camalier declared that there
was no excuse for any filth at all
at the institution. and DR.. Finucane
gave assurances that steps would be
taken Immediately to correct the
food situation, even if it necessitated
dlscharging some employees.
The superintendent said the food
complaints very likely" were justi-
fed, and he said the situation prob
ably was caused largely by rapid
turnover in personnel, especially in
the dietary department. which has
resulted in employment of some per-
sons not competent to handle the
work. Within the last seven or
eight months, he said, the turnover
IN dietary personnel has been more
than so per cent.
Dr. F1nucane said complaints
that chlpped glasses and chinaware
sometimes were used also were true.
He said The institution has been un-
able to get delivery of chinaware
ordered months ago.
other grievances were voiced bv
seven patients. men in their late
2Os and early 30s. at an informal
conference Mr.. Camalier and Mr..
Mason held after completing part
OF their inspection tour.
One complaint was that the nurs-
ing and supervisory personnel
treated patents at times like GRIM
lnals.' When they complain about
something the nurses simply record
1t on the complainant's chart. In
fact, said one, they list practically
everything we do on the charts"
Some OF the men who helped draw
up the petition said nurses and
Supervisors started calling them
"agitators" and "ringleaders."
"Favoritism" Charged to Nurses.
Many of the nurses play favor
ties" among the patients, too, ons
man said.
You'd think we we're in a penal
institution the way some of the
nurses treat u.s. he said. I'VE aren't
asking for ANYTHING Specio1 wa