Evening star., 1943-10-13
Continued From First Page

unnecessarily large.
The report declared that "a CAL
lous indifference in handling dead
bodies bv the attendants in sight of
!. and in presence of patients tends
to create a generally Oppressive at
mcsphere. Until just recently dead
bodies we're hauled past the VIM
dows of the tutercular ward in plain
view of the patients. Occasionally
bodies fall off the stretcher or con-
veyance By which tilev are being
carried and patients have heard
the attendants laugh at the Incl
dent, all of which tends to depress
and discourage patients in the
wards.
"Tubercular patients are found to
have access to other parts of the
hospital and grounds. and there are
a great many cases of patients de-
parting from the hospital without
consent or knowledge of the au-
thorities."
Neglect Is Charged.
The recommendation Of Senators
Bushfield and Buck were contained
in 117-page report, which declared
that conditions at Gallinger are due
primarily to neglect on the part CT
the responsible officials.
The report also suggested that a
change in the commission form of
municipal government as proposed
by Chairman McCarran of the SEN
ate District Committee in his home
rule bill might be considered.
Senators Bushfield and Buck were
sharply critical of conditions at Gal
linger. Their report in this respect
said:
The conditions which your COM
mittac have found to exist would not
and could not exist at Gallinger
Hospital except for neglect on the
part Of those several officials named
as responsible in this recommended
ton. The proper sense of reSpon-
sibility by these officials, the proper
regard for the difficult and heavy
responsibilities Of their jobs would
IN large degree have obviated the
necessity for this investigation and
for the severe conclusions which
Your committee has been forced to
adopt"
Review District Rule.
Suggesting a change in the present
form of the municipal government,
the report said:
Since the formation of the Dis
trict of Columbia, Congress has been
endeavoring to perform that Job in
various manners. It has delegated
its power in limited way in various
forms. On June II, 1878. Congress
adopted the Organic Act of the Dis
trlct. whereby power was delegated
to the President to appoint three
Commissioners to administer the
Civil Government Of the District.
The present government of the
District originates freq that act and
since that time the District has been
governed by three Commissioners 20
appointed.
There was at one time prior to
the enactment of the organic Act.
an elective mayor and CITY council
in the District Since that time the
people Of this District have had no
voice in the government of the city
in which they live The present
government of many departments,
bureaus and agencies have all grown
out of the Organic Act above
referred to.
The very evident lack of reSpon-
sibllity existing in the District by
the District government to any one
has, in the opinion Of your COM
mittee, tended to make possible
some Of the conditions which this
investigation has disclosed.
Back McCarran Proposal.
ut is not the province of this
committee to investigate or discuss
the merits and dement's Of the Dis
trict Government. We do feel. how
ever, and make this recommends
ton to the Congress. thai a mea sure
Of responsibility direct to the people
resident of this city on the par of
the city government, would have a
tendency to bring about a better
situation within the District and a
better administration OF various
agencies and departments of the
city government.
We recommend that some form
| of city government such as has been
/ just recently introduced in the Sem
ate by Senator McCarran be con-
sidered"
Senators Bushfeld and Buck
made two other specific recommen-
datlons in their report. They were
Il. That a suitable kitchen and
laundry be provided as soon as pos
sible at thc hospital.
.. That the old frame buildings
which date hack to the Civil War
/ period, which are used for housing
tubercular patients, be removed and
that such patients be given modern
spitalization.'
/ The two Senators also urged that
the psychopathic ward be modern
lied. and added: The apparent lack
OF responsibility to the people of the
CITY on the part of mana oing off,
cialS CT the institution under inves-
ti9ation causes us to submit this
recommendation for legislative
/ dlllOIl. ~ DUAL u Oh NlSllOGS composed
of outstanding women resident of
the city should be appointed by the
President. Their duty should be to
make regular inspections of all the
hospitals and jailS of this District at
least as often as once month. We
believe that their continued vista
tionS to these institutions would tend
to place the supervisors of these
various institutions on the alert in
the administration of the agencies
directly under them
The report was devoted chiefly tc
the testimony of some of the wit.
nesses who appeared before the sub
committee during the investigation
1t also summarized conditions which
Senator's Bushfleld and Buck sa ,c
they found on their personal in
spection at Gallinger
Poorly prepared food is served
the patients said the report. "The
evidence appears to be overwhelm
ing that the food for the pa atients al