Evening star., 1943-08-20

year ago den1ed the institution s
request for conscientious directors
Appeals to the United States Civil
Service Commission has netted
some prospective employees, but low
salaries and disinterest In the insti-
tution's work have proven stumbling
blocks.
Meanwhile, the overburdened staff
Is carrying on as best It can.
There are 400 white and $50 COL
ored inmates. Three hundred and
forty are males. About IS per cent
are in the greatest problem group,
between the ages of IA and "a; about
80 per cent are below the age of IA
and about Is per cent are above the
age of "a.
Only two doctors, DR.. Lewald and
DR.. Allen Drummond, assistant su-
perintendent. are left from a normal
staff of four resident physicians,
and to them also falls administra-
tive responsibility. 1t is difficult for
them to find time to talk with
visitors.
Part-Time Dentist.
Since summer of last year the two
doctors also have had to attend
80 feeble-minded persons suffering
from epilepsy and many others who
are permanently bedridden.
Because Of the war, the institution
has only a part-time dentist, no
nose and throat specialist, no ocu-
list, and a surgeon who is still on
call but is overworked outside.
Whereas there were normally six
nurses there are now only two resi-
dent nurses. Under the five-day
week, often only one Is on duty.
Two favorite activities of the boys,
manual arts and baseball have
practically ceased, because the in
structors left. Three physical edu-
cation instructors, two men and one
woman, who taught music, have left.
The remaining woman instructor
will leave in September to join her
husband, who is in the Army.
, A farm hand coached a team of
boys who played a close baseball
game Sunday with a team of SOL
diers from Camp Meade. But these
games are rare now.
II Still at Large.
Last week end 26 young inmates
left the institution, and II of them
are still missing. During the past
year 300 "walkouts" have occurred.
although this represents some 1875
inmates who were reoeaters.
DR.. Lewald lays the blame for
these "walkouts" on idleness, which
he explained makes the inmates un-
happy and uneasy. He said rs per
cent of the walkouts occur at night
because the inmates are not tired
enough and can't sleep-"so they
decide to 60 to Washington and see
their mama and papa"
There are no bars on the windows
OF the dormitories. Frequently the
doors are unlocked. Those who want
to walk out frequently hide in
nearby woods and then catch rides
into town. State and District police
cooperate in returning the es-
capees, and frequently a relative
will bring them back.
Some Dangerous Element.
Biggest danger among this group,
according to DR.. Lewald, is the many
delinquents who are committed to
the institution because they are
judged feeble minded. Some of the
older inmates have threatened at
tendants with knives and several
times they have run away and stolen
cars or attempted robbery.
The food at the institution Is good.
There Is ample meat, much of which
comes from it's own hog farm, and
in normal times when there Is no
drought the 200 acres of land under
cultivation yielded abundantly. Milk
is supplied by a herd of 40 cows.
But the institutions greatest
problem is manpower, and DR.. Le-
wald says he does not see any en-
couraging days ahead.