Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-03

After Wdlk0uf From
|Upshur, Plan Appeal
i Five colored nurses who claim
they resigned Thursday night by
mail before District Commissioner
Guy Mason announced yesterday
morning they were discharged from
the Upshur Street Convalescent
Hospital for tubercular patients,
said today they would appeal their
case to the District Personnel Board
Holding joint press interview at
1923 Swami street NV, they as
serted that conditions at the hos
pital had become "intolerable for
them because of the lack of disci-
pline Of patients.
! Informed OF their statement, Com
missioner Mason said that if the
nurses have the right to appeal, the
District would accord any rights
that they were entitled to, but he
said he had no intentions of initial
ing any proceedings, since he felt
they had violated the ethics OF the
nursing profession.
Mr.. Mason said he was standing
pat" and that "as far as I am con-
cerned they are off the payroll"
Charges to Be Probed.
| Mr.. Mason emphasized that the
action in dismissing the nurses was
not taken because of their protest
against working conditions. but be-
cause of "the administrative incom-
petence" of Mrs. Gertrude T.
Haynes, head nurse, and the neglect
of duty of the other nurses in walk
ing out.
Mr.. Mason promised that charges
made against the patients by sew
eral nurses would be fully investi-
gated by the Health Department
He said in regard to the dismissed
nurses, however, that I'VE have
institutions to run and the people
working are either going to con-
form or get out"
Meanwhile, Mrs. Margaret Wilson,
night supervisor Of nurses of the
hospital has resigned in sympathy
with the six ousted nurses, 1t was
reported today. DR.. Daniel E. Seek
niger, acting superintendent of Gal
linger Hospital, of which the Upshur
street institution is an annex, said
he had been informed that Mrs.
Wilson has submitted her resignation
and did not report afor work last
night. The hospital would not COM
ment in the case.
Miss Rebekah Reid, spokesman
for the group, told reporters today
the patients frequently came into
the hospital drunk and created
scenes which the nurses tried to
correct. She said. the nurses were
not backed up by the hospital SUI
perintendent.
The patients, Miss Reid said,
formed a dislike" for Mrs. Haynes.
Mrs Haynes tried to do everything
she could, Miss Reid said, but the
patients attitude grew constantly
worse.
Action Termed "WalkOut."
The nurses insisted they had re-
signed by mail on Thursday night,
considered these designations to be
effective Immediately and so did not
show up for work the next day.
Their action in failing to appear
at the hospital yesterday for duty
was characterized by District Health
Off1cer George C. Rutland as a
"walkout" and branded as a viola
ton of the principles of the nursing
profession.
The nurses reiterated their COM
plant that they had received no
response from an earlier letter to
DR.. Rutland asking a hearing on
the situation at the hospital.
Scenes Of wild disorder at the
hospital were described by the
nurses, each of whom in their press
conference added details. A vicious
fist fight took place one time, they
said, in which a drunken patient
fractured the jaw of another. The
assailant, who was slated as a
Chronic alcoholic" later was trans
ferred to Gallinger Hospital, they
said.
New Acting Superintendent.
The hospital is operating with a
new acting superintendent and head
nurse as a result of the flare-up.
The superintendent, Dr. George B.
Ta,,L;pc x,,ae trappfarraI RI d,,t, q
Gallinger. His place has been taken
by DR.. John M. Stanley, assistant
to DR.. Daniel L. F'inucane, superin-
tendent of Glenn Dale Sanatorium
Mrs. Margaret Wilson, night su-
perviSor Of nurses, also has resigned,
according to DR.. Daniel l.. Seckinger,
acting superintendent of Gallinger
Municipal Hospital. He said. how
ever, that he had not seen the letter
of resignation.
Commissioner Mason earlier had
released a letter from DR.. David
Leibovici, associate medical officer
of Upshur Street Hospital, claiming
that "it is my belief that the mass
designations have been instigated
and helped along by Mrs. Haynes"
Mrs. Haynes was called in and
was asked why if she knew last
night Thursday at about $3.50 that
the nurses had resigned she had not
so informed either DR.. jenkins or
myself Her first statement was
that she did not think anything
could be done about it; followed
by another statement that she did
not think of it.
Il asked Mrs. Haynes If she had
made any attempt to forestall a
mass resignation when she saw the
nurses last night. Her answer was
no because she knew that she could
not change their decision. However,
1 pointed out to her that it should
have been her duty as chief nurse to
at least have attempted to restrain
e,,oI, oot;o,,