Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-20
Justice Department
Sponsors Bill for
Care Of Mental Cases

10 plug up some OF the gaps In
administrative machinery in the
Federally-owned areas in nearby
Virginia and Maryland, the Justice
Department yesterday sponsored a
bill to provide for prompt admission
to st. Elizabeth's Hospital of persons
found on such areas who show in
dications of being Of unsound mind.
A bill to this effect was introduced
in the Senate late yesterday by SEN
ator McCarran, Democrat, of Nevada
at the request of the Justice De-
partment. 1t was referred to the
judiciary Committee, which Senator
McCarran heads.
Justice Department spokesman
said there was no one incident which
brought about drafting of the meas
ure, but that it was realized there
was a need for legislative authority
now lacking.
Jurisdictional Question.
It was recalled, however, that re-
ports a year ago to the House Dis
trict Committee indicated more than
a score of women living in Govern
ment housing in Arlington County
had suffered mental disorders, Great
ing problems as to their care and of
what agencies had jurisdiction.
Virginia, it was explained then,
had no hospital for mental cases
within 100 miles, and to bring pa
tient across the uncertain District
Virginia boundary line raised a
complicated jurisdictional question
At least one patient was taken to
the Alexandria Jail for lack of some
better decision, it was said.
The measure provides that any
United States commissioner desig-
mated by the eastern district Vir-
ginia courts or by the Maryland
courts shall have jurisdiction to
commit to Federal hospital for OBJ
servation and diagnosis any per-
sons found In nearby Federal res
ervations who are believed to be of
unsound mind. Listed are the Fed
orally owned areas of Arlington and
Fairfax Counties and Alexandria
City, in Virginia, and Montgomery
and Prince Georges Counties, in
Maryland. The bill would apply to
properties over which the United
States has either exclusive or con-
current jurisdiction.
To Cover Emergencies.
Normally, such commitments to
st. Elizabeth's would be made by
the United States commissioners
only after a hearing and taking of
testimony, including that given by
two physicians, one of whom must
be skilled in nervous and mental
disorders.
However, to cover emergencies.
the bill provides that any officer or
employe of the United States is au-
thorized to make arrests and that
ANY guard or Waterman" employed
on the specified Government reserva-
lions be empowered to apprehend
and detain ANY person he believes
to be of unsound mind and to bring
the person before the United States
commissioner.
If an immediate hearing cannot
be held, such Federal agents are
authorized to take the person to St
Elizabeth's and the hospital is au-
thorized to hold the person, pending
a hearing, for not longer than ~
hours.
If physicians at st. Elizabeth's find
the person arrested is of sound mind
he is to be released immediately
and, if of unsound mind, reports are
to be made to the Federal security
administrator Proceedings would
then be instituted in the District
courts If the person were not at
once returned 10 his State Of resi-
dence or turned over to his rela-
tives. For care at st. Elizabeth's
there would be no charge against
the District unless it were found the
person was a resident of the District