Evening star., 1947-11-19
Plight
ToGetAttention
In Committees
Psychopothic Division
Conditions Recognized
As DisgrocefuI

Members of the Senate and House
District Committee, as we'll as those
responsible for the District budget,
today expressed their interest in
improving conditions in Gallinger,s
psychopathic division, which some Of
them termed disgrace" and a
sad situation"
Senator Cain, Republican, Of
Washington predicted the problem
Of giving civilized treatment to
Washington's mentally i'll at CAL
linger will engage the interest of
congressional committees in the next
session."
Senator Green, Democrat, OF
Rhode Island, said he was definitely
interested" in improving conditions
at Gallinger. He pointed out that,
for many years, he had been active
in improving hospital conditions II
his own State and that, as Gov
ernor, he had sponsored and COM
pleted public works program which
included many hospital expendi-
lures.
Interest Continues.
Il have continued my interest In
projects of this kind, and If this
matter is discussed in Senate COM
mittees or on the Senate floor, you
may be assured of my active in
terest," Senator Green told The
Star.
Senator Capper, Republican, Of
Kansas declared the arguments for
improvements in the psychopathic
division are "unanswerable." He
pledged his help "in any way I
can" to better the treatment Of
mental patients at Gallinger.
Senator Cooper, Republican, of
Kentucky also said the problem
will receive my best consideration
and attention"
Chairman Koran of the House
Appropriations Subcommittee han
ding the District budget, said i'm
provement of the psychopathtc
wards, "as well as all other meri-
torious matters dealing with the
welfare program of the District,
shall continue to receive my serious
attention"
Auchincloss Amazed.
Representative AuchincloSs, Re-
publican, of New Jersey, chairman
of subcommittee on re-organiza-
ton of the District. said the con-
ditions described in a series of Star
articles "are a disgrace, and it is
amazing to me that such shameful
condition can exist in a city Of
this size"
1T is also amazing" added Mr..
Auchincloss, that, where lax condi-
tions exist in this local city govern
ment, they are always exposed to the
public view by the newspapers and
then the public authorities move in
and try to correct them.
IF the government were elected
by the people and responsible to the
people, when such conditions were
exposed, they would soon be turned
out of office and held up to public
derision"
Smith Promises Cooperation.
Representative Smith, Democrat,
of Virginia commented that some
thing should be done about the
condition without further delay"
and promised his cooperation.
Chairman Miller of the House Dis
trict Subcommittee on Health, Edu-
cation and Welfare, termed condi-
tions in the psychopathic wards a
"sad situation which must be ap-
preached with sympathy and un-
derstanding.
Chairman Dirksen of the full
House District Committee pointed
out that Mr.. Miller had visited
Gallinger and would make report
to the committee at an early date.
Representative Kennedy, Demo-
crat, of Massachusetts, and Repre-
sentative Harris, Democrat, Of
Arkansas also expressed their in
terest in improving conditions on
the pSychOpathic wards