Evening star., 1947-12-31
Ga||ingert toStop
Using Manac|es,
Fowler Says
D. c. Budget Officer
Outlines Program
Of Improvements

District Budget Officer Walter
L. Fowler made it clear today
that the Commissioners expect
the practice of manacling men,
tai patients to be halted, as part
of their program to improve
conditions in. Gallinger Hos
pitfalls psychopathic division.
Mr.. Fowler, whose recommended
tions for Gallinger were approved
in toto by the Commissioners yes
terday, said manacling of patients
was a matter of administration"
and should have been stopped long
ago.
He made the comment after being
told by a reporter that Gallinger
Hospital officials said they wanted
clarifcation of the Commissioners
general instruction to work out"
improvements of the psychopathic
division buildings and equipment.
Plans Conference on Funds.
Robert Southwick, deputy GAL
linger Hospital administrator whom
Mr.. Fowler quoted in his report to
the Commissioners. said he plans to
confer with the budget officer today
on what funds can be used for the
improvements.
Mr.. SouthWick said the hospital
has the men and materials to re-
paint the psychopathic ward and
already has started this work, but
he was doubtful about the source OF
funds for other repairs and equip
ment items.
Mr.. Fowler, however, said GAL
linger has over 100000 for MAIN
tenance and operating expenses.
in addition to its fund for painting
and renovation, and he said it could
draw on these funds.
SI64,000 For Personnel.
The hospital also has $164000 in
funds authorized for personnel it
has been unable to recruit. Mr..
Fowler said this fund is available
for other uses if the chairmen of
the House and Senate District Ap-
preparations Subcommittee give
their permission.
He said this fund might be
tapped, with the permission of the
appropriations chairmen, to provide
$50500 needed to install three new
elevators in the psychopathic build
ings.
DR.. Alvin R. Sweeney, hospital
superintendent, said he plans to get
up a list of items for Mr.. Fowler's
approval. AS soon as he gets esti-
mates on costs, DR.. Sweeney said,
he will request permission from Mr..
Fowler to install a radio system
throughout the psychopathic wards.
two more tubs for continuous baths
and possibly authorization to repair
the roadway which passes over the
tunnel in which the hydrotherapy
rooms are located. Because of the
present disrepair of the roadway.
rain seeps into the tunnel and floods
the hydrotherapy rooms, he said.
S50,000 for Equipment.
| Mr.. Southwick said Congress has
appropriated $4,000 for equipment
which, he added, has been divided
equally among the various divisions
of the hospital. When he checked,
however. it developed the only
equipment the psychopathic divi-
sion got from this fund we're beds
handed down by the surgical divi-
sion when it got new ones.
Mr.. Fowler had commented in
his report to the Commissioners
that the hospital administration
had been lax in not distributing
funds for improvements at the in
stitution more equally.
/ The budget officer said today his
office will cooperate fully with the
hospital to make the psychopathic
division "a sanitary and appropriate
place in which to house patients"
Commissioner Guy Mason said
he is satisfied that this is the be-
ginning of better conditions in the
psychopathic division, if health and
hospital officials will do their Job"