He stated that with regard to the question of absence of a patient over leave for seven days, under G.O. 27 a man can now stay away six days without any action other than minor punishments, which he said is absolutely ridiculous. He thought some other form of punishment, should be devised, as reduction of compensation would not affect many of the patients who are not receiving compensation, and believed the Commanding Officer should be allowed to assign these minor punishments. He did not believe the patient should be discharged, as in that case he would only go to another hospital. Another thing he suggested, with reference to medical records, was that a skeleton record, at least, of the history of a man’s treatment, his examination and diagnosis, should be made to follow him around from place to place. This would save a great deal of work and give the hospital a line on what has been done for the man in the past. He said patients had been hospitalized anywhere from one to thirty-five times prior to coming to his hospital, and it was impossible to get a history of their previous hospitalization. HON. CHARLES H. BURKE: I happen to be, as some of you may know, at the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In listening to the discussion this morning by Mr. Madden and by General Dawes, I have had brought to my notice that there are some things in connection with hospitalization that compare in some respects with some of the things I have to come in contact with in connection with the administration of the affairs of the Indians. Mr. Madden referred to the politicians and the harm they may do by criticism and comment and so forth. I don’t think he meant when he said politicians, the men who may participate in politics. I think he had in mind these demagogues and agitators and sources of propaganda that are doing more harm in the Government service,—I know it is true of the Indian Bureau,—than anything else or everything else all put together; and I think something of that applies to the hospitalization question. Agitators, I call them. Some of them are perhaps interested in the Indians and in their purposes, supersensitive, possibly. Others have selfish motives that they desire to serve; others are just ordinary trouble makers.