New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-04
The state institution for the Blind.

The state Institution for the Blind.
BATON ROUGE, La. February %, 1874.
Epfro. REPUBLICAN,:
NV attention has just been called TO az
editorial ia cour paper OF Friday the
twenty seventh instant. entitled "Our Mag.
nihcent Charities" which as it is written
in a sprightly style that can not fail TO ar.
rest attention, is, on this very account the
more likely 10 do harm from the currency
given thereby TO the false statements with
which 10 is. presume. unintentionally
murdered and tie Ia lse impression likely to
be created in the public mind by the un.
merited speeE cast upon the charitable IN.
stitution therein assailed and upon the men
who have the management OF said institute
ton. Common justice demands. as you
have commenced the attack, that you allow
us space in your columns to defend GIT
selves.
That may TO. be misunderstood, will
here say that have no wish to screen the
institution with which am connected from
criticism. 1t is public institution, sup
ported entirely by the State, and is legiti-
mate object for the censorship of the press.
But su bmit that when an editor assumes
to blame he should at least satisfy himself
that his assertions have facts tor basis,
and when he undertakes to crltlcise re-
port he should at least take the pains to
read it beforehand. That the writer OF the
editorial in question had never read the re.
port on which it is purported to have been
founded, is perfectly evident from the ar.'-
Gle itself.
In the first place, il speaks Of the Louis
lana Institution for the Education OF the
Blind" as the "Baton Rouge Blind Asy.
lum,' when perhaps the most proninen:
feature in the report is the oft repeated as
sertiOn that it is an educational institution.
and not in any sense all asylum Again.
the writer seemed 70 have the impression
that this institution had been under the
management of the same board. if not since
its organization at leas. for Il long time.
when an examination Of the report would
have shown that the present board have
had charge only since April lasc, and hence
they are blamed for debt not d dollar @:
which was contracted by them.
Again, the writer evidently thought that
said institution was dOmiciied IN buildings
belonging 70 the State, FOR he makes the
unoualitied assertion that '.nothing is paid
for rent" while in the report under consid.
Grafton, page fourteen. great prominence Is
given TO the fact that this institution Is at
present domic!ieG III rented quarters. SO
entirely inadequate I" its wants - TO
fully account toE the preset limited num-
Der q! inmates.
Blu, had the editorial IN question Con.
famed no other inaccuracies than these. 1
should not have .eIt Gale! upon to answer
ii: but there Is throughout tine artlcl" a
covert snee: q: the management of the liz
s.itution tina: eau not allow TO pass t!n'
challenged. AZ: etfor: IS therein made. to
| :mpugn our tnancia! management III the
sale OF warrants, when . comparison OF the
tycesurer's account, On page tory-three,
| with those OF any other State institution
| SO far published. would show percentage
! in favor CT the management under cersuce.
Whose fault IS it. pray. MIR. Editor. tina:
we are compelled to double all our esti
! mates for the conduct OF State institutions
! in consequence OF the ierreciated condition
! of State warran:s: Perhaps you can sug'
cest plan by which our charitable institu
| ,ions can be sun on State warrants Wlchou:
! selling them at discount. Your idea OF
boarding che inmates At the st. Charles
| Hotel would do, II Colonel Rivers would
| undertake - :each :hem some handl
! Graf. by which they nigh. learn
! them in literary ana musical !nstruc
| zion, and provide :hem with an ~
raratus for object teaching suited TO the
| development OF the tactual sense-in short
! turn his hotel into an institution for the ed
| ucation OF the blind. and be content to re
| ceive fer !: all Tess shan 5000 per yea'
| per pupil. and receive State warrants
! at par. During the eight months tran
| April to November that the Institution fol
| the blind was under the management OF the
| present board. the entire expense of the in
| stitution, iuclnding rent. was S5}53 - II
| currency. agains. $29l2 - expended by the
| previous board during the first three
! months .: til. year. This amount. which
| included the expense of erecting work
shop and providing material for the manu-
| facture o.. brooms for the Industrial home
has been organized only within few
! months' j. precisely 50! y per pupil PEI
| month in currency. which we think would
hardly satisfy the vroyrietoGs OF the st
| Charles Hotel.
But. 5lr. Editor. an FAR from being ii
! love with the present order II things. as
! closer examination of Ouv report woule
| show. have earnestly recommended +
1 the Legislature either TO provide perma
| nent house for the Institution tor the Dhnt
| large enough for the 100 pupils we should
| have instead Of the twenty-five who no"
| crowd our present !imi,ed space. or 20 dis
continue the Institution for the present and
! provide :or is inmates in the institution o
[! some eighbor.n. State unit. such time
! as the finances OF our State will admit o
| our organizing our institution Ola y perlns
t; n.n: basis. Report. y. -. 1t costs nearly
a. much 20 keep NJ an establishment :o'
/! twenty pupils as for double the numteT
| ana IUe CDiec. ~ an INSTITUTION Va ID''
| character being the education. and no
! merely I'd" Iua ntenauce of its inmates. any
| expenditure that stops short OF tn" tormel
is. in my opinion. an absolute waste o
4. money. Ignite agge. with sou that ''th'
| reforming knife s needed" and should yer,
! much like the aid OF your ready pen in So.
| curing its use: but | mist insist. Mr.. Edi:o.
| distastaste:ul as it is 30 you. that Won Tea'
| enough ot the ''stoi. H!atitudes'' o; our re
f! vor. 70 learn that We are not IN asylum.
| nor II love viii. the present state 81 thif-'
Perhaps the most crying want OF a! the-
institutions Is permanent boards ot controi
! appointed from the State at large. and iii!e'!
| eX-Ottlc!o. D.: The highest 4unctlonai!e. .
| the State. II this were done--refn0Vlni
| these institutions beyond the aspirations .
| local poiiticlans--the would be 10 on
found. Mr. Editor. to whisper IL your ca
the silly statement that the inmates OF ines
institutions are poorly fed or scantlly IL
struc:ed: nor would the boards of eontro
be compelled TO use continually one arm
| ior defense. when both are needed To-
effective action. When we consider til
fact that 10 pecuniarr :eecmpsnse j. al
| tacied to there positions, one car! scareeI
| make up his mind which to be more SUI
| prised at, the character Of the aspirants 30
them. or the red-hot zeal With which the
are sought. think the above suggestion
would remove this difficulty. and trust
| viii receive your support.
l have the honor to be. your. obedien
l servant, w. II. GOODAE,
Vice President Board of Trustees L0ui
| lana Institution for Education OF th