Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-12-12
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING DEC, 1s. 1874
THE TERRITORIAL INSANE.

THE TERRITORIAL INSANE.
The Western Washington Medical
Association, at their recent session at
Seattle, adopted resolution sc demand
ing" that the Governor and the Terrific
rial Auditor appoint committee of
q" FIVE prominent citizens of the Terri
tory, three of whom should be phys
icians in good standing in their profes.
sion,' to inquire into the condition Of
the Insane Asylum. The Association
alleges, as the groundwork for this de-
mand that that institution has not been
in " humane and enlight-
ened manner" and submits afidavits Of
several former employees to sustain
charges of maltreatment. A second
resolution adopted by the Association
stipulates that "the committee must be
men of such integrity that any report
they may make will be unhesitatingly
accepted by all as true report, and that
it be Immediately published.
Now we feel quite as much interest
in the " humane treatment" of the In
sane as these Esculapian philosophers,
but must admit that we cannot find any
e athority of law for the appointment of
a committee of investigation or the
funds appropriated to pay for such SER
vices. The Governor and his colleague
may find gentlemen who will consent
to serve through motives of philanthro-
Ply. and if they do, will doubtless request
q committee of such gentlemen to visit
the Asylum, accompanied by the legal
Inspectors, and report upon its condi-
ton. If that report sustains the charges,
and Mr.. Harmon has been guilty Of any
fragrant disregard of duty, some basis
for action will be obtained, but even
then the means of relief are not as
clearly defined as the learned doctors
would have us to believe. H. -' I'd
II the statements made in the affidav-
it's are true, some measure for relief
mpst be devised, but full hearing Of
all the circumstances are requisite for
arimpartial determination of the mat
tef,' and this the doctors admit they
were unable to give when the committee
waited upon the Governor some weeks
ago. Personally, we are anxious for
an investigation to be made. especially
as-the STANDARD has on several occa-
sions alluded in complimentary terms to
the management of the Asylum. These
opinions have been based upon the lin
tied means of information afforded by
visiting that institution. If they were
erroneous, we wish to have them cor
reeted, but we do not altogether ap.
prove, OF the means by which the Med
ical Association expect to arrive at q
solution of the matter. A simple
request for an investigation addressed
to The Audaor as well as the Governor,
would doubtless have had quite as much
weight as formal demand, and both
officers, It is fair to assume, would de.
sire that the committee Of investigation
should be " composed of men of integ.
rity," without the delicate reminder
contained in their second resolution.
Itnppears to US that the Association, in
their zeal, have already condemned the
contractor, on er parte evidence, and by
fas implication have likewise arraigned
the officers who the law has made par.
ties TO the contract. When the imme.
date supervision of the Asylum is vested
in the Board of Inspectors, who ac'
Independently of either of these officers
are not appointed by them, and are mer
of acknowledged probity of character
it must be acknowledged that the actor
of the medical fraternity is, to say the
least, peculiar. We trust, however
that their endeavors will result in plac.
ing the whole subject in its true light.
DzsATIsFIED.-The recent order trans
ferring the Surveyor Generals Office in
Oregon to Portland, does not give thu
best of satisfaction to the interior PEG
pie, who appear to think that the com
mcreial city is overstepping the bounds
of propriety in demanding that oil the
official rings shall revolve around it as /
common center. The Statesman, iron
ica1y propounds the query: g WHY
sheuld any of the inland cities or towns
have Federal Offices or officers, whez
Portland is SO handy?"' - ~. ~,
SkM-ANNUAL ELscT1ox. Ats regula,
meeting Of the Thurston county Won
an Suffrage Association, held in THU
place. last Wednesday. the following
named DersOns ware elactad of1;nora n,