The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-02-18
THE STATE LEGIsLATuRE,
WEDNESDAY,. FEBRUARY II, 1874.
-'n SENATE ~ ~

> . - = = s-AfbGAnlSATuAE, II q
WEDNESDAY,. FEBRUARY IT,, 1874. =,
AH i SENATE. q ~
Dir. Myers introduced joint reeo-
Intion authorizing the County Com.
missioners of Colleton County to pay
portions OF certain claims from taxes
now being collected.
Mr.. Donaldson-Joint resolution to
amend joint resolution authorizing
and requiring the State Treasu rer to
pay to the County Treasurer OF Green.
Vile County the sum OF $10O5O, to be
applied to free school purposes, ap.
proved March IA, 1874.
The Speaker VI the House OF Repre-.
sentatives attended in the Senate,
when the. following were ratified:
An Act to amend Section of an Act
for the better protection of land own.
ers and persons renting land to others
for agricultural purposes, and amend
Acts relating thereto; to prohibit q
oircns, or any show travelling in con .
nection Herewith, from exhibiting for
gain within any Comfy in shis State,
without having fret obtained license
from Clerk of Court Of said County
to incorporate the Winnsboro Build.
ing and Laan Associations; to incor.
porate Hibernia Savings Bank, of
Charleston; joint resolutions to pro.
vide for payment Of officers, attachees
aud employees, nnd contingent ex-
penees OF present session OF General
Assembly; to amend Section 3, Chap.
ter CNL, of the General Statutes.
MIR. Bowen sent to the desk aud had
read the following communication:
10 THE HONORABLE THE SENATE OF
THE STATE CT SOUTH CAROLINA: In
view of the inadequate appropriation
now about to be made for the State
Lunatic Asylum with it's present popu-
lation. it will be necessary to discharge
from the institution a large mum Der Of
inmates. 1, therefore. respectfully ask
that an appropriation of not less than
five hundred ($500) dollars be made TO
defray the expenses Of sending dis.
charged patients to their respective
Counties, or that IL law be passed re-
curing the County Commissioner to
remove them from the institution by
the lst day of Murrh next.
The average annual cost OF lnantain.
ing the insane in the various institu-
tions Of this country is 1922 per capita
If we apply these figures to onr Asy.
lum. it will be seen that $50. 600 will
support only I'll inmates. But
think We Gun support our insane very
comfortably for $3.50 each per suuum.
By this estimate. $4,000 would enable
us to maintain 200 patients. But there
are in the institution. at this time, up
wards of 300. which. if the reduction
had been made ut the beginning Of the
year, would have necessitated The dis
charge Of about 100. But as ons-ihird
OF the nscal year will have passed be-
fore any reduction can be made, the
number to be discharged must be- cor.
respondiDgly larger.
1t is matter Of deep regret that the
State OF South Carolina, in this age of
liberal ideas and broad humanity, is
unable to afford that aid and protec.
tion to her insane wards that is now
extended to this most sfflicted class Of
our fellow-beings by every civilized
government in the world. But such
appears to be the condition of our
finances that We are compelled to
either support the institution upon
other peoples money, or turn it's ill.,
mates out. OF the two evils, we are
compelled to accept the latter: and to
this end ont down the operations Of
the Institution TO Il limit that will
bring its expenses fully within It's in
come. l mnst be permitted to say,
however. that 1 cannot regard this III
the light of reform. but rather as u
disgracefnl and humiliating necessity
"a misfortune and reproach to the
State" u retrogression IN civilization,
land wrong to class of our fellow
beings which have peculiar claims
upon our aid and sympathy" Very
respectfully, j. F. ENSOR,
Superintendent of South Carolina
Lunatic Asylum.
The House of Representatives de-
voted the. day to the consideration of
general orders.