The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-17
Of explanation
rSor the Dispstch.j


4. n,cc,;nc Of the Executive Committee
- ~ Noard Of Directors Of the Eastern
Iuns,ic Asylum, held on Thnrsday' '"'S
Is. 1876. y
Whereas bv late report of the Chamoe,
~ Commerce of the city of Richmond, an"
Lr sundrv communications pubiishea III Tue
newsn,pers OF the State.'crroneous impress
o;ons have been created IN regard 10 the eA-
nendi,ure Of the appropriation mace 'o' .ne
annnnrt of this institution, we suomi lne
The total amount appropriated for It's an
,,oI sunnort Is $50. 900, that received iro'n
nav.na,i, MS and all other sources apou'
$4,000. making, together, sGA.o'o. y, ~.
terence to TIE books OF the Asylum ''appe".
fbat about two-thirds OF the ABOVE atIS"uI
is cypendcd in the State OF Firgli'a' a@u 'ee
remaining third in the psiSels ou'sNe VI
the State. and that mapr OF the afacaes pur'
chs ed ahro I'd cannot tie ootsinea NJ tue
home markets. a.o o,o
nr;sted bv the Legislature when there were
nn,y one hundred aud seventy five patients IN
the ssyl um. Il remains the same, although
the number OF patients has been Increased 10
three hundred. To support this sarge adCt
tional number OF patients, and to provide ter
reDa,rs rendered absolutely necessary frtm
long neglec, aud the ravs,ges OF the late war
consumes the entire revenue q the asy ION
There is nothing left for maay needed I'm
provemenss.
We estimate thst the advantage Of pur'
chasing from 6rst hark1s for cash (ot ireagbtS
&c. \ results in y saving to the taxpayers
the State OF at beast $4,000 per anDGtn, anC
IS the revenues of the asy1ism barely sUtfc'
for its absolute wants, any dlmlnutlon
them would compel resort TO the pocKets @
the taxpayers to make good the deficiency
The impoverished people OF TIE State,
from feelings OF benevoence and humanity
have consented 10 give portion OF then
scanty means to help this the most unfortu-
nate class in our midst, and the Board o.
Directors, as their agents, hold themselves
bound 10 see that the money contributed ny
them be expended with the greatest eeoho-
nv and also 10 the greatest aoNah'aSo v,
those who can so lily afford 10 spare lL' an"
insist that no cas- OF persons can cia'th ''i'
ripbt to deal With this Institution "peh SUCH
dealings would result in loss TO the great
mass OF tie people who contribute the means
for its support. ,:.,
The present mode of purchasing supplies
originated with former Board OF Dlfrc'ofN.
Various other plans had been tried anu bao
faIleU 10 give Salls'dC'iou, iSSuiiibs, IA hN"'J
losses 10 the Institution. Ii has been con-
tinued by the present Board. and neilher the
SUPERINTENDENT nor steward is IN any way
responsible for ii.
The reports in circulation that the steward
refuses TO look at or price goods in Virginia
is incorrect. He has positive directions from
the Board TO purchase in the State any ar
tIcIe needed, when the same can be had With
out loss to The usy lum, and the books will
show that be has faithfully carried out these
orders.
III conclusion, we will state that the LIE
pislaiure not having prescribed any method
OF purchasing supplies, the matter has been
left 10 the discretion of the Board Of Direct.
ors, who have felt obliged to use the funds
of the Institution to the best advantage and
in the most economical manner and further
committees OF both branches Of the LegiSla
ture have yearly visited the asylum to exam
iue into its condition and management, anO
that they have on all occasions unanimously
approved and sanctioned the present mode
of purchasing its supplies.
p. MoSTAGU THOMPSON.
Chairman
GEORGE y. WILMER,
JOHN &. MERCER.