The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-14
TOWN HALL TOPICS.
THE EFFECT OF THE GRAND JURY
REPORT AT TEE CITY HALL.

The report Of the Grand Jury, published
Yesterday was the subject Of much atten ton
on the part Of the Mayor and the city ad-
ministrators Administrator Diamond I'M
der whose charge Is the House Of Refuge
and partially the Workhouse and Admins
TRAITOR Edwards, who has charge Of the In
sane Asylum, each had an interview with the
Mayor on the subject.
In so far as the complaints touching the
Insane Asylum are concerned, the matter has
frequently before been published in the DEMO
GRAFT.
The asylum Is the Outgrowth Of the war
What was formerly only temporary place
of confinement for the INDECENT insane, prior
to their removal to the State Asylum at Jack
son, has, owing to the inability Of the State
to provide adequate accommodations for the
unfortunate demented, become quasi per
manent institution The entire expense Of
running it has to be borne by the taxpayers
Of New Orleans alone, although its 143 in
mates represent nearly every section Of the
State. TO make it an institution for the men
tai improvement Of the insane would cost
such an amount Of money that the idea has
never been entertained, and only their phys
Cal welfare is contemplated with the small
appropriations which the city makes annually
for the conduct of the institution. Mr.. Ed
wards expresses great regret that the Grand
Jury did not summon him to appear before
them to afford him an opportunity to explain
the reason why many things are not done at
the asylum. To the complaint OF the Grand
Jury that neither the superintendent nor the
matrOn reside in the asylum, Mr.. Edwards
answers that the superintendent sleeps there
every other night, his chief clerk (Mr Ham
AZ
The matron sleeps in the immediate vicinity,
and her services are available at any time Of
the night.
THE woRKHOUsE.
Mr.. Diamond, being interviewed on the
structures of the Grand Jury regarding the
"WorkhUuse, so called, said that the Grand
Jury very properly uses the qualifying words
The WUrkhOuse has been In disuse for over
year. and the "sOup- house." adjoining, for
a longer PERIOD and the buildings formally
turned over to the custody Of the Administra-
tor Of WaterwOrks and Public Buildings by
resolution of the Council.
The old Workhouse has, however, been since
utilized by Administrator Diamond as o shop
for the construction of GOffiDs for the indigent
dead and stable for the charity wagons and
horses and mules Of the corporation OF which
there are six. The persons engaged there are
all necessary, and consist Of Mr.. James
Lynch, who is the day Waterman and acts as
foreman or superintendent at salary OF SIC
| a month; carpenter at S66; three charity
wagon drivers at $45 each, and night watch
man at 500 AS to the occupancy of the adj
joining grounds and buildings, Mr.. Diamond
| says that the house for the aged and inttrm,
| In charge of Administrator Edwards depart
| ment, being full to repletOn, applicants for
permission to live in the old soup-hOuse were
referred to him (Mr. Diamond who has toll
Grated their occupancy of the shanties, where
they are simply sheltered at no cost to the
| city of any kind. In this federation he thinks
he has acted humanely, nothing more.
| After our conversation with Mr.. Diamond
we interviewed Mr.. James Lynch. the fore
man referred to above. Mr.. Lynch denies the
statement of the woman Eugenia Williams,
| that he has had anything to do with the
| placing her In charge of the establishment,
and that it Is also untrue that any negro there
washes for him. Regarding the charges con-
! corning the
| BOYS HOUSE OF REFUGE,
Mr.. Diamond has already begun an investiga-
| ton as to the facts, and will report In the
| matter to the Council at its next meeting
Administrator Edwards Is also preparing a
report relative to- the structures Of the Grand
Turv i'm o0nneptipn with the Insane ASVlum