The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-16
RUBLHC LUNATIC AsYLUMs or THE
STATE OF LOUISIANA.


The excellent report Of the Grand Jury
strikes every right-miuded man with an ap-
pallihg conviction that there is something
rotten in our municipal administration. 1t is
calculated to produce the impression that our
political system as applied to municipal gov
ernments, is failure, and especially that the
machinery OF primary elections by which 1t
is put into practice Is essentially defective.
1t is not my purpose to go into discussion
of the manner In which nominations are made,
nor to ask why ward politicians gre appointed
to positions for which they are morally and
intellectually unfit, but to make few 0bser-
vations on the treatment Of the insane Ia this
city and State.
Fromthe reportof the Grand Jury it win be
learned that The management Of the City In-
Il civilized community. It appears that there
is only one female employed in this institu-
tion, and during the night the women pa
tientS are entirely under the charge of the
young men assistants" This is the more in
exCusable as, under q good matrou, excellent
female attendants can be procured for $12 to
81 per month whilst the male attendants
receive from $50 to S75. SO the plea Of ecOno-
ny or conscientious regard for the peCuniary
interests of the people cannot be used in JUS
tificatiOn of having male attendants to take
charge of the female patients. The same city
department that has charge OF this institu-
tiOn has expended thousands and probably
tens of thousands In beautifying the City
Hall, cOurt-hOuses, etc. Could 1t not have
spared mOdCum Of this vast expenditure to
furnish few sheets, mattresses and mos
quito bars, SO badly needed, instead of ex-
pending SO much upon works, which, to say
the least, are not absolutely necessary?
/ cordially agree with every word said by
the Grand Jury In praise OF the Sisters Of
Charity and their admirable management, but
the Grand Jury and the public ut large seem
to be unacquainted with the fact that we have
State Lunatic Asylum In Jackson, admira-
bly, located in q BEAUTIFUL, elevated and
healthy country, surrounded by o large park
for the recreation Of the patients, with farm
attached Of about three hundred acres.
1t is true that during Radical administra-
tion this institution was sadly mismanaged,
It's funds misapprOpriated, the buildings and
appliances suffered to fall into decay, while
the patients for want OF II sufffCiency Of cloth
ing, fuel and food suffered great hardships.
| can now report from personal observation
that under the able and conscientious general
control of the board OF administrators ap-
pointed by Gov. Nichols 1t is, considering It's
yet limited means, one Of the best managed
institutions In the country. This Is more di-
rectly due to the excellent management OF It's
present superintendent, DR.. j. W. Jones, who
Is emphatically the right man in the right
place. He Cheerfully and effeCtualiy performs
duties, and performs them well, too, which
in other institutions require half q dozen off
cials-physician, superintendent, treasurer,
bOuk-keeper and farner-his services are in
valuable His administrative talents are ex-
hiblted in the admirable order In which, with
the most limited resources, everything works.
The affectlonate greetings of the patients ex-
hilit more strikingly than words his kindness
and attention to their wants. Nor must his
excellent lady who, although occupying no
official position, be forgotten Her watchful
kindness over the poor unfortunates Is with
out cessation
| Since visiting the institution and observing
its excellent management and gradual resus-
citation, have thought 1t strange that our
city authorities did not act upon the knowl-
/ edge that the charge Of the insane belongs to
the State and not to the cities or parishes The
city pays its full quota Of taxation; then why
keep horribly mismanaged institution in
stead of taking some steps to avail themselves
of this State asylum, where kindness, good
order, strict regard to decency and skiliful
treatment at trltilng expense can ali be Sc
cured?
1t will be answered, "The asylum is filled
| to it's utmost capacity, and cannot accom-
modate another patient" This is true, but
the building is really incomplete, having two
wings il a rudimentary condition. At Il COM
paratvely trifiing cost these wings can be ex-
tended according to the original design and
thus accommodate upwards Of 400 patients
instead Of 205, the number of its present in
| mates.
! I hold it to be the duty of the Council, be-
fore the meeting Of the next Legislature, to
collect facts as to the probable Gust OF these
additions to the building, and with this infor-
nation they should appeal to the Legislature
| for an appropriation for the purpose Of en-
/ largiDg the State asylum to the capacity re-
quired by the wants OF the community. Fail
eral Assembly, it would be better, even In a
pecuniary point of view, for the city to incur
this expense from its own resources.
HUMANITY.
In the general distribution of medals, if II