The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-17
CITY COUNCIL--.-OFFICIAL.
REGULAR MEETING.
Cry HALL, New ORLEANS.
: Tuesday. July tG. 1878.

Cry HALL New ORLEANS. |
Tuesday, July 16, 1878. {
The Council met this day at IL o'clock III.
In regular session.
Presentation. Ed Pilsbury, Mayor, pre-
siding, and Administrators Brown, Cavanac,
Diamond, Edwards, McCaffrey and Rengs-
torff.
The reading of the minutes of the previous
meeting was dispensed with, and they were
approved as printed.
Communicate lions from the Mayer and ADJ
mInistratOrs.
The following communication from the Adj
minlstrator of Police was read:
OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATORS OF Police,
New orleans, July 49, 1878.
The Honorable the Mayor and Administrators
Of the City of New Orleans:
Gentlemep-I have to state that in view of
the report of the Grand Jury | have sus-
pnnded the following officers: Thos Deve-
reaux, superintendent; Edward Regain, assist
ant superintendent, and James Riley, night
Waterman, and now respectfully ask that q
committee of three be appointed to tnvesti-
gate the charges made In SAID report.
RoBT. E. DIAMOND.
Administrator.
Mr.. McCaffrey moved that committee Of
two. with the Mayor as chairman, be appoint
ed. Adopted.
The Mayor appointed Messrs. McCaffrey
and Rengstorff.
At the request of Mr.. Diamond, the COM
mittee was instructed to invite the Co-opera-
ton of Dr. Chopin and the city physicians,
should they deem 1t necessary.
The following communication from the Ad-
rrr ~ D,I ID
ings was read and ordered spread on the
minutes:
| DEPARTMENT OF WATBRwoRKs AND PUBLIC
BUILDINGS.
New Orleans, July 16, 1878.
To the Hon. Ed. Ptlsbury, Mayor. and the Board
| of Administrators OF the city Of New Or
leans:
GentLemen-In view of the late report of the
honorable the Grand Jury of this parish, rela-
| tive Ia the shortcomings Of certain charitable
institutions, feel it due to myself and those
associated with me in charge of the City In
! sane Asylum to give you the actual COndi-
ton of this institution. When [ took charge
of same, some eighteen months since, 1t was
| a proDer subject for the Grand jury as the
condition of the building itself was in a
deplorable condition, and as for comforts they
| were very few. | have reconstructed build
ings grounds and furniture, and as for
abundance of wholesome food to eat, and
clothings to wear, the hundreds of visitors
there weekly can testify to, and the family
and friends of the unfortunate inmates can
vouch for.
/ regret exceedingly that the gentlemen
composing the Grand Jury had not sent fol
me or the superintendent OF the institution
Capt. FL. d. Moner, when we would have eK
plainpd why one room, occupied by certain
violent cases at times, had one or two tori
mattresses and different in order to all thu
other apartments occupied by the patients
! We could also have informed them that those
, beds seen by them, without sheets or mos
, quito bars, were unOcGupied. We could alst
have given them q complete history OF every
) thing connected with the institution. and WI
) would have been glad to avail ourselves o
any recommendations that would amelOrat
r the condition of the inmates or improve tn
/ management of the institution, -.
t I have taken great interest In this institu
ton since first took charge OF it. and tn
/ public have always had admittance, and M
/ impartial visitor can say that | have beel
= derelict In my duties as far as was author
r lied by the ordinances OF the city.
/ The building used for the City Insane Asy
H lum was never built or intended to be use
t for such purpose; consequently 1t has not tn
divisions so conveniently arranged as build
ing would have that was erected for that spe
cial purpose; but the departments for male
u aud females are entirely separated as ar
e also the colors at meal times and in sleepin
I apartments.
There are at this time 14G inmates In thi
Il institution, all OF WlOn nave DeGIl SeDJ liner
bya committing magistrate, on the CertifiCat
! of one of the city physicians, and all pal
u tiCiDate alike in the benefits OF the institution
q Male and female patients are always keL
5t separated the walls and doors separatin
e them being perfect, and always kept lOcket
d and Waterman stationed at each door.
9 The charge that men are employed to d
:, women's work Is altogether a mistake, as tn
/ matron, Mrs. Place, with the assistance (
g some six or eight of the female patients, WI
taVtt nH Tn
g her in this department land for this reasC
u Mrs. Place has never required or requisite
l any assistant) give the necessary attention
l. the female patients who are unable to atten
le to themselves. These DatiGntS-never les
% than six-who are only periodically demente
q are of great service to the matron, as the
Is are kept constantly employed, making ne
z and repairing old clothing for the other p
Ill TENTS, male and female and assist in nursiu
{; the more helpless Of their own sex. The mi
8. trOn, Mrs Place, has never asked for or SUI
1C gested that more help was required in her d
" partment.
+ Mrs. Place does not sleep in the asyur
II but in the immediate neighborhood. She,
ID in the asylum, however, from the time tt
patients are relieved from their dOrmitOri
in the morning until they are sent there
ar night, attending In person to the dressin
N etc, of those patients who are unable TO DO
ii for themselves. The officers OF the institute
IL Capt. H. D. Monier, superintendent, or NJ
10 Hamilton, the clerk-are either one or Il
~ other constantly on duty night and day, al
all the officers and watchmen Of the instit
ton are married men, with families, with O
d. exception. and he is q day Waterman in t
/ male department. The duty of the waite
as man during the day is to keep the patien
Id from using violence towards each other, or
lg themselves; to keep the building clean and
[ see that each patient gets. his meals; to 10
VI and unlock the doors and gates for visitor
and for parties having business in the diff
ent portions OF the buildings or premises, al
~ to assist the matron in anything she may
as quire. .,,
id The duty of the night Waterman Is prin
lk pally to prevent any accident from fire
lie otherwise, to furnish water or supply the T
IN tients with anything they might requi
Watchmen are prohibited from and never
make their rounds alone; two watchmen
ways go together.
Far from economy being the rule, all req
W. sitions from the superintendent or matrOn
the asYlnm for food. clothing or medicines b