The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1880-03-09
Report Of che Committee Of 1nves
tigation.
IN SENATE.
Thursday February 10, 1880.

Mr.. Blackburn from the joint spe-
cial committee appointed 10 visit the
Western Lunatic Asylum, made the.
following report, which was ordered
TO be printed, referred TO the COM
mittee OH Charitable Institutions,
viz; ~ ~ 10 ''
To the Gen'i Assembly Of the Common
wealth Of Kentucky.
Your committee appointed to visit
the Western Lunatic Asylum,a at Hop
kilsvillc, KY, for the purpose OF IN
vcstigating certain churgcs preferred
against.the management and conduct
Of the officers OF said institution by
DIR. Edwin r. Cook, q member Of the
Board or Commissioners Of said
Asylum, would respectfully ask
leave to report that your committee
has discharged the duty imposed
on Il by tho joint resolution OF both
Houses, and, after q full inquiry into
all the charges contained Ii said
Cooks Majority Repent, find them
entirely unsustained by the proof U /
Your committee made careful ex-
animation OF all the wards in the old
and new buildings, and OF the5 kitch-
en-, the wash house, aud the laundry,
shd find the sanitary condition OF
them oil to be good the fro6nis rlare
all neat, well ventilated, aud amodel
|Iof cleanliness. " Nh la'slnssA
% 7 our committee saw all the m
mates, white and colored, in. tho Asy-
HIM, and found them nearly allin q
| good state Of health, neat mid clean,
Well clothed and fed, and no eviden-
ces of CRUEL or improper treatment.
our committee also made q care
| full examination OF the books and
vouchers Of the Steward and Receiy-
er, and other books andpapers con-
neeted with the institution, and
failed to find an error in the hooks,
vouchers or other papers, or any tes-
timony or evidence whatever indica-
ting any errors, or that any money
had been wrongfnlly used by the
Superintendent, Commissioners or
any other officers ofthe Institution.
Your committee occnr IN The opin.
ion, from mn examinatinn Of the f.
nances ct ihe institution, that "a re-
duction of tie expenditures IL de-
handed, and that the per capita al
llowsnce 10 too much, as evidenced
by $1,000 now in the hands Of the
Treasurer OF the institution, and
should be reduced from $500 TO $40.
Your committee Is of the, opinion
that the number Of employees is TOO
great, and the prices paid them arc
too much, and, in the judgment ol
the committee, the number could rea-
sonably be reduced, and also the pri'
ces paid them for their services; aud
that the General Assembly may
know the number Of employees, and
the prices paid them, the coInmiite,
would respectfully ask TO have th,
monthly pay roll Of said institution
read.
Your committee further report tina
the proof indicated that ono OF the
members Of the Board of Commits
sioners had failed in the discharge o
the duty imposed by the law in visit
4 ing the wards Of the Asylum, mn,
recommended that hereafter tn
Board of Commissioners report an,
such neglect of duty 10 the Governor
SO that such officer may be displace,
and the position filed BY some CON
petent person willing 10 comply wit
the requirements Of the law.
tits the opinion Of your commifte
that the affairs of this institution or
we'll managed and che Superintend
ent and Commissioners deserve ver'
great commentator for their success
( In making II q first-clasa Asylum.
All of which Is respectfully submit
tied. JAMES BLACKBURN,
vi J.H. WILKINSON,
ISenutc.
\ ert conn J. w. DYcUs, ~
Ilr'' ID. +. REysoI.Ds, srea
GEoRGE ID. EwrNG, y
IS House of Representatives..