Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-17
DaiIu Kennrtsl .3ournaI.
Report Of the Committee on the
Investigation of the Insane
Hospital.

examination OF SAID institution. early in the
session. 1t became apparent that there were
current vague rumors. affecting the stand
ing ami usefulness of the Hospital. A COM
munication from the Trustees hereof. was re
ceived January 2j. 1881. as follows:
''To the Legislative Committee on the In
sane Hospital: We, theundersigned. Trustees
of the Maine Insane Hospital believing the
Insane Hospital of our State to be an institu-
ton worthy of your patronage, and that il
should command the entire confidence of the
public; and whereas certain impressions All
pear to exist in the minds of some. and Ger
tain allegations are made in the public press
that the Hospital management, both on the
part OF the medical staff and the Board of
Trustees, is not wholly iudicious and correct
therefore. we cordially invite your honorable
Committee to make, if desirable on your
part. free and full investigation into the af-
fairs of the Hospital and the management of
the same.
(Signed),
J. S. CrsHiNo.
SYLVESTER OAkEs. Trustees
J. ii. MASLE,. of
G. W. JOHNSON. Maine Insane
j. L. GILMAN. Hospital.
Mrs. c. A. Quincy.
In pursuance ofthis request this Committee
decided to enter upon such investigation as
should enable it to ascertain the truth or fall
sity of the rumors. As there were no charges
of any kind lodged with this Committee nor
any written complaint or petition other than
the letter of the Trustees, in order to obtain
evidence upon the rumors and irresponsible
newspaper articles, an order was obtained
February Sd, 1881, from the Legislature au-
thoriZing this Committee to send for persons
and papers, and an official stenographer was
employed by the same authority. Your Com
mittee have held twenty MISUNDERSTANDING
from January 24th to March 10th 1881. Every
facility has been granted to obtain evidence
to both the prosecution and the defence. At
torneys were employed by the respective par
ties, and the efforts of the prosecutors to
maintain the positions they assumed, have
been met by the Trustees. by resolute de-
fence of the institution. The Committee has
felt that it was due to the people of the State,
that all rumors should be traced to their
source and carefully examined. to the end
that if the management of the Hospital should
be found unfaithful or inefficient or in
humane corrective measures might he
taken or if it should be found to
be worthy of public confidence and
support. the same should be reported to
your honorable bodies. As the result of our
investigation respectfully submit the
following summary of our observations and
of the evidence obtained in our long and
widely advertised series OF meetings.
BOARDS OF CONTROL.
The government ofthe Hospital is vested in
board of six Trustees. selected and appointed by
the Governor and Council. and charged by law
with the entire control under the appointing
power. 1t is by law the duty of this board. by
a committee. to make at least one visit to the
Hospital in each monih.-and full board meet
ings are held at the beginning of each quar-
ter. 1t has always been customary to have at
least one physician on the board-at the
present time there are four. as it is to this
board that all questions of administration
finally come, and in this board rests the final
responsibility of maladminstion. so also is
the credit of judicious selection of officers
and Of whatever success NAV be achieved
under their direction due to the same guar
dans of this great public trust The board
of visitors. consisting of two members of the
Executive Councl-one of whom, we believe,
has always been physcian-and one lady.
came into existence under an act of the
Legislature passed in 1874. This board is
charged with inspecting and advisory powers.
and its visits are. under the law. made with
out notice to the local officers. The members
are all provided with full sets of keys. and
among other duties they are charged with a
careful supervision i'll the interest of kind
and humane treatment and with advisory
powers relative to progressive or other meas
ures designed to benefit the unfortunate
wards of the State. \ committee of the
Executive Council is annually chosen to in
spect the institution. and the Governor and
Council may remove any Trustee. the Super
ntendent and Treasurer. when for the public
interest they deem it necessary to do so.
The financial affairs come finally before this
body for final settlement.
WATER SurrLY AND FIRE PRoTroTroS.
Upon this subject certain rumors and COM
plants were current. and your Committee has
by personal examination and thorough testl-
mony obtained reached the conclusion that
the matter is fully and truthfullv stated in the
annual report of the institution for lss0,
which has been laid before YOUR honorable
bodies We have become fully satisfied that
with nominal expense practically unlimited
supply of water is available. and additions
are now in progress which will largely in
crease the supply. 1t has been suggested.
that the supply be taken from the river as an
unfailing source. This would certainly fur
nish unlimited quantities: but as the scheme
works examined by experts and pronounced
too expensive to be adopted. and in view of
the fact that the present works are now suffi-
cient and are being increased. it seems to
this Committee undesirable to recommend
heavy appropriations for that purpose. We
will add, that we have found the Trustees and
all the local officers entirely willing that such
supply be furnished, but with one exception
none would recommend it. In regard to the
INSANITY of the inmates, the dangers from fire
are greatly in excess of those in as many pri-
yate families as would comprise as many
people. In other regards the degree of safety
is far in excess of that enjoyed by people gen
orally The buildings are regularly patrolled
every hour during the night beside being
visited by an alternate watch. in the intervals
Attendants sleep in each ward with the pa
tients. Officers are on duty from ) A. NJ
until midnight. of each day, and throughout
all parts. while the patients are not in their
rooms, sane people are on duty. The entire
heating is done by steam and the lighting by
gas. and the admirable FIRE apparatus is kept
always ready for instant use- Your Commit
tee witnessed the playing Of six excellent fire
- y