Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-01-24
Bill to Reorganize the Lunatic Asylums
and the Deaf, Dumb and Blind
Institution.

1UStltuJlOQ.
THESE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS THE
VICTIMS OF POLITICAL PROsCRfP-
TIoN-AN ELOQUENT PROTEST
BY COL. JAMES H. SKINNER.
We imagine that but few persons
ever supposed the time would ever ar
rive when the Legislature of this State
would make her charitable Institutions
the victims of partizan prescription !;
but that extraordinarily, has arriv
ed.
The action of our present Legislature
in reference to these Institutions is such
as will shock the good sense and hui
name feelings of all right-thinking peo-
pie. We have not the space to COM
ment upon this action as its outrageous
character deserves.
We publish below the eloquent pro-
test of Col. Jas. II. Skinner as delivered
in the House OF Delegates, as well as til g
Bill referred to, and the appropriate
amendment proposed by Col. skinner,
which should have been adopted, but
was defeated by strictly party vote.
The following is the substance of Col
Skinner's remarks on that bill -
SPEECH OF COL. JAS. H. SKINNER.
Mr.. Skinner said that he wished to
make plea for these noble Charities
which are tenderIy cherished in the
best feelings of all the good people of the
State thai he might the better succeed,
he should be glad to prove '.as wise as
the serpent, and rs harmless as the
dove" The Bill before the House pro.
poses to make vacant, at an early day,
all the Offices In the Lunatic Asylums,
and in the Institution for the Deaf &
Dumb & the Blind. He desired to
know why these sweeping changes
were proposed. He hoped not on party
grounds against change on any such
consideration as this he felt peculiarly
authorized to enter most earnest pro :
test. Years ago, when party feeling
ran high between Wings and Demo
Gratis, he, then. as now Democrat, Ocs
cupied a position in the Boards OF both
the Western Lunatic Asylum and the
Deaf & Dumb and Blind Institution,
and he had always sturdily resisted the
removal Of any faithful incumbent from
office on party grounds. An effort had
once been made, before Democratic
Board, to displace DR.. Stribling, distin-
guished though he was throughout the
land as the head Of the Western Asy-
lum; but it failed, and that eminent
man and faithful public servant had
been retained in Office to his life's close.
Is there any charge of maladministra-
ton in the affairs of the Asyiuns or the
Institution None whatever is pretend
ed. TIE Western Lunasic Asylum is
fulfilling most satisfactorily the 0enefi :
cient ends of its establishment, and the
same is no doubt the case with the
others. In the Western Asylum 1872
patients are reported as being treated,
while during the past two years 90 OF
its inmates have been restored, as cured,
to the bosoms of their families and
friends, carrying Joy and gladness with
them, no doubt, into many Heretofore
afflicted households. Is there any charge
of lack of qualification among its of
fcials? None at ALL They are all en-
tirely competent to the discharge of
their delicate and responsible duties.
Is any want of fidelity in the perform
ance of duty alleged against them
None whatever. Most earnestly did be
fee! called upon then to protest against
an act declaring their offices vacant.
Such an act would be shcckingIy unjust
and glaringly unwise.
Let us consider for a moment the pols
icy of these causeless removals. The
desire of all should be to secure for these
Asylums the best medical talent. Bat
how can it be secured, if the incumh6ntx
are to be removed from Office on every
change of party? Will men eminent
in the profession lay down lucrative
practice to take an office which is to be
held on such a fOrtuii0us and uncertain
tenure? DR.. Fauntieroy gained large
experience, and won for himself envia'
Bile distinction at the head of q military
hospital during the war: when it ended
he established himself as physician
and surgeon in the City of S5aunton
where he soon acquired large AND
fourishing practice. This he gave uI
when elected to take charge of our Wesr
| tern Asylum. He is laudibly ambitious,
and has for several years labored faith
fully and effectively in his new field, in
which he is aided by active and skilled
assistants. To say nothing of the in
|
wretched and cruel policy to declare
| vacant the offices OF such men, in order
| to substitute in their stead others, who
very possibly will not be SO skiIiful-
for meu in fourishing practice wuulc
! be slow to lay it down with such an eA-
ample of change and uncertainty before
them-and who very certainly will be
totally inexperienced in the affairs OF
the Asylum, and who will know abso
lutely nothing of the peculiar cases Of
the hundreds of patients now there
with all of which the present officials
are by this time familiar.
Must not. the effect OF these changes,
when made without good cause, De in
furious and distressing to the patients
| themselves, who are entitled to Oui
iiveiiest sympathies? the physicians
now in charge have watched over them
have studied their cases, have minister
ed to them with tenderest care; ara
these to be supplanted and stranger
put i'll their places must new conhden
ces be established, aud the story OF theil
sufferings, aud Of their disorders, often
of the most delicate nature, be poured
forth into stranger ears
He would ask members on the Other
side if they deal thus with their owr
wives and daughters. Would you rs
quire them to abandon physicians w.lon
they Knew, and whom they trusted
and compel them to resort to Others, fol
no better reason than a difference o
| political opinion between you and youl
family physician If one OF you wers
stricken with small pox-a diseasewhicf
has caused you some uneasiness OF lat
would you before calling in one of tbs
eminent physicians of the City, first ia
quire what his views were Oh the aep
question, or on the prepay ment of
capitasion tax, and decline relief az hi
hands il ne CHANGED not t. agrse will
YOU about these matters? Most assuf
edly you would not act thus IL you
own case; why then should you maE'
such inquiries with references to th'
oh ysicians who are in charge o. thes'
great Charities
It will aid you in your Judgment or
this point il you Will only make th'
case your own, ami resolve 70 90 unt'
these afflicted ones as you youfsei We
would like to be dealt with, il In theil
case. There is an incident related o
Horace Mann, OF Mass, which is no
inappIicable. Mr.. Mann was urging
the claims OF refornatory institution
for boys, which had cost fifty Thousand
or more dollars, and he said, that TIN
| would ne wei