Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-27
OUR STATE soLoNS.
An Animated Discussion Takes
Place in the House.
Our State Institutions and How They ar
Managed-Resolutons to Investigate
Licensing Lawyers, Doctors
and Dentists.
ADAY DEVOTED TO 0RAToRY, AND
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Morning Session.

Inc session was Openeu Win prayer ny
Delegate Gratham, of Jefferson county.
On the call for reports of committees, Mr..
Bee reported from the Committee on HUI
| name Institutions, joint resolution pro-
viding for the appointment of three men,
bers OF the House and two OF the Senate
| to constitute q committee to visit the In
stitution for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind
and the Asylum for the Insane, and in
yestigate the financial affairs OF said In
stitutions.
ABreezy Debate.
Mr.. Ferguson inquired whether this re-
solution contemplated sending the COM
mittee there during the session or after the
adjournment of the Legislature.
Mr.. Bee replied, during the session.
Mr.. Ferguson then said he wanted to
know what kind of an investigation could
| be made during the session. He was
opposed to these travelling investigating
committees that go on flying trip to these
institutions to sit down to dinner, be
wined and dined and come back TO report
everything lovely. Why not if an inves-
tigation is TO be made, appoint a commit
tee that would sit during recess and have
time to perform their mission creditably?
An investigation during the session would
be q useless waste of money, because the
committee could not make an inveStiga
tiOn.
what's I'm It?
Mr. Holt inquired OF Mr.. Bee whether
there was anything before this committee
to induce them to believe an investigation
necessary?
. Mr. Bee replied that he did not know
that any specific charges had been made,
but that his committee had submitted to
them by the Legislature, SO much OF the
Governors message as referred TO these in
stitutionS, and there was some diSsatisfac-
ton as to the charge pee capita, ETC., for the
keeping of the inmates.
Mr.. Ferguson said ii that be all the COM
mittee could sit here and get all the infOr-
nation they want and get it better than
by going away.
Courts the Investigation.
Mr.. Grantham said that as a member OF
the Board OF the Insane Asylum, he would
simply say that as far as that institution
was concerned, il courts an investigation.
Mr.. Monroe said that he as a member of
the Board OF the Institute for the Deaf,
Dumb and Blind, raised no objection, and
that if the committee visited that institu-
tion it would strengthen its claims TO an
increased appropriation.
Baskets, BrO0ms, Etc.
Mr.. Evans inquired OF Mr.. Monroe wheth-
er there were not large number OF baS-
kets, broOms, etc, manufactured by the in
mates of that institution?
Mr.. Monroe-"Yes to some extent, but
don't know to what amount"
Mr. Evans said that is one OF the reasons
why his committee recommended the in
vestigation. They wanted to know what
had become OF the proceeds of the work of
these inmates; and he had too much conf
dence in members OF the legislature to
think they would 90 there and assist to
cover up any Irregularities and tthsre. was
Ing al az ces OF wfiieh no retls,ss were being
made He thought it ought to be investi-
gated, and there was no impropriety in ap-
pointing the committee.
Mr.. Ferguson said he did not say COM
mittee OF the Legislature would not do its
duty. But everybody knows that these
Rowing CommissiOns
never amounted to anything. The pur.
pose of the resolution is to defray the eX-
penSeS OF 4 committee to see how many
brooms the blind inmates have made and
received money for. Ii they make brOomS
and sell them for pittance. in Gods name
let them have it. He moved to indefinitely
postpone the resolution.
Mr.. Monroe said he thought the farmers
there brought in the broom corn and had
broomS made on shares, and did not think
the State paid anything for the broom corn.
He thought it small business.
Mr. FulEerSOn said he was somewhat
Surprised ut the Figures
in the reports from these institutions show
| ing the cost of maintaining them He read
! from the reports some parts OF the imam
cial statements, and said it cost too much to
support these inmates, and he was dissat-
iSfed with the charges for keeping the deaf,
| dumb and blind. He did not care to press
| for investigation, but thought it well to let
| these institutions know that the Legisla
ture was watching them, and they must adj
| minister strictly according to law.
Mr. Motfett thought this not the time for
a committee of the Legislature to go to
| these institutions, and suggested that if the
resolution should be adopted that the COM
| mittee be allowed to go during
recess. These charges should be cleared
up There is an impression in the State
| that the Legislature was making very large
appropriations for these institutions. The
| Superintendent of the Romney Institute
| had asked in his report for 5000, and
| while here in the city, the other day, he
understood that he had remarked casually
that perhaps $4,000 would meet expenses.
| This was rather loose way of calculating.
| These officers should be held to a strict ac-
| count. He was told that q broom factory,
| tailor shop and shoe shop wbre part of the
| industrial departments at ROmney, and
| not word was said in the report about the
products of these departments and no re-
turn was made to the state.
He, Mr.. Motfett, had understood the pro-
ceeds had been applied to the purchase OF
| q tract of land, for which the Legislature
made an appropriation, and the impression
| in Hampshire county is that these proceeds
are being misapplied. He did not know
| the facts himself, but they ought to be in
vestigated.
Mr. Ferguson modified his motion and
moved to lay it OH the table.
Mr. Evans called for the ayes nays.
Mr. Irons desired to say that he was in
| formed in addition to making brooms,
| they had IL hands at the Romney institute,
making shoes, and yet there was no ac-
| count OF this.
Mr.. Monroe did not propose to defend
that institution from any wrong. He
| knew that the inmates were instructed in
mechanical departments, but he thought
| the product of their laborS very small. and
| ii an investigation were thought necessary,
| he was in favor of it. He thought it
would stand the test.
| Investigate All OF Them.
Mr.. Kepner offered substitute for the
| resolution that the proper standing com-
| mittees uf the House he directed to inYes-
| tigate the financial management or the
public institutions OF the State, with
| power 10 send for persons and papers.
Mr.. Fulkerson did not think such an in
vestigation would amount to anything.
Mr.. Depue advocated the adoption OF the
substitute, and said that il would get at the
facts as we'll as a special committee.
Mr. Evans said that the Committee on
/ Humane Institutions had brought
| No Charges
| but il had come into possession of certain
rumors, which it thought justified an in
yestigation. II there was anything wrong
il ought TO be brought tOlight. He want.
| ed to see
who's Afraid
Of this investigation, and he would put
every man on the record.
Mr.. Leonard said he was in favor OF the
substitute. No charges had been made,
| and it was not the duty Of the Legislature
to investigate mere rumors. 1t was stated
that little broom corn was worked up,
| and probably the unfortunates got the pro-
| ceeds. The Committee on Humane, In