The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-12
THE STATES CHARITIES.
Some of the fragrant Abuses Perpetrated
by the Board of Trustees of the Insti-
tuition for the Blind.

The board of trustees of the Institution for
the Blind consists, nominally, of DR.. Harrison,
Howard Briggs and DIR. W. D. Wiles. In the
actual operations of the board there are but two
members Harrison and Brggs-the third DR..
Wiles, being helpless minority, remorselessly
snubbed by the two other trustees, who are con-
federated to run things and divide the loaves
and fishes. Among the first changes made upon
the reorganization of the board was the dis
missal OF the superintendent, Wilson, and the
appointment to his place OF Professor Jacobs,
of New Albany. 1t is said that Professor Jacobs
has no secure tenure on his place, only holding it
from day to day, and that he is likely to be dis
charged at any moment. He is much too good a
man to hold the anomalous position he does,
and it is said he feels the oppression Of the
two petty political tyrants so keenly that
ne will he forced to resign. When be
does, the purpose of Harrison and Briggs will be
accomplished, and they will then have position
TO give to more plant tool and complaisant
servtor. Professor Black, the principal in the
literary department, and his wife, also a teacher
in that department have both been DISCHARGED,
the former to make room for Nelson, whose chief
recommendation appears to be that he is from
HarrisOn's town of Lebanon.
The most mischievous and least defensible
was the recent discharge of the physician, DR..
Charles E. Wright, and the appointment in his
stead of DR.. R. F. Stone The former, like the
latter, is Democrat but he has more
than a political fitness for the position
being not only one of the most prominent ply
slc1ans In this city in general practice, but In
addition thereto has for many years been in spe-
clal practice as an ocul1st and auth ority upon
diseases OF the eye. OF DR.. Stone, it may be said
tnat he Is general practitioner with special
knowedge on the eye, and whose qualification
Tor the position so generously given him by
Harrison u Briggs, is that he is from Briggs's
town OF Greencastle, and that he found favor
with Harrison by working last winter TO get
John Fishback bounced from the presidency of
the State benevolent boards. 1t was at the last
meeting OF the board of trustees that DR..
Wlles charged Harrison and Briggs with not
having the good of the institution at heart, and
that they made these mischevious changes TO
sneeringly retorted that he would like to see
W1les help himself-that they briggs and him
SELF proposed TO run things. According to the
bylaws of the institution all employees and
teachers have to be nominated by the superin-
tendenJ and confirmed or rejected by the board
OF trustees. Superintendent Jacobs was asked
TO nominate Stone, and refused, saying he could
not conscientiously do so. DR.. Wright had al
ways given satisfaction and there was utterly
no reason for his removal. Harrison and Briggs
Ihen TOOK the matter in hand, and voted for
Stone without the formula of a nomination.
In addition to the general diseases to which
the unfortunate inmates of this mis-called be-
nevOent institution are subject, they are also
sufferers from diseases of the eye, for which they
need intelligent and specific treatment. It has
long been recognized fact that the eye requires
special study, and in this city the treatment of
similar diseases has for several years been In
the hands of physicians who have fitted them
selves for that practice. 1t is also required that
every two years the physician of the institution
make report, in which he is to give full and spe
cific statistics as to the character of the blind
ness of the pupils of the institution. OF course
this can only be done understandingly by a COM
petent oculist Previous to Dr. Wrights term,
Nj nf he old
and best physicians of this city, held
the position of physician DR.. Kitchen attended
to the general practice and employed DR.. ]. L.
Thompson, the oculist, to look after the eyes of
the children and make the biennial report
There is widespread dissatisfaction, uneasi-
ness and alarm among the teachers. pupils and
employees of this much-mismanaged institution.
Great injury has been already done and more
may follow unless these political JObbers are
squelched. The Blind Asylum does not belong
to Harrison and Briggs or any other clique or
ring, and the people of the State, particularly
those who have afflicted dear ones there, will
hardly allow these Uutrages to go on without a
vigorous and decided protest