Omaha daily bee., 1883-02-27
Sp, cisl Correspondence OF THr BEE.
SENATE.

sp, cisl Correspondence OF THs BE.
SENATE.
LINCOLN, Neb February "a Sen
ator Conner, from the committee to
investigate the Nebraska hospital for
the insane, ssked leave to submit the
following report:
MIR. PRESIDENT = Your special com.
nitteo appointed to investigate charges
of neglect aud cruelty exercised by the
superintendent and employe q OF the
Nebraska insane asylum towards pa
tients therein confined. have had the
subject matter Ct the resolution Great
Ing said committee under considera-
ton, and desire to make the followir Z
report:
The committee have examined fifty.
six witnesses, the testimony elected
extending over q period of some four
years. The evidence of twenty-five
witnesses establishes many acts of
neglect, and In some instances great
and excessive cruelty, exercise d by the
attendants Of the asylum, mostly
toward the male inmates therein con-
fined. These acts Of cruelty, consist.
Ing of striking, kicking and choking
patients, have occurred at FRI quent
intervals throughout the management
of DR.. Matthewson. There IL Ous ,is.
tie, If any. evidence tending to show
that DE-. Mattnewson personally knew
at the respective times these aces of
cruelty occurred that they did occu.,
or were committed ~ the attendan
In charge of the patients, but the COM
mittee Is Of the opinion that undet
vigilant, humane and proper manage
meDt of the nsylum suoh acts IF cruel
ty could not and should not have &C.
Cured at all.
Tho committee examined thirty
four Witnesses for aud un behait #
the superintendent Of the asylum
The witnesses thus examined vsre
very generally employees or officers Of
the asylum or those who at some time
had been employed In, or In some way
connected with the asylum while I'M.
der the management or DR.. Matthew.
SOL.
These witnesses thus examined very
generally testified that the manage.
ment Of the affairs of the asylum was
good, that few or no acts of neglect OF
cruelty had come under the observa.
tion of said witnesses, and that DR..
Matthewson was a vigilaIt and
humane officer; but 1t will be observed
from an inspection of the evidence
that most of the testimony related to
the management of the female wards
of the asylum and that it did not ma.
terlally contradict or impeach the
specific acts of neglect or cruelty on
the part of DR.. Matthewson.
The compiled statutes, section 16,
page 301, provide for a matrop, who,
under tho direction Of the superin.
tendent and not otherwise, shall have
the general supervision OF the domes
tic arrangements of the hospital and
do what she 3 to promote the com
fort and restoration Of the inmates.
The evidence disclosed the fact that
for a long period the services of a mat
ron were dispensed with at the hos.
pital. The committee Is of the opin'
lon that y matton Is a necessary EN-
ploye Of the arylum, and Is 70 con
templated by the statute, and it 10 the
further opinion of the committee that
the superintendent OF the asylum ha'
no legal power whatever to dispense
with the services of a matron, and tt
do 80 Is an usurpation of power MOI
warranted by the statute or the bes'
interests of the asylum.
In view of the evidence sdduced
the committee Is of the opinion tina
the management Of the Asylum by Dr.
Matthewson has not been In accord
ancs with law, or with the bes. inter
ests of that unfortunate class of ou'
citizens for whose benefit the asylum
was established; and we are reluct
antly forced to the conclusion that
change In the management of the aAy
lum would subserve the best interest
of the institution; and we therefor,
recommend that such change bs mad
at IA early a day as practicable.
Your committee respectfully sug
gest that the evidence taken in tn
examination be printed, or In tn,
event the senate do not concur in thi
view that then, and in that event, tn
senate direct the attorney general t
take charge of the testimony and pre-
serve the same in his Office for futur
reference and consideration.
Very respectfully submitted,
A. 81. CONNER, Chairman.
Fl. SHoENHEIT.
Mr.. Rogers, from the same CON
mittee, submitted the following n
port:
Ma PREsIDKNT-I am unable I
join with the majority Of your CON
mittee appointed N investigate CO..
tain charges against the managemer
Of the state lunatio asylum, In the
report to your body, for the reaso
that l have been unable to attend
several meetings Of the COMMITTEES
and since the investigation has close
/ have not had time to review an
properly examine the six hundre
pages of evidence taken. AS the lei
islature may soon adjourn, l respec
fully ask that l be excused fro
further serving as member of ga
COMMITTEES, and that the senate no
take action on this report.
Respectfully,
JOSIAH ROGERS.
Tao thou.and cnniaa of a nannhl