The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-04-17
The Asylum Boards.

The time is rapidly approaching when
there will be full statements from various
parties concerning the action of the Board
Of Public works in appointing members
Of the asylum boards 1t will then proba-
bly, be seen that from the very first Messrs.
Marye and Barksdale were embarrassed by
the demand made upon them by several
democratic senators, who represented that
they were under the most binding pledges
to Senator Christian to see that certain
friends of his were appointed on the East
ern Lunatlc Asylum and Deaf, Dumb and
Blind Institute Boards.
The first list for the Eastern Asylum
presented to Messrs. Marye and Barksdaie
contained the names Of sic senator's. There
were but eleven members in all ON this
Board to be elected. Both Messrs. Marye
and Barksdale kicked, . and three Of the
senator's names were dropped.
Mr.. Mayre from the beginning opposed
putting any member of the Legislature on
any of these boards, for he was afraid that
it would lay the legislators open to the
charge Of having voted to make places va
cant for themselves to fill. He. however,
at last yielded to persuasion as the session
was rapidly passing, and there was an APP
prehension that enough votes could not
be obtained IN the Senate to pass the ap-
preparation and asylum bill over the Gov
errors veto.
As to the number of anti-democratic
members who should be appointed, Messrs.
Barksdale and Marye differed, and there
the Governor got his work in. and one re-
suit of it was that the democrats failed to
get such members for the local boards lex
ecutive committees) of the Eastern and
Central Asylums as the democrats of Will
liamsburg and Petersburg hoped for.
The Malone people got three members
Asylum boards. On the Deaf, Dumb and
Blind Institute Boards (seven members)
the demands of the senators on Messrs.
Marye and Barksdale were such that the
Governor was not given a representative
on that board.
On the Western Asylum Board the Gov
ernor asked the privilege of naming dem
0crat as'wep as the three coalitionists. He
suggested Hon. Henry =. Allen, who was
elected by his and Mr.. Barksdale's votes.
The senators made no claims upon the
Central and Western Lunatic Asylum
Boards. There has been a good deal of
complaint about the former; not that the
members elected are not all excellent gen.
tlemen, but that the majority are charged
to have been selected because they were
known to be friends of certain doctor
who is candidate for the Office of super
tendent.. As to that it is quite likely that
Mr.. Barksdale in his forthcoming card will
make full explanation.
There isno i'll feeling between Messrs.
Barksdale and Marye but. the contrary.
They differed as to what representation
the coalitionists should have on certain
boards butIeach has the highest respect
for thesothef - .,ff.
As far as can be ascertained here there
is not the. slightest probability that the
Eastern Lunatic Asylum Board will be
disposed to re-elect Dr.. r., A. Wise as SUI
perintendent of that Institution
Strong hopes are entertained that for
each asylum the most competent persons
whose services can be obtained will =be
chosen tofillthe offices. Richmond Dispatch.