The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-04
THE CENTRAL LUNATIC ASYLUM.
Serious Charges Against the Man.
agcment Made by senate
Committee.

In the Senate yesterday Mr.. Keezell. from
the Committee on Public Education and
Institutions, submitted great mass Of evil
dence taken in connection with the Flana-
gan suit and the Central Lunatic Asylum,
and the report thereon of subcommittee,
closing as follows:
In conclusion, therefore, and by way OF
summary, the Board OF Directors have
shown an utter want OF business capacity
and management. With their concur
renee member OF the Board drew por-
ton OF the building fund, $1,000, upon a
false pretext suggested by the Auditor;
held the same for six months in his hands
while he remained member of the Board,
and after his resignation held the same
money in his hands as private assets for
more than two years, and only refunded
after this committee called for q statement
OF account OF the building fund from the
Bank of Petersburg.
BY order OF the Board the fund appro-
priated for the new building was drawn
out OF the Treasury Of the Commonwealth,
i'm large sums, long before the money was
needed, ana placed on deposit by the
Treasurer Of the building-fund in the
Bank OF Petersburg, misunderstanding
deposit, to furnish banking capital for said
bank.
BY an unfortunate squabble with the City
Council OF Petersburg, the place for the
new building was not secured until the
fall of 1882, and the spring, summer, and
fall Of 1882. the valuable portion OF the year
for work, was lost entirely, and that, too,
when the cOlored insane OF the State were
crowded in wretched temporary structures
on leased premises. and as a consequence
time was Of essential importance, and when
the language Of the statute was peremp-
tory, requiring that the contract for build
ing the new asylum should provide for
its completion by January l. 1888.
In bold assumption OF powers not con-
ferred the Board have undertaken to have
erected structure which will not accom-
MEDIATE more than one half Of the cOlOred
insane OF the State, and even this structure
will not be completed until late in the year Of
1884, and all Of the appropriation Of 800, 900
will have been expended. Without au-
thOrIty conferred by the statute the Board
have agreed to pay Mr.. Waite (architecD
more than twice the amount contemplated
by the act OF Assembly to be paid. for the
services OF an architect.
BY mismanagement in the Flanagan
matter the Board OF Directors have suffer-
ed recovery against themselves in their
corporate capacity for more than $4,000,
and in awarding the contract anew for car
penter- and Drick-work have done so at an
advance OF more than $4,000. Aggre-
gate loss by mismanagement more than
$4,000. Without authority the Board
agreed to pay Mr.. Waite for his services rs
architect q per cent. on the amount to be
expended in building the asylum, seeking
to make such contract to apply not only to
the appropriation OF 800, 900 already made,
but to any further Appropriation that may
be made. The act OF Assembly only con-
templates the payment of $4,000 as the max
imum sum to be paid an architect.
The Board has allowed payments to be
made TO the contractors TO the sum OF
more than $4,000, when the work eXecu-
ted Is not worth more than about SO 900.
This is unsafe and unbusinesS-like. Sup
pose contractors paid largely in advance
were to die or refuse TO comply with their
contracts, then the only recovery for the
Board would be by suit, which would en-
tail other fees to counsel to be paid out OF
the building fund, and such suits might
Flanagan suit. Your committee would
therefore recommend that the new Board
OF Directors shall be authorized and di-
rected to cause to be made IL state
ment OF the expenditures at the Gem
trail Lunatic Asylum for preceding
wears, and rs far back rs they shall
find ii necessary to 90, so as to show what
moneys have been drawn from the Trea-
sury OF the Commonwealth for current
expenditures OF said asylum; to ascertain
how such funds have been expended, and
what is the actual financial condition Of
said asylum; that said new Board OF Di-
rectorS shall be authorized and empowered
TO make such rules rs will prevent the
privileges of the asylum from being
abused. When patients are sent from
any county or city who are not properly
subjects for an insane asylum, such patients
should be returned to such county or city,
and the charge OF transportation both to
and from asylum should be paid by such
county or city.
In regard to the new building near Pc
tcrSburg, it is for the Legislature to deter
mine whether to ratily the unauthorized
action Of the Board Of Directors or to refuse
to accept the work and contracts made,
take steps to recover the sums OF money
Illegally paid ont, and commence de moro
the building OF n new asylum for the CO.
lored insane.
But for the urgent necessity OF obtain
ing as soon as possible new asylum the
latter course would undoubtedly be wiser
and more economical, or perhaps it would
be advisable to give the new Board OF
4;
matter.
Your committee desire to express their
appreciation Of the hard work and faithful
service OF eX-Judge j. IL. Christian, clerk
OF the committee; Mr.. George Latlerty,
stenographer; and Captain Lybrock,
architect.
Judge Christians visit to Petersburg at
the request OF the chairman OF the COM
mittee to ascertain the status OF the build
ing fund was OF great value. Mr.. Latlerty,
even when taking notes until late at night,
always furnished, when desired, copy OF
the evidence on the next day.
Captain Lybrock's reports on the new
ASYLUM and the cOlored normal and col
leelate institute will be OF great value both
TO the General Assembly and to the boards
in control OF said asylum and institute.
Captain Lybrock was engaged with an
assistant twelve days in making measure
ments, examining contracts, drawings, and
specifications, and making computation
and preparing said reports Your COM
mittee, OF their own motion, and not at the
instance of Captain LybrOck. recommend
that the sum Of 800 be paid for the report
on the asylum and 53j for the report on
the institute.
The bulk OF the evidence taken was OF
Of the Board Of Directors OF Ma
ior Waite, OF Mr.. Blair. This entailed
much labor and consumed much time and
was at considerable cost to the State, but
your committee deemed it right and just
That these gentlemen should have every
fair opportunity to justify their course or
10 submit circumstances in extenuation.
Tbo evidence taken Is herewith returned.