Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-04-28
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10 t4t HotaH u tat k;4atIs
WESTON, April q. We see in your paper
of the 10th inst, an article over the sigma
trre Jefferson, relative to the matron OF the
Insane Hospital. to which we wish to reply.
We have been lifelong Democrat, and be
heye in the present economical policy
adopted By the National Democratic party,
and think the same should be prseticed in
West Virginia. We do not consider West
Virginia as able to pay large salaries to her
public servants as the cid established and
wealihier States, but the policy of economy
seems to have been q matter of secondary
consideration in the salaries of some OF the
officers of the West Virginia Insane Hos
pitaL IL is true, according to the report
Of the Superintendent that per capita
for keeping the patients Is
far below that of any other State in the
Union, but because this is the case it does
not justify US in paying matron doubl-
the salary paid by such State Is Ohio
who perform ike service. We believe 1t to
be the duty Of the Board of Directors of
institute to lay aside question of favoririsu
and equshze the salaries proportionstely to
the services rendered by both officers and
employes-such is not the case there. Mrs.
Jackson has been permitted to lodge and
beard two grown daughters at State ex-
pense, and she is now receiving salary of
S700, while Doctor Lewis, an able and eff
Gent physician, is required by the Board 10
pay $25 per month tor keeping MS wife In the
ins,i;u ion. Is it right that Mrs. Jackson can
board her two daughters free of charge,
when it is estimated that board washing,
etc, is SIS per month-msking Mrs. Jack
sons salary equivalent to 81 300 per year,
while Doctor Lewis the first assistant phYsi
clan after deducting his wite's board only
receives 500 per year. The first assistant
physician heretofore receiving $500 per
year and one who held that position under
Democratic rule, was permitted to keep his
wife and two children without extra cost to
himself ANY ordinary physician ought to
make in common practice from 81 600 to
81, 500 per year exclusive OF board, while
the services of head cooks in hotels are
never regarded as worth any thing near that
amount and her services IN this insti-
tuition are similar in many respects
to that Of housekeeper at large hotel. Is
it Just and right that Mrs jackson at the
head Of the culinary department should re-
eeive 500 per month, counting board here,
tofore mentioned, while the woman superin,
tending the wssh.house, whose duties are
equally as onerous, only gets Slz per month;
II would appear from the pen OF Jefferson
that the present incumbent is linesl de-
seendsnt of the neurological Argus, who
had hundred eyes, for surely it would re-
auire hundred eyes to see 700 persons ted
three times daily in different departments at
the same time. The writer of that article
exaggerates in that respect as ne does IN
every other which he has touched. Every
one acquainted with the management Of
the institution knows that Mrs
jackson has q good assistant
matron, who does her part in supervising
and it is well known that Mrs. Jackson
could not have put up l,4OO gallons OF pre-
serves, for this work was the work of the six
cooks in the kitchen, who receive 40 cents
a day. We are aiming to deal with this
subject as it deserves, fairly and impartislly.
Every one must know that the duties OF the
matrou are necessarily onerous and for
their true performance she should be paid
reasonable salary, and there should be no
discrimination in her favor over other EN-
ployes in the institution, and we thiuk VT
have clearly shown that there is. We have
no war to wage against Mrs. jackson as
person, but we think 1t unjust to
paw her double the amour
paid to matrons in ike ins'i'utions
elsewhere, and the girls in the wash house
and dining room, only half as much as is
paid them in other States. There is no;
another Insane Hospital in the United
States whose matron receives almost double
the salary paid the First Assistan' physi
clan, except in this instance. On the con
trsry, the physician services are valued a.
from three to four times as much as tn
matron. The directors are sworn to dis
charge their duties, and in so doing they
should exercise the same discretion and
Judgment for the taxpayers Of the State as
they would in drawing on their own bank
account in their private business Now,
where is there one member of that body
who would be willing to pay a house
keeper double the amount for time that he
would pay his family physician? The
Board having appointed competent com
mittee on the equalization of wages and sal
aries, we have no doubt but what many just
corrections will be made, regardless Of such
frivolous and exaggerstiye articles as may
eminate from interested parties. A. b.