Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-14
THE INSANE ASYLUM.
An Investigating Committee Free to In
yestigate n Wished.

WCtOR RsROeTdL
There are a few sore headed Republicans
who have never been able to reconcile
themselves TO the fact that the public in
situations of the State are under Demo-
cratic administration, aud, 1T matters not
how well conducted our institutions are
lust before the periodical meetings Of the
Legislature one or two Republican papers
have their columns filled with scurrilOus
and false articles demanding investiga-
tiOns, charging miSmanagement, etc. The
LEGISLATURE was induced at its session, a
few years ago, to send an investigating
committee composed of two Republicans
and three Democrats, and that committee
endorsed and eXonerated the official con-.
duet of the present officers of the asylum
who were there at the time the inyeStiga-
ton was held, and if it be the viii of the
people u that another Investigation be
held on trumped up charges of mal-admin-
istration which have their origin in pOliti-
cal spleen and for political purposes; if
they wish the State to again incur the eN-
penSe of another investigation ~ we say
send 1t on. One investigation under DR..
Hill, two under DIR. Camden, and one
under DIR. Bland, only four, and we may
expect demands for others whenever, in
future, the Legislature may be in session.
We are personally acquainted with the
officers of our Asylum, and know them to
be competent and worthy gentlemen OF
honor and integrity. They do not deem
il necessary to notice charges that are in
famous in their character and utterly
withOVk foundation or truth. DIR. W. j..
Bland.S the superintendent, has always
occupied a prominent place in tine medical
fraternity of the State, once being President
OF the State Medical Association, of which
he Is now an hOnOred member. He has
the respect and confidence of our people,
aud was the physician of many of the prln-
cipal families of u county and town
until he was elected several years ago TO
his present position. He is fully capable
of experimenting the affairs Of The Asylum
and the treatment of the insane confined
therein. This Is shown by his report to
the Directors of the Asylum-to whom he
Is rrSponSible-wherein he gives detailed
statements of the financial and sanitary
condition, and shows by the results at
TUNED that it is among the best managed
institutions of its kind in the Unitei
States. This report was endorsed and re-
ceiyed by the Directors, who are men OF
prominence and character, some Of whom
have occupied high and honorable posi-
tions in our State ana Nation, and who
expressed themselves as satisfied with the
official conduct of the superintendent n
his assistants. This would not have been
done had they not aScertaIned by n close
and minute personal examination of the
Hospital in all its details. That report
shows that the per cent OF cures is ~ large.
If not larger, than in any institution OF the
same character, aud that the cOst per cap
ita per week is less, both of which show
cOncluSively that the medical and financial
departments of the Hospital are respec-
lively conducted with professional skill
and financial ability. In support Of this
we make the following extract from the
report OF the Board OF Directors to the
Governor:
1T is a matter of great satisfaction TO
the humane to learn from the Superin-
tendant's report that the per cent of cured
an admission is about One-half. We also
wish To call attention TAI the fact that the
aggregate cost, per capita, per week, for
Keeping patients tor the year ending Sep
tember 3Oth, IS, was only SAT- SIR, and
for the last six months, ending September
3nth, lS~6, it was only S2OT ia, which
includes all expenses in running the in
StitutiOn, which IL cheaper than it ever has
been here, or ut any other similar inStitu-
ton, and which surely demonstrate the
fact that those in charge Of the Hospital
are not guilty OF waste or extravaganza.
The Board passed through the entire
building, carefully scrutinizing every
thing relating to the health and comfort
of the patients, and we are gratiied to
say to Your ENcellency rs well aS To the
friends OF the unfortunate inmates, that
we believe no pains are spared, or atten-
ton wanting on the part OF the Off
Gers to promote the health and comfort
of the patients.
We know we can state, on behalf of the
Superintendent and his assistants, to those
who have friends and relatives in the
Asylum, that a cordial invitation is eX-
tended to them To come and personally
investigate the treatment of their friends
or relatives physically and mentally, and
to inspect the Hospital from ''turret to
foundation stone Ii is an undeniahle
fact that all who have ever visited and
personally inspected the Asylum have
gone away satisfied and pleased with the
treatment which is pursued and never
once has a complaint, or a charge rome
from them, and surely the persons, most
deeply interested are they who have friends
there.
We write this article to have it passed
upon by any fair-minded Democrat or Re
publican and weare perfectly sure that he
will be able to see the aim and .he pun
pose of false and ScurrilouS charges which
are made through, as we have before
stated, political spleen and for political
purpOSes.