The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-03-17
The states Charitable Institutions


The Joint Committee to Investigate
the States Charitable Institutions have
made an interesting report, in some
particulars not very creditable to the
management Of the East Mississippi |
Insane Asylum.
Concerning this Institution the Com
mittee report that its affairs are not
conducted on business principles.
The expenditures have been extreya-
CANT and the prices paid excessive. The
trustees exercise no oversight over the
affairs Of the institution, but simply act
as an auditing board.
The accounts are not kept in a busi-
ness,like manner, and the Committee
recommend that the system Of book
keeping practiced the Lunatic Asylum
at Jackson be adopted.
The Steward has paid his private
accounts out of state funds; "but in
every instance except one-and in that
the account has not as yet been passed
upon By the trustees the proper amount
was refunded before the investigation
Was ordered by the Legislature" The
Committee "do not commend" this
action of the Steward in mingling his
private matters with those which were
official.
The purchases made by the Steward
for the Asylum were injudicious and
the prices paid extravagaut. Pianos,
accordeons and lace curtains were pur-
chased and paid for out Of the support
Fund, =" when it must have been apparent
that this fund was about exhausted.
"The action Of the trutees in the
selection Of a Steward was not business
like. lie is unskilled in the duties Of
+. the position for which he was selected
without commercial experience anc
knowledge; and this is the testimony o
the majority Of the business men a
Meridian who were examined. w
think the trustees erred in their selec
e ton. and mucn Of the management
II due to thi. mistake on their part"
E. The Asylum pays farm laborers Sl5
% month and boards them.
Il The cost per patient is 1927 yea
against S135 at the Luuatic Asylum
N here.
In pleasing contrast with the Con
~ mites structures on the East Mississippi
Sc Lunacdc Asylum is the highly CONNER
ne datory manner in which they speak Il,
re the State Lunatic Asylum at this plac
Here everything is loyely-just as
should be- Not a single improyemel
al is suggested in the management. II
ne articles purchased are such as a
I'd needed, and the prices paid most reaso
w able The books are properly kept, al
It the system Of Bookkeeping at the As
ne lum is recommended as the standard f
u all the State Charitable Institution
Il DR.. Mitchell the superintendent, al
)y DR.. Melville his assistant are especial
Of complmented by name, and Stewa
be MeGiil has been 50 faithful over t
de affairs Of the one institution, that he
recommended by the Committee as
suitable person to act as purchasing age
for all.
ee The general management of the De
if and Dumb Asylum is reported to
be good; but the system of book-keepi
1n employed is not business-like. I
Id much has been paid for many of the {
m ticles purchased. The cost per capi
he annually is 5000. This the Commit
he think this too much.
rs The management of the Blind Asylu
lie il also reported to be good, and pit
Ike chases have been made at modera
lts prices. The cost PER capita is $3i
nd which the Committee think can be
he duced. There are only 80 pupils, thou
by the building is capable of accomodati
many more.