Semi-weekly south Kentuckian., 1888-03-02
SENSIBLE SUGGESTION,
More Needed Economy in the
Management ofour Asylums.
tCadi1 Telephony

, conception of the duties devolvin
. upon them. AS an evidence of tn
, they have endeavored TO buy and sc
, lands for the institution without II
: gal authority of any kind for doin
: so. One of the asylums hasa retinu
: of servants TO wait upon the superb
tendent and his family and upon I'll
, Steward, all Of whom are maintalne
, at an expense to the State Of Ker
lucky greater than the household e1
, penditures of Cornelius Vanderbilt
, or A. T. Steward. Following is
list of the unauthorized attache
found in the regal suite of the Super
erintendent of the Eastern Asylum ;
"Besides officers and attendants
there are on this payroll four super
visors, two engineers, a farmer an,
gardener (who is paid $52 80 pc
month"; a carpenter, florist, a dai
ryman, a butchers gas-maker,a coach
man, a night-watch, a gate keeper,
painter, house-girl, a superinten
dents house-girl, state parlor girl
five laundry women, three specia
ironers, chief cook, as Superintend
ents cook, two cooks for patients
and employees cook, special diet
cook, seamstress, a fireman, a "roust-
about" porter, and servant fol
the Steward"
To make the matter complete, we
would suggest that the superintend-
ent add at least ten maids of honor
for his wife. six each for his daugh-
ters, three each for his sisters Gf he
has any, three private secretaries, a
librarian, and game-keeper. Ken
lucky is rich State, and amply able
to support its superintendents in roy
al style, and no expense should be
spared in doing it. Were II not dia-
metrical opposition to our republican,
form of goyerGm State confer upon
hem high-sounding titles of nobility.
In one or more of these asylums,
he superintendent, instead of CIV
ng their own personal attention to
he treatment of patients, leave the
natter to a lot of subordinates and
tudents of medicine, the latter be-
ng permitted to experiment upon the
1emented charges. 1t is, as Mr.. Mil
Ter suggests, evident that the primary
object of the founders of these insti-
tutions has been lost sight of. That
is TO select as superintendents men of
recognized skill in the treatment of
the insane, and who will devote their
entire time and attention to the treat
ment and condition efthe unfortunate
inmates, as well as the management
of these institutions. The position
of superintendent should not be
merged into sinecure. The State
pays superintendents handsome sal
aries, and if they are not willing to
give their entire time and skill to the
treatment of the patients entrusted to
their care, they should be relieved of
their positions and others selected to
take their places.
We are gratified to know that the
Western Asylum, located at Hop
kinsville, is one of the best managed
institutions in the State, and we are
satisfied that DR.. Rodman takes more
interest in its management than any
physician that could be found. We
are also pleased to state that the re-
port of Mr.. Miller does not show that
DIR. Rodman has retinue of personal
attendants with salaries paid by the
State, as is the case in at least one OF
the other asylums.
This is day of reforms, and each
step taken in that direction is pro-
gressive one. We trust therefore
that the present administration OF
Governor Buckner will be markedly
one of reform and if such course
should result in the alleviation OF
suffering, the louder should his prais-
es be sung for his reformatory meas
ures.
Special Auditor Miller, deserves
great credit for the bold report he
has made. 1t is clearly apparant
that he has shown no partiality, and
has carried out to the letter his inten-
ton 10 show up the loose and extrav-
agant manner in which some Of these
institutions are managed. His report
is not, as is too often the case with
legislative Investigations, and oily
white-washing, cold and apparent
ly unbiased statement, setting forth
clearly the true state of affairs and nc
more. These facts have been brought
Immediately before the Governor and
the Legislative Assembly, and if the
Governor should suggest the necces
sary reformatory course and the mem
bers of the Legislature should fail tc
carry cut his suggestion and bring
about the much needed reforms in
these asylums are in one sense o.
the term wards of the Commonwealth
in as much as they are totally unable
to protect themselves, and therefore
it devolves upon the State to guard
their interests and soc that all theil
necessities are properly supplied
watching carefully that that the ap
preparations made for this purpose
be not recklessly, or extravagantly
squandered.
The Latest Craze.