Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-30
ORPHAN ASYLUM INVESTIGATION.

The agent the Governor has appointed
TO look into the inner methods of the or
phan asylums of California that receive
State aid, has brought to light some I'M
pleasant facts concerning the domestic
policy of st. Vincent's Asylum in Marin
county. Sufficient has been shown to put
it beyond all question that Superintend-
nt-Whalen-has for long time re-
manned in authority over the orphans who
was unfit for his position by reason of lack
of human sympathy, that patient DISPOSE
ton that characterizes the man qualified
for such trying position, and want of a
due sense of the Importance of scrupulous
cleanliness. There are but few men who
look sufficiently far ahead TO high aims
and lofty ends to be attained in molding
men out Of boys cast upon the worlds
charity, to qualify them for such an i'm
portant trust-it may be said, indeed, that
they are so few that they are born to the
office. There ought to have been search
ing investigation into the orphan asyIums
receiving State aid long ago. Heretofore
most of the official inquiries have been of
perfunctory character. 1t is probable
that closer inquiry would have resulted
in such benefit to the inmates and greater
economy to the State. There are orphan
asylums which we are convinced receive
greater aid than is necessary, and where it
would be no difficult task to preserve an
income with less call upon the State.
There are orphan asylums that have been
able to make the keeping of certain classe
of Inmates profitable to the institu-
ton, result that was never in.
tended. Whether any of the in
situations are now administered to
that end we do not know. but since our
system of orphanage care is the most costly
of that of any State, and upon the least
detensible plane of economy, there ought
to be exercised exceeding vigor CT investi-
cation into these institutions by the State
and frequently. We have the highest ap-
probation of the labors of the men and
women who conduct the asylums, and do
not want for sympathy for them or lack
respect for their benelicence But because
their charitable effort is directed towards
homeless children, who are in sense
wards of the State, is a reason in itself
why they should invite searching investi-
CATION and be ready for it at any time
The Governors agent reports the st. Vim
cent Asylum as unpardonably dirty; in
fact in respect to cleanliness very far re-
moved from godliness. He is convinced
that the children are being brought up
without that regard for heavens first law
and for personal neatness that are such
essential factors in the formation of char
acter. He is likewise convinced that the
children are not treated or cared for as
they should be, and that kindness. firm
ness and patience are secondary to other
less gentle agencies of control This
finding ought to result in radical reform.
and probably will, but there should never
be auy necessity for reform in these insti-
buttons. The right conduct of asylums
for dependent youths has been reduced to
what may quite properly be termed
science; it long since passed out Of the ex-
perimcntal stage, and there is no possible
excuse in this day for cruelty, unkindli-
ness, disorder, filth. poor or insufficient
food, or neglect of person. The contribu-
tons of immediate friends of orphans, the
general public, the charitable who give
largely and frequently, and the bountiful
State aid rendered, completely exclude
any excuses for neglect Of order, neatuess,
or health in any orphan asylum in Cali
fornia.