The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-08-16
THE TABLES TURNED.
THE GOVERNOR BRAVELY AND
WISELY PERFORMS HIS DUTY

The Day of DIR. Grissom's Removal Near
at Hand--- designations Received and
Accepted.
The sensation of the week has been the
resignation Of several of the Directors of
the Insane Asylum and the appointment
of new Directors. Ordinarily such things
would demand four or five lines in the pa
perS-nOt mOre-but the significance of
these designations and new appointments
is of deep interest because it changes the
personnel of the Board and will effect a
change in the Superintendency Of the
Asylum. Ever since the majority of
the Board of Directors declared DR.. Girls
som to be not guilty on any of the counts
Gho' guilty Of one specification the public
has everywhere been asking the question,
"What will the Governor dos" Meetings
have been held at several points in the
State and an army of conservative, hon
orable, law abiding citizens have called
upon the Governor to secure the removal
of DR.. Grissom. The Governor has said
nothing maintained dignifed silence =
and had not in any public word or way
Indicated lis purpose or his position.
1t was early ascertained and the CHHON-
ICLE commented on the fact that
the Governor had no power to remove
DR.. Grissom. 1t is questionable whether
he could lawfully demand the resignation
of the members of the Board unless they
were disqualified BY holding another
office. He had no legal power, there
fore, to remove DR. Grssom and
the people began 10 be afraid
that no power could remove him before
the assembling of the Legislature Such
an outlook was not pleasant to those who
thought the superintendent ought to go
on tue other hand it was gratifying Z to the
Superinteudents friends. Doubt Of any
early settlement of the question was set
ding upon the minds 81 nearly III, except
the Governor as the latest devel Jpmeuts
show. 1t now appears that he was look
ing fully into the question and seeing if he
could work ont plan TO remedy the pres
ent unsatisfactory condition Of Asylum
matters. He seems TO have been resolved
to heed the demands of the people and TO
purify the service Of our greatest State
charity. VIA did the Governor do,
The Board OF Charities.
Article NJ, section provides that the
General Assembly shall appoint and de
fine the dute, Of a Board OF Public Char
ties, TO whom shall be entrusted the super
vision of all charitable and penal State in
stitutions. and who shall annually report
suggestions for their Improvement. In
compliance with this constitutional require
ment the General Assembly passed the
needed laws.
Section 1881 OF the Code provides that
the Board shall be composed of five mem
bers, elected by the General Assembly,
who shall hold office l, ,. ,, +, and years
respectively the Governor to fill yacan-
cles.
Section 1882 requires that the Board
shall meet on the first Tuesday in Janua-
ry, April, July and October, and they shall
supervise the whole system Of the cnarIta
ble and penal institutions Of The State, aud
shall recommend such changes and add
tional provisions aS they may deem need
ful for their economical and efficient ad
ministration, and shall be allowed travel
ing expenses.
y
port TO the General Assembly the general
condition Of the State rs affected by pau
perism, crimes and vagrancy, and report
when in their Judgment it is needful for
the erection OF the several retOrmatOry III
stltutlOns, whose organization IS provided
for in Article IL OF the Constitution.
Section 1884 requires them TO give spec
lal attention to the causes OF insanity, de
feet or loss of the several senses, idiocy,
and the deformity and inirmity of the
physical organization. They shall afford
the General Assembly data 10 guide them
in future legislation for the amelioratlon
of the condition Of the people, as well as
to contribute to enllghten public opinion
DC.
Section 1885 provides for investigation
OF county Jalls and aims houses.
Section 1886 reads as follows: "When-
ever the Board shall have reason to believe
that any insane person, not incuraDle, is
deprived of proper remedial treatment,
and is confined In any aims house or other
place, whether such insane person is I, pub
lie charge or otherwise, 1t shall be the duty
of said Board to cause such insane person
to be conveyed to the asylum, there to re
ceive the best medical attention. So also
it shall be their care that all the untortU
nate shall participate II the charities Of
the State"
Section 2337 provides that the Board
may require the superintendent of the
charitable and penal institutions OF the
State &c to furnish report TO them Of
any matter relating to inmates, their man
ner of instruction and treatment. With
structure Of buildings, and to furnish them
any desired statistics at their demand.
Section 1888 requires a biennial report
to the General Assembly. 1t shall cOnta,
complete and full report Of their doinss
during the preceding two years, showing
the actual condition of all the State instl-
tutlons under their control, with such sug-
gestions as they may deem necessary aud
pertinent, which they shall print.
Section 2339 requires the county COM
missioners on the first Monday III Novem
Der Of each year TO furnish upon blanks
furnished by the Board such informal ton
in regard to the number and condition of
the inmates of the poor houses and pris
ons, together with the number of out door
paupers, and the deaf, dumb blind, idiot
ic and insane Of their county not in asy-
lum or aim. house and such other lnfOr-
nation as may be desirable
Section 234O requires justices OF the
Peace to furnish the Commission all the
above facts.
Section 2341 imposes a penalty of not
exceeding 800 upon any board Of Com
missioners or Justices of the Peace who
shall refuse or neglect to furnish the in
formation required under the previous sec