The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-04-07
ASYLyM MANAGEMENT.
The INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
MAKES IT'S REPORT.

MAKES ITS REPORT.
Full Text az ofthePaper-.Bad Food--Trag-
dies Too Frequent t. Gross Negligence
X Charged rho Governors oIer to tho
oHioiaI.
COLUMBIA, S. e., April 2.-The
long awaited report OF the committee
appointed to investigate the State Luna
tic Asylum has at last been completed
and made public. The committee COM
pleted the report yesterday morning, af-
ter something over weeks work, and
the members have gone home for the
present. AS will be seen below, this
report OF the committee shows some dis
closures of "a surprising nature, and it is
stated that they are in possession of
worse ones.
The preliminary report was handed to
the Governor yesterday morning, aud
iast evening he gave it TO the press. He
was asked what action he would take in
The matter, aud he said: II expect to
directly on these matters transcribed
from the stcnographer's notes, and they
will lie held subject to the inspection OF
tho General Assembly Further, L
would cay that the Regents and officers
of the asylum will be gwen q hearing if
they desire 1t, after which | will take
such action as will seem necessary to
remedy the evils complained of.
Here is the report ini full:
COLUMBIA, S. g.. April /, 1891.
To His EXcellency B. IL. Tillman, Gov
ernor (:
At the last session of the Legislature
n committee, Of which the undersigned
are members, was appointed by concur
rent resolutions, with power and instruc-
lions to make inquiry into and to report
TO the Legislature the condition of the
lunatlc asylum. This committee has
performed its duties SO far as practicable
at this time; and VIC deem it both coul-
tcsy and duty to transmit to your EX-
ccllency an outline of the manner III
which the work 90 Sncd has been done,
together with tn 4esults In a general
form.
|. We invited the Governor Of the
State to attend tho sessions Of the COM
mittce, recognizing in you the highest
constitutional authority i'll all matters
affecting the wcll.bclng, direction and
control OF this institution
9. AS the time in which the inquiry
was to be made was limited, we asked
your Excellcncy to employ stcno-
grapher, having in view also the further
consideration that our findings or recon-
mendatioms sh, uld be based upon a full
hearing, which has been obtained and
which is now matter ofrecord with the
committee.
3. II was the design of the committee
that its investigation should in no sense
L.. ~. ,.,I, A l,.N,, ,,>I 1x-
parte proceeding. this fact being i'm
pressed ut aud during the examinations.
We, therefore examined, under oath,
all those concerted in the management
ofthe institution, and those whose duties,
directed bv such management, with an
eye at all tunes to the official and per-
sonal responsibilities TO the wards of tho
State.
4. The scope OF our investigate ion in
cludcd in general terms
First. The duties Of the superior Of
ficer and the manner in which those du-
ties, were discharged, basing our con-
clusions on the rules and regulations
governing such officers, their own evil
deLce and the evidence Of attendants
and employees past and present at The
asylum.
Second. AS TO the internal economy
of the institution and j of its auXiiaries
intended to contribute to its mainten-
ance.
Third. The relation of the number of
Offices aud attenants TO the result ac-
com,,lished, and to beaccomplished. with
special retence to the equitable distri-
button OF work and compensation.
Fourth. The expenses of the various
departments. as obtained from the cor
rectaccounts and from oral testimony.
Fifth. The efficiency and value TO the
State of the methods now practiced at
the asylum. MS compared with manage
ment OF rigid economy and regard
for and proper development of its ways
aud means ofscll-support.
5. In order 10 deal intelligently with
these grave questions it was necessary to
take great mass Of testimony, the dcpo-
nents in all cases from past or present
connection with the institution being
familiar in verying degrees with the SUBJ
jects under examination.
6. After most thorough examination
VIC find that the NmHtcs, Gr patients, so
Z, - olive can .earii, are treated humauely
by the attendants and with sympa-
thetic consideration for their unfortunate
condition. We have investigated several
cases ofcrueities from patient to patient,
and several cases OF violent, deplorable
deaths. but these misfortunes are not, in
our Judgment, chargeable to dereliction
of duty on the part Of the attendants.
Z. We find that there is great diver
sity OF opinion among the attendants
and other employees as to the quality
and suitableness OF tho food provided
for the inmates and for attendants and
employees. There is great deal of tes-
timony, especially in the male depart
ment, going TO show that Objectionable
meat are often served, and That there
are other articles OF food which are not
such as might be expected, considering
the liberal appropriations made by the
Legislature Tor the proper maintenance
of the asylum.
8. We find that reprellcnsible latitude
ofconduct and absolute freedom from
restraint have been permitted to patients
considered by their keepers and attend
ants as violent dangerous and murder
ously inclined, which condition of
things has resulted directly in the
death Of patients aud the unnecessary
maltreatment Of others. These traee-
dies, We find, were preciptsssed by
l. Il n n