The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-11-26
Defaulters.

that the "incipient rottenness" charged last
year as existing In the government was not
myth. A shortage OF $5,58 was discovered III
the office Of the Adusani .n ana inspeE1ot of tbe
clerk of the Penitentlary, and the Comptroiler
General has found shortages still unsettled 10
the Treasu-ers' offices of Charleston, sumter
says In his Report that there had been good
deal Of money made good OF which no men.
tion is made, and that In nearly every County
Irregularities and errors existed, the amounts
aggregating upwards Of so 900, which he col
lected and turned into the Treasury. These
are the fruits OF an examination OF the books
for ono year only. What would be unearthed
II the Investigations were carried back sever
al years, is lett to conjecture.
The Asylum.
At your last session o special Committee
was appointed to Investigate the affairs OF
this Institution. This Committee began Its
Testimony from some Of the employees OF the
institution, adjourned without completing It's
work. They found, as l afterwards learned,
that one of. the inmates had been allowed 10
prehensible irregularities. Shortly after
wards this same patient made murderous
ASSAULT on one Of the atten dants; and the mat
ter being called to my attention Immediate.
and conciude lis labors. Two of the mem,
bers, DR.. Strait, Senator from Lancaster, and
DR.. Goodwin, member OF the House from
GreenpiIle, responded and as ! am, nnder
the Constitution, charged with the appoint
ment Of all officers and employees OF lne IN
stitution, went with the Committee and we
made thorough and searching investigation
into It's management A stenographer. was wa
timony. part OF which will be printed for
your information to accompany the report OF
the Committee We found that there had
been very lax discipline and negligence, attri.
| IL q 1, C,,rn
I'm and after giving that gentleman an op-
portunity to disprove the charges made
against him, which he refused TO accept, ne
was removed and the institution placed TEN EN-
porarily in charge Of Dr. Thompson. The
correspondence In the case is on hle IN the
Executive office for the inspection OF any
member of the General Assembly VINO de'
sires to read 1t. Ny insight into the condi,,
tion and workings of the institution and
knowledge Of It's wants was largely increased
by this personal In vestigation, and can relt-
crate, with confidence, the opinions and all
vice given In my inaugural address as 10
changes In It's management.
The present Superintendent, DR.. j. W. Bab-
cock an accomplished and thoroughly edu'
Gated specialist who was appointed IN July
last, and assumed control on August 10, has
made some suggestions in which l heartily
occur, in reference TO the admission OF pa
tients and to other matters connected win
the institution.
A Joint Resolution was passed last Decem.
I! ber, authorizing the appointment by Inc TX
'ecutive or a special Com mittee Of three ply
sicians and two citizens who should examine
the patients In the Asylum and report as 10
the number OF imbeciles and harmless luna
tics who could be more economically support
ed at the County Poor Houses. have new
appointed this Committee, because felt lhal
1t was an unnecessary expense. and because
Of the fact that the laws governing the az.
mission Of patients to the institution would
in all probability result In the speedy return
OF such inmates to The Asylum. But at my
request the three physicians OF the instltu'
tion have made an examination into the con-
dition of each ratient with view TO obtain
ing this very information. DIR. Babcock8 re:
port s is given here; and it will be seen that II
these Inmates coming under this description
are returned 10 the Counties whence they
came, the expenditures for maintenance OF
the Asylum will be largely decreased ana us
present strained accommodations renewed.
Or. Babcock advises that the power be given
the Superintendent and the Board OF l'hysi'
clans to examine patients applying for ad'
mission when sent to the institution under
the existing laws, and that their rejection DC
allowed, IL there is not conclusive eVldence
that they are proper persons to be admitted.
That there are abuses under the present lax
methods and that the charity of the state Is
abused under the present system, is beyond
q doubt, but his suggestions Will secure re-
from that will relieve the STATE ot an uhhe-
cessary burden.