The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-09
THE ASYLUM INVESTIGATION.
The Legislative Committee Of Inquiry
Blamed the Officers and the Board OF
Visitors for Innumerabie Short
coniinSs. ,,=5+

continSs.. - '
The investigating committee of in
qulry into the affairs of the Lunatic
Asylum has made i report of its work
in general terms to Governor TiIImau,
of which the following is a copy:
COLUMBIA, March 81, 1891.
To His ExceIlency b. r. Tilimau,
Governor:
At the last SESSION Of the Legislature
committee, of which tie undersigned
are members, was appointed by con-
current resolution with power and in-
structlons to make Inquiry into and re-
port to the Legislature the condition Of
the Lunatic Asylum. This committee
has performed its duties so far as practi-
cable at this time and we deem it both a
courtesy and duty to transmit here
with to your Excellency an outline OF
the manner IN which the work assigned
has been done, together with the results
in a general forno.
l. We invite the Governor of the
State to attend the sessions OF the COM
mittee, recogizing in him the highest
constitutional authority in all matters
affecting the Weli-being, direction and
control of this institution.
2. AS the time in which the INQUIRY
was to be made was limited, we asked
his Excellency to employ stenogra-s
! pher, having in view also the further
consideration that our findings or rec
concentrations should be based upon
! full hearing, which has been obtained
| and which is now a matter of record
with the committee.
| 3. 1t was the desire of the committee
that its investigation should in no sense
be open to the construction of an ex
parte proceeding, this fact being inn
pressed at and during the examina-
tlons. We therefore examined, under
oath, all those concerned in the man
agement of the institution and those
whose duties are directed by such man
agement with an eye al all times to
their official and personal responsibility
TO the wards of the State.
4. The scope Of our Investigation in
cludes in general terms:
| First. The duties of Ehe superior Off
GERS and the manner in which these
duties were discharged, basing our con-
! cluslons on the rules and regulations
governing such officers, their own evil
dence and the evidence of attendants
and employees, present aud past, at
the Asylum.
Second. AS to the internal economy
of the institution n and all its auxiliaries
intended to contribute to its mainten-
ance.
Third. The relations of the number
O fc fN he 70,
accomplished, with special reference to /.
the equitable distribution of work and
compensation.
Fourth. The expenses of the various
departments as obtained from the car
rent accounts and from oral testimony.
Fifth. The efficiency and value to the
State Of the methods now practiced at
the Asylum as compared with a man.
agement of rigid economy and regard
for a development of its ways end
, means of self-support.
5. In order to deal intelligently with
these grave questions, it was necessary
to take a great mass of testimony, the
| deponents in all cases from their con-
nection with the institution being fa-
lniliar in varying degrees with the sub
jects under discussion.
6. After most thorough eXamina-
ton we find that the inmates or pa
tients, so far as we can learn, are treated
haine9ely by the attendants and with
a sympathetic consideration .ur uSeif eif
unfortunate condition. We have in
v,stigated several cases of cruelties
from patient to patient and several
cases of violent deplorsble deaths, but
| these misfortunes are not, in our iudg-
mcnt, chargeable to dereliction of duty
on the part of the attendants.
Z. We find that there is great di-
versity ofopinion among the attendants
and other employees as to the quality
and suitableness of the food provided
for the inmates and for attendants and
employees. There is a great deal of
testimony, especially in the male de
partment, going to show that o6jec-
tionable meats are often served, and
| that there are other articles Of food
which are not such as might be ex-
pected, considering the liberal appro-
priations made by the Legislature for
the proper maintenance of the Asylum.
s. We fud that reprehensible latitude
! of conduct and absolute freedom from
| restraint have been permitted to pa
tients considered by their keepers and
attendants as violent, dangerous and
lnurderously inclined, which condition
of things has resulted directly in the
death of patients and the unnecessary
mal-treatment of others. These trag-
edies, we find, were precipitated by
remissness or lack of judgment after
due notice to the proper authorities.
8. We find, as growing out OF the
facts as related by the witnesses and
from the preceding paragraph. that
there has been gross negligence on the
part of the officers Immediately in
! charge of the Asylum.
| 10. We find that the board Of regents
has failed to discharge its duties in sew
eral important particulars, and that
the preponderance of evidence further
shows that the visits Of the board have
not been regular or frequent as required
| by their own laws, and that wh' I
visits were made the examina AZ. : re-
quired of the regents were impeffectly
| performed in some instances, and in
other instances that there was no ex-
animation Of certain wards, to which,
| from the nature Of their inmates, their
attention should most particularly have
| been directed.
II. We find an incomprehensible in
equality as to the compensation and
| labor of many OF the attendants and
employees holding responsible posi-
tious.
II. We had strong evidence of waste.
mismanagement, and ignorance or dis
regard of its value, on the Asylum
farm, the system Of work there and its
management needing an absolute revo-
| luton.
l3. There are several other matters
relating to our work which can best be
| understood by reference to the testi-
| mony.
IL. We were offered every facility by
the superintendent and other officers Of
the Asylum in the prosecution of the
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