Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-02-25
THE SOLONS.
REPORT ON STATE ASYLUM.
The House Hurrying up It's
Committees.
A Weekly Summary of the Most Import
ant Acts of Both Houses.

fire, reported as follows:
Your committee found that there
we're at the asylum 621 patients 1893
white and 23S colored. The two new
buildings, known as the annex and con-
structed for colored patients, have a ca
pacity for 400. There are three wards
of the old building with capacity for
90 patients. but slightly damaged, and
three other wards with the same capac-
ity, which can be repaired and render
ed comparatively comfortable within
two or three weeks. So we find ample
room for 400 patients now, and within
short time for 80 more, making to-
tai of $50.
We find also that about sixty white
patients can be provided for at the
East Mississippi Insane Asylum, in con
sequence of the recent removal of
about that number of colored patients
from that asylum to the State Lunatic
Asylum.
The report further stated that Su-
perintendent Mitchell and his assis-
tants we're doing everything in their
power to render as comfortable as pos
sible the unfortunate inmates in their
charge.
The committee also submitted reso-
lutions recommending that all available
room in the East Mississippi Insane
Asylum be at once filled with white pa
tients from the State Lunatic Asylum.
That the patients to be removed from
the latter to the former asylum be TAX
en- as far as practicable from those
sent from or whose families reside in
counties nearest or most convenient to
the Meridian Asylum.
That the superintendent of the East
Mississippi Insane Asylum be charged
with the direction of, and the necessa-
ry arrangements for the removal, and
accomplish it as soon as possible, and
that the Governor be authorized to
draw on the special appropriation made
for that purpose; all of which was
adopted.
When the House bill to further carry
into effect the contract made under
chapter 3S5 acts 1888, being an act to
better secure safety and health in the
State institutions and to make appro-
priation therefor, came up, the follow
ing amendment thereto by the Finance
Committee was adopted: provided,
That no warrant shall issue to said
company for any part of the moneys
hereby appropriated until after the IT.
nal determination of suit to be at
once instituted against said company
by the Attorney General for the recov-
cry of damages resulting to the State
by reason of the failure of the COM
pany, as is alleged, to comply with
it's contract tosupply water at the State
Lunatic Asylum, which failure it is
claimed, resulted in great loss to the
State by fire on Feb. 16, 1892, and if the
damagesrecovered by the State equal
or exceed the amount appropriated, no
warrant at all shall issue.
House concurrent resolution and en-
actment relating to the return to the
several States and territories of the di-
rect tax levied by Congress Aug. 3, 1861
passed unanimously.
Senate bill providing for the teach
ing in the public schools of physiology
with reference to the effects of alcohol
and narcotics upon the human system
has been taken from the calendar and
recommitted to the Committee ON Ed
ucation. 1t is understood that the
main features of this bill will be incor-
porated in the general school law and
therefore the necessity for a special
act be obviated.
The following amendments were
made to the chapter on "Crimes and
Misdemeanors" Making it misde
meanor for any one who shall ride
drive any vehicle or drive any cattle
horses, mules or other stock ON and
along any railroad track opened and
operated for traffic, unless by permits
sion of the owners of said track or Their
agent.
Making it felony if any person
shall maliciously place any impeachment
or obstruction on any railroad with in
tent to derail or throw from the track
any train, such person shall be punish
ed by imprisonment in the penitenti
airy, not less than ten years, and if any
person is killed or permanently injur-
ed thereby, the offender shall be pun
ished as in capital offenses.
Making it unlawful for any person
to have in his possession any nipple
ments, tools or instruments designed
by him to aid in the commission OF
burglary or larceny, the penalty be-
ing Imprisonment in the penitentiary
not more than five years.
The chapter, which is very long one
and prescribes penalties for about
every offense immaginable, was finish
ed Thursday.
Senator billiard introduced bill
Thursday to carry into effect the pris-
ON reform contemplated by the Consti
tuition, and to provide the necessary
appropriation therefor. Referred to
Committee on Penitentiary and Pris
ons.
The Senate held no afternoon session
Saturday.