The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-20
A TOUR OF INSPECTION.
COMMITTEES or THE LE0IsLATUKE
VISIT wILLIAMsBURG.
The Eastern Lunatic Asylum and william
ami Mary College Give Them Royal
Keception-Ths Institutions.

houses of the General Assembly. headed
by Lieutenant Governor Kent, assembled
at the c. and o. railway depot yesterday
liamsburg. The occasion was the tour Of
inspection of the Senate Committee on
Public Institutions and Of the House
Committees on Schools and Colleges and
on Asylums and Prisons. The object was
on this trip TO visit the Eastern Luratic
Asylum and william and Mary College.
The whole party went in private car
which was attached TO the regular train.
Capt William J. Binford. the delegate OF
Henrico county. took special care or the
party. and he proved himself TO be one
Of the most popular members OIL the
party
The day was delightful, and the trip
was made on schedule time. DIR. ]. ID.
Moncure, the superintendent Of the asy-
lum. awaited the train at the depot ana
! a number Of carriages We're in readiness
TO convey the visitors to the institution.
After a short rest at the Office OF Dr.
Moncure a visit was paid 10 the various
buildings connected with the institution
beginning with the female department
The sight was OF course sad one, as lar
as the individual cases Of inmates were
concerned which presented themselves
10 the eyes Of the visitors. Inc various
departments and rooms were fouhd 10
be In perfect order.
SEED for Help.
The asylum now gives shelter 10 10
inmates all told. but there is stu need
for additional help by the state. me
superintendent is anxious TO induce the
f1..
State to appropriate 5000 Tor the lur-
nishing Of the rooms which are sun
unoccupied and which can accommodate
possibly hundred more people who nave
been unfortunate enough TO lose their
reason.
Another great deficiency in the complete
outfit of the institution is the want or
fre-proof stair-cases in several buildings
Those in use at present in those houses
are constructed of wood. and in order
TO prevent any accident by having patients
precipitate themselves TO the ground iloor
over the baniSters. wooden incasings with
in the spiral stair-cases have been CON
structed. which in case Of fire would
greatly endanger the lives Of the patients
on the upper floors. 1t was thought by
the visiting members of the Legislature
that these stair-cases and the Enclosures
should be constructed of iron.
The committees finally assembled in
the big hall Of the institution, where
they were called TO order by Senator
Lovenstein. of the Senate Committee.
DR.. Moncure the superintendent Of the
institution. explained his views about the
needs Of the institution. and dwelt at
some length on the report submitted TO
Governor Mckinney by the special COM
mission appointed by the last Legislature
to investigate the various asylums and
the mode Of admitting patients. The COM
mission, of which Dr. W. w. Parker was
chairman, had recommended several radi-
cal changes claiming that a good many
patients were kept within the walls of
these asylums who, by right, ought TO
be at largo or kept elsewhere. The report
recommended that all the incurable, yio-
lent persons should be kept in one inst-
tuition, while the others should be distr-
buted among the remaining institutions.
Governor Mckinney, in his annual mes
sage. embodied the recommendations OF
that committee.
Criticised d.. Parker
Dir. Moncure. in his statement to the
committees yesterday. took issue with the
recommendations Of Governor Mckinney.
and severely criticised the statements OF
DR.. Parker. He thought that the latter
was not a practical man. and that his
figures were very erroneous. lie did not
think that any insane. no matter how
harmless they were, should be handed
over to the custody Of poor-houses. Ii
was a great mistake TO confound insane
people with paupers The insane required
special watchfulness, which they could
only receive In an asylum. IT was impos-
sible to insure humane treatment 10 any
one outside Of State supervision. He did
not think that II would be a matter of
economy to place violent patients in one
building i'm this State. because il would
be necessary to provide separate rooms
for each one Of them. He claimed that
there were not enough violent cases in
the State to fill all the rooms Of any in
stitution.
Or. Moncure strongly advocated that the
State should be divided into certain dis
trcts. and that the superintendent OF
the respective institutions should be re-
quired to take all the patients from their
districts, whether they were durable or
not. He said that during the past year
under the existing circumstances he mad
received 50l applications for admission. OF
which number he had to leave 206 uncOn-
sidered.
Lieutenant-Governor Kent thought that
q superintendent OF an asylum should re-
ceive all the patients for which applica-
ton might be made, regardless Of dis
tricts. provided that there was room TO
receive them.
they W~-t Theatricsls.
DR.. Moncure stated that the ordinances
of the city Of Williamsburg exacted
license of s25 from any theatrical COM
pany or troup which intended TO give
an entertainment in the. city. and while
he was very anxious to have such enter
tainments given at the asylum for the
benefit Of those patients who could be
safely admitted. he deemed il a great
hardship to have such license imposed
upon those who We're willing to enter
tain the patients. He expressed a desire
that n law might be passed. allowing
performances OF that character to be
given at the asylum without the payment
Of any license to the city.
He also stated that very often patients
who had lived in a malaral country
might be benefited by removal to the
mountains and he therefore recommend
ed that a law be passed allowing friends
of patients to bring about the transfer
of the latter TO any other institution.
provided they pay the mourning expense.
When questioned by Senator Loven-
stein. DR.. Moncure admitted that change
was necessary as TO the COM issions
who are to adjudicate people insane.
A stump nous IL past.
At the invitation OF Senator Loven-
stein, who had in every respect proven
TO be a very able chairman of the large
dalegation of LEGISLATORS the visitors next