The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-25
PARhEE AyD MONCURE.
Controversy About the Management of In
.an- AsyIums.

Dr. James l.. Moncure. superintendent
Of the Eastern Lunatic Asylum at Will
liamsbury has sent 10 The Times a COM
munlcation in reference 10 the statement
which he made a few days ago before
the legislative committees as 20 the re-
port OF the special commission on lu-
matte asvlums. Of which Or. Parker was
chairman. Dr. MoncuTe, in his letter,
Said the following:
Il spoke Of Or. W. W. Parker, whom
greatly admire, as grand old soldier.
as pure. high-minded gentleman and
Christian intended 10 apologize for
being unable to agree with such Nm
and rhvsicion az Or. Parker, as represent
Ing the commission IN tne conclusions
thew reached. and which / do not think
practicsble or for the best interest OF
the unfortunate insane i think their
conolnsions as TO the number OF insane
who Mould be harmless at home or in
worLbouses we're erroneous. If based upon
the r,,-obar that are prevented from be-
ing aancerous by the care and watchful-
ness exercised over them IN State asy-
lums."
Or Parker has also written 10 The
Times IN order TO set himself right as
10 the accusation that the figures in his
report we're erroneous. In his letter,
Or. Parker says
As these figures were got from the
asvIunn's report 10 me. am not respon-
sible for their accuracy. l made liberal
allopanoe for any mistake they might
make in the number of dangerous pa
tents OF - per cent in favor OF the
Stanton asylum.
In the second place. my friend DIT
Moncure falls into the same singular
mistake as did writer's in the Staunton
News and the Lynchburg News last year,
I'm reviewing my report. THESE criticisms
! promptly replied TO In these two jour
mails, and as ! got no response presume
they wore satisfactory. The mistake is
this. that the commission, OF which i
was the head. recommended that the
harmless insane be put into poor
houses No such thing was dreamed Of
The Doctor reads very carelessy. Gov.
Mckinney I'm his message made no such
mistake. In the closing OF my report
| suggested that the present LEGISLATURE
appoint a committee to Inquire into the
expediency Of breaking up all the county
p00r-h0uses and put them into one or
two establishments, well located. and thus
save to the state at least $4,000. and
have better service besides. But, as to
the harmless insane We recommended
hospitals with all the comforts but
fewer OF the restrictions Of the insane
asylum, and with a saving Of some
$4,000 or $4,000 annually. ! commend
the report to the Doctor for second
reading | shall be very glad 10 appear
before the committee and make good my
statement.
In conclusion, as / am unknown to the
committee. / may be allowed. In self
defence and I'm reply 10 the charge that
| am not a practical man 10 say that
thirty years ago I was put in charge Of
an asylum mot an insane asylum broken
down and 500 in debt. and now 1t is out
of debt and worth $4,000 Twenty years
ago / established another asylum, and it
is out of debt and endowed. Ten years
ago / established another asylum or
home, and IL IS out OF debt and endowed
to the amount Of o,co0. I wrote the con-
stitution Of two Of these asylums. and
very little change has been made In either.
j regret to have to make these statements
Of facts, but under the circumstances /
hope / will be excused. 1t gave me
pleasure to commend the management
of all our insane asylums In my late
report to the Governor"