Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-17

on account Of his medical skill and execu.
tive ability. All other ofiiccrs and EN-.
ployees are either directly or Indirectly
answerable 70 him. And he IN turn II
held responsible by the board for the
faithful and diiigent conduct Of the hos
pital In every detail There IL no division
Of responsibility. no excuse for neglect.
no cIashing of authority. and no debatable
ground between two or more having CO.
ordinate powers. each independent OF the
other. The plan ID such az the law con-
templates. and has yielded results In this
institution 30 favorable as to challenge
comparison with that OF any other. II Is
the plan upon which successful armies
are organized, upon which all our insti-
tutions Of learning. are conducted. and by
which private corIjorations are made the
most efficient and profitable. / cannot,
therefore. agree with those who seem TO
urge the thought that there should be two
separate and independent heads to insti-
tutions Of this class. which will result.
as II always has. In decreased efficiency
or absolute failure.
1t Ia also proposed by some to abolish
the multiplicity of boards. and have but
one board OF control for all the hospitals
OF the State. That plan cannot be shown
to guarantee greater economy, or increase
the efficiency OF the management, nor
secure better service in the public insti-
tutions; and all the merit II can be said
to have will be to draw the public fnsti-
buttons OF the people further from them.
and afford them less means OF learning of
their condition and progress. Such result
Is not desirable, for the better the peo-
pie understand their institutions. which
Is demonstrated under the present sys-
tenn, the more loyalty will they sustain
them. and the more inteligently will they
correct and reform the abuses that may
sometimes appear therein.
ADAPTABII.ITY AND ECONOMY.
tendent OF the insane-hospital at Lo-
gansport. Ind, in a letter, after recent
visit TO your superintendent. In speaking
of our new buildings. says Your build
ings recently constructed, In order to ex-
pand the capacity OF your hospital, are
certainly very remarkable and note
worthy for two things-viz., perfect
adaptability to intended use. and extra
ordinary economy In construction. The
tendency has been in late years in this
direction. but l know OF no place in
which excellent fitness and small cost
have made such satisfactory adjustment
To whom the credit is due know not.
but / presume TO you ALL Quoting the
Rev. Frederick A. Wines, of Illinois,
certainly the time has come when
compromise must be made between the
taxpayer and the lunatic.' and i must shy
that i know of no place where this has
been so justly done to both classes as in
your new construction. In the matter of
general care and management through
out the entire institution, / wish TO say
further that found nothing to criticise.
and much TO praise. Your people are all
ola ,ya In,
riety Of ways. and certainly better fed
than In a majority Of Institutions in the
land"
ADMISSION OF PATIENTS.
The recommendations Of Ex-Governor
Mckinney. that instead of the present
system of magisterial court, composed of
three magistrates. constituting commits
sion de lunatico inqurendo. the county,
corporation. or circuit judge, and the
Commemorative Attorney of each town
or county, with two physicians and other
witnesses, should pass judgment upon all
persons applying for admission in one of
the insane-hospitals. are eminently wise
and proper. and will save great deal
Of trouble and delay in getting applicants
admitted in the several hospitals of the
State.
There is no reason why the present law
of magisterial courts should not be done
away with as far as the examination OF
insane persons Is concerned. 1t Is a relic
of ante-bellum times, when we had no
county or corporation judges. Under the
examination Of Judge and two physi-
clans. and such other witnesses as may
be necessary, greater care and better
judgment can be exercised and fewer per-
sons adjudged insane and sent to the
hospitals than under the present law.
/ am decidedly of the opinion that the
present cumbersome commitment pro-
vision of the lunacy laws would be
greatly simplified and improved by such
change.
There is no State in the Union taking
better care of it's unfortunate insane Than
Virginia, and at less cost to the tax
payer. "Our suffering children" as the
lamented DR.. Stribling called them, are
we'll housed well fed. We'll clothed, with
various diversions in the way of amuse-
ment and occupation consistent with their
mental condition. and what more can be
desired or asked? Is not all this consistent
with the humanitarian spirit of our peo-
ture, in the problem of caring
for our afflicted fellow-citizens; and
why should the present manage
ment Of our insane-hospitals. so highly
complimented by the commission. be en-
barrassed by any sentimental legislation,
such as the poorhouse and the adjuncts
of pauperism, entering as an appreciate
factor?
While we advocate just and generous
method of caring for our unfortunate in
sane. we should deprecate all unnecessary
extravaganza. 1.-The State is rich" is the
reckless assertion of the demagogue. or
the wild cry of him who is a tyro or an
ignoramus in political economy. No State
is rich whose sons are wasteful. and any
State is in danger of bankruptcy whose
public officials are the ruthless advocates
OF extravagant expenditure. Hence II is
In the line of economy. In the care Of
our chronic insane, that we regarded IL
as an imperative necessity to relieve the
wards of this institution of their accumu-
lated burden of chronicity by the estab-
lishment of the subsidiary building re-
ferred to, for that class, which has been
devised and speedily put into operation
at this hospital by its efficient and faith
full Board Of Directors. without the ne
cessity Of putting the State to the enor-