The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-01
COMMITTEES REPORT ADOPTED
Senate Accepts The Verdict ON The Deaf,
Dumb, and. Blind institute.
A FLOOD Ct MEANINGLESS DEBATE.
Several Talk Against the Report, but DO
Not Vote Against It-Mr. Stubs De-
fence of the Committees Difficult
Task Views of the Senators.


report OF the special investigating COM
mittee Of the Randolph charges against
the Deaf. Dumb, and Blind Institute. at
Stanton, Tor which the bill relating 10
insane asylums gave way, almost every
senator was in his seat when the even
ing session began last night at 5 o'clock.
Some were there TO speak for or against
the report, but the majority were silent
until the voting began, and then they
showed that nothing but a thorough
cleaning-out OF the institution oiiicidis,
against whom in the Investigation were
brought out facts which plainly demon
strated that they were not lit persons
to be in charge OF the blind and the
mute unfortunates OF Virginia, would
suit them.
The scenes of the evening were the
most exciting OF any Of the Senate ses-
sions yet held, and it is likely that last
evenings session Will go down as be-
ing the warmest held by either BODY OF
the 1886 General Assembly. The speak
ers were frequently Interrupted, caustic
epithets were hurled across the floor.
and frequently there was so much noise
that a speaker could not be heard, even
Il few feet from his desk.
BY AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY.
The report of the special committee
ty The bill removing the present board
OF nine members. and providing for
new board of six members. was also pass
ed by an almost unanimous vote.
resolution that the present board
reorganize the institute was offered by
Mr.. Morris, before the vote on
the report and the accompanying bill,
| but was rejected.
This showed the temper of the senators.
and demonstrated that they were in
mood to clean out the institution.
Senator Hay offered "A resolution au-
thorizing the removal OF Superintendent
Doyle and Teachers Humbert and Nc
Cambridge of the institute. II would
have been passed by large majority
had not Senator Hay Withdrawn it,
Senator Sands offered a resolution clean
ing out the whole institution, put al
forwards withdrew IL.
The report and bin were taken mp as
soon as the Senate had passed upon
several minor matters BY this time a
| large number OF outsiders had come in
to hear the arguments. when The
| House adjourned many of the members
! sought seats in the Senate chamber and
listened attentively TO the arguments.
The consideration Of report and bill and
! voting occupied the time mp 10 HAo
o'clock.
Superintendent Doyle was an interested
! listener TO the speeches. tie first sat
on the left of the chamber. Then he
went over to the other side, but the
! change did not seem To comfort. him
/ much. He was forced TO hear some very
unnleasant things about the institution.
which he could scarcely help but take
TO himself
SENATOR NORRIS PROTEST.
Senator Morris was the first speaker
| He said that he desired 10 enter his
| profest against the report. NOT one
| particle Of evidence" said ne mas been
taken bv the committee damaging To the
| institution's management during the
1 last two years. ! protest against lhls
stigma being placed on the board OF
| visitors by the adoption OF TINS report
Mr.. Morris said that the report was the
result of public sentiment, created, Tor
the most part, by the newspapers. 81.
SENATOR sTUBBs VIEWS.
Senator Stubs spoke earnestly in behalf
~ the speciai committees report Said
no In part: / knew full well when was
|, appointed that the work was unlike any
had eyer had in my legislative NE.
knew the grave responsibility entrusted
10 me- ! went with it with determine
ton to do the best / could.
1 knew
! of Visitors were men higher ara purer
man whom there do none live
Captain Mushbach: why did not you
state that in your report
az did not think 1t worth While re-
piled Mr. Stubs. Against such dlsun-
puished men as are on the Board OF Nisi-
tors. there was not breath of suspicion.
Five men made this report because II was
the best that could be made 1t was mol
forced by the new speakers as the senator
from Albemarle asserted.
Senator Morris: Il did not charge
that"
Il want TO reiterate the statement that
this report was the best we could do.
Three teachers Of the institution testified
that they could not recommend tha lnst-
tute. one member of the Board OF Nisi-
tors testified that he took his child away
because he did no consider the institute
fit place for 1t. l.
Mr.. Morris: 1.-The report doesn't show
it,"
MIR Stubs: yes il does"
Here Mr.. Stubs reached an interesting
portion of his speech. Continued he with
impassioned oratorical effort: I'VE had
no authority 10 remove the principal or
the teachers This power is vested in the
Board of Visitors. With that state Of af-
fairs what could we do? Nothing else
but recommend the removal of the Board
of Visitors TO reorganize the institution
thoroughly
THE BILL EXPLAINED.
"Financially. the management has done
well. Otherwise the management has inn
proved within the last two years.
with the handing in of this report
believe we have faithfully discharged our
duty. 1t is for you 10 do as you please.
If accepted, the governor may reappoint
the same gentlemen, and 1 will not say
word.
II want to say that had We listened
to the newspapers we would have gone
farther. Public opinion says already that
we did not go far enough. For my part
do not care what is said, so long
as | consider that have done my duty
conscientiously and honestly
Mr.. Stubs then explained the commit
tee bill. changing the board membership,
and gave the history OF the institute irom
its incorporation in lsSS. up tn the present
time. He stated that his committee had
gone into its affairs as far back as pos
sible. Ii had been discovered that the
Board had consisted of six members up
10 1854. in 1882 the board was made Il
political football.
Senator Stubs said:
Continued the senator: IF you think we
have made a mistake do not accept the
report. l shall not feel sad. | have done
my duty"
MIR. Stubs here said that the report
was not reflection on Senator Mushbacn
OF Mr.. J. III. Lindsay. or any other mem
Der Of the Board OF Visitors. He paid
a. -