The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-01-21
No.l 25

arc III uUuSr uOT1u, however, anu no
danger need be feared as to its ultimaH
payment.
CHARITABLE AND PENAL INsir.
| TIONS.
1t is always pleasure to the ex-
1 ecutive to visit the State hospital for
the insane. This institution is manag-
ed and conducted in q manEer that
must satify the most hypercritical.
While the amount of the appropria-
| tlon asked for is apparently greater
than that for the preceding year,, y
study of its details will show that
reduction has been made in the per
capita maintenance from $l23.37 last
year to $1l6.76 for the present year.
| You will see from the recommendation
OF the board OF regents that an effort
| Was made during tho past year to pur-
chase the Wallace property, consist
! ing of 10S acres of land, adjacent to
the hospital. The price agreed upou
was $25 900, which the regents expect
ed to pay out of the sum appropriated
for the maintenance OF the institution,
covering IL period of eight year.
could not concur In such an arrange
ment, for the reason that believed it
unwise to establis b the precedent
whereby tho boar, Of any State i'm
stitution could in, ase. the public
deot OF the State ,l such an amount
without express authority from the
general assembly. Ii the board can
pun chase such an amount OF property
upon no other authority than their
own, they could to an unlimited
amount involve the State in debt. L
deem, 1t advisable to purchase this
property at the present time for the
reason that it will be absolutely neces-
sary to the needs of the institution in
future, and l am satifed to wait, for
hot N,r, Il 4.
State considerable amount Uf in
crease In the value of the property,
which is within the city limits. have |
such great respect for the Judgment
and ability of the superintendent and
treasurer Of the institution as to un-
hestatingly endorse their recommends
tions. The urgent necessity for
brick building for the confinement of
the colored insane will, l am sure,
impress itself upon your Judgment.
1t is unjust, and, to say tho least, in
humane. to contine these unfortunate
in tiretrap or place of torture, as tho
present quarters now seem to be. The
brick have been manufactured and
everything is in readiness for the
builder. During the past year q
vacancy occurred in the Office of
the resignation of DR.. w. A. Kirby.
1t Is matter Of congratulation to the
State and to the institution that [ was
so fortunate in sc curing the services
Of DR.. Sarah Campbell Allen, to I'LL the
vacancy. DIR. Allen is IL South Caro-
linian by birth, and the able manner in
which she performs the duties Of the
position, and the love borne her by the
female inmates proves the wisdom OF
placing woman physician in charge
OF these unfortunate patients of her
own SEX
commend to your careful considera-
tion the carefully prepared and in
structive report of the superintendent
OF this institution.
STATE PENITENTIARY.
The report OF the superintendent
and board of directors Of this institu-
tiOn shows IL to be in a healthy, sue
cessful and sound financial condition.
The number OF prisoners confined dur
ing the last fiscal year is ~ less than
for the previous year. This is due to
to the county chain gang. 1t is to be
hoped that tile number SO sentenced
will increase to such an extent as to
allow all convicts sentenced to the
to be employed within
the walls or upon the farms operated
by TIE State. The practice OF leasing
to private parties is objection
able to the people OF the State and
liable to be abused. In one case, in
to order out the militia for the pur-
pose Of protecting o. convict who had
been assigned to Il private contractor
within that county. -nzc people be- n
came indignant at the liberties allowed
a convict who deserved the sevcrcst
punishment. [ dcsire TO say, however,
that this was caused by a guard acting
authority and not from any
order of the superintendent. When
called to the attention Of the authori-
ties Of the pcnitentary the convict
was promptly conveyed to and confined
within tho walls Of the prison.
regret to see q want OF harmony among
the board of director as win appear
to you from the min ,ty report sub
mltted by Mr.. Willo lby. The mat
ter submitted in 81 srcport were
called to my attcntioI. ana / met with
the board in order to sec that every
means and such information us the
books afforded were given the board
for heir direction. Mr.. Willoughby
was appointed q committee of one to
inquire into the contracts made by
the superintendent, and to correspond
with dealers throughout the United
States with view Of obtaining sup
plies for the institution at as low
pIlCC pOSSlDlc. nave UOU rcCclNGu
his report on account of my inability
to attend the last meeting OF the
board, but L am satisfied it will APP
pear upon the minutes duly record
ed. | would respectfully recommends,
however, that your honorable body
appoint a committee 70 investigate the
affairs of this institution in dclereuce
to the request of Mr.. Willoughby, and
make their report at this session.
BY reference to the report Of the
superintendent it will be seen that the
institution commences the new year
with $l5, ,695.87 in cash and supplies.
With reasonable good fortune we
may expect at the end OF tho next fis-
cal year u revenue to the State of
$25, 900 from the net earnings of this
institution. The salaries of the officers
for the past year have been paid out
Of the State treasury, and would have
been refunded but for the reason that
we deem it inadvisable to sell the
crops on hand at present prices, with
a possibility of being compelled TO buy
other supplies latter in the year at
higher prices. This will not be neces-
sary for another year.
In this connection | desire to call
your attention to the agreement be-
tween this institution and the Column
bia Electric Street Railway, Light and
nNyAK NE1aN L. ~