Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-18

Stan Correspondence Of Gazette and JournsL
Dover, March 1.-THE investigation
into the affairs Of the Delaware state
Hospital for the Insane, which has
been talked OF in legislative circles for
some time, began yesterday, when the
hospital board held a conference with
the members of the General Assembly
10 the State House parlor. president
Black and Trustees Smith. Orr, Car
lisle and Cooper and Superintendent
Hancker were present.
Speaker Riggin OF the House, who
presided, stated the provisions OF the
joint resolution, which originated in
the Senate and was held I'D for consid-
GRAFTON In the House.
President Black OF the hospital board
made fow remarks, in which he
stated that the board would give the
Legislature all the assistance possible
In any Investigation that might be
made, but be thought such an investi-
CATION as had been proposed would be
useless. There arc people at the insti-
tuition, be said. who are only perodi-
cally insane and might be apparently
sane when an investigation was 10
progress and might be ordered dis.
charged, but the next day might com.
init murder. The people then must be
cared for either 10 the hosDital or aims
houses. as the State has no institution
for the care of tho feeble minded, such
as other States have. There are no
suitable appliances 10 the aimshouses
and therefore the insane hospital lie the
only proper place for feeble minded
people IN Delaware. Inc State must
necessarily take care of ouch persona
who are INDECENT. The doctor did not
SEE how these people could be taken
care of for any less than at present,
but suggested that the Legislature
adopt permanent policy for the man
agemsnt OF the institution.
Trustee Smith said that be thought
the trustees should have a voice in
naming the physicians who should ex-
anime applicants, whereupon Represen.
tatiye Donaldson Informed him that
Attorney Cochran had In course Of
preparation a bill providing that the
trustees shall name one physician and
the friends of 40 applicant the other
physician 10 each case.
Trustee Cooper stated that the trus-
tees were using dus diligence to collect
money for board Of patients whose rela.
tiyes are able to pay their board.
Reference was made to the hot house
on the hospital grounds and DR.. Black
stated that the hot house, which was
a necessity, cost the State nothing.
The House met Immediately after the
conference, and Chairman L. S, Hon
kins of the committee on miscellaneous
business stated that the committee was
unable to make report on tho inyesti-
cation resolution, and. on motion Of
Mr.. Dempsey the committee was given
one week in which TO make a report
On motion of Representative l.. 5.
Hopkins. the House passed the House
bill incorporating the Frederica Board
of Education. When the bill was called
up for final action Mr.. DOnaldGon took
execution 20 that portion empowering
the Frederick Railroad Co. to turn over
10 the board 81, 500 in their handa. He
desired TO know to whom the money
belonged. II had been appropriated by
the State from lottery moneys to the
railroad company for tine construction of
road. which was never huilt, and Mr..
Donaldson inquired ii the money did
not belong to the Dtate. Bur nobody
seemed tn know much about il, and
the general feeling was that the money
had been appropriated for the benefit
of the people of Frederick and might az
well be used for the construction Of a
school house, which is badly needed.
The Senate amendel and passed the
bill authorizing the Levy Court Of New
Castle county to borrow $50, 900, to be
paid by next September. The Houss
concurred in the amendment.
Representative Dempsey gave notice
of bill increasing the number of Levy
Court commissioners of New Castle
from five to IL. The bill provides that
seven new members shall be elected in
November 1893, for two years, who,
with the five now in the court, will
make IL members, a2d for tho election
OF II menberB at the expiration of
their time, to serve four years. The
members are to be selected, one from
each district, as followH: Brandywine
hundred, Wilmington north OF Sixth
street, Wilmington south of Sixth
street. Christiana hundred. Mill Greek,
Nov Castle. White Clay, Pencader,
Red Lion, st. Georges, Biackbjrd and
Appoquinimink. The members ara to
ceive $500 annually. The bowers of
the Levy Court are to remain the San a
as at present. The office of receiver of
taxes, as provided for in section 6,
chapter 20, Vol. XIX, ia 10 be
abolished upon the passage OF the act,
but the county treasurer is to remain as
at present. The manner of collecting
taxes Is to be the same as was in vupua
prior to the passage April gSth,
1891, of the act entitled IAN act in re-
lation to the Levy Court of New Cag.
tie county" The Office OF county conn
fTOlleF ia algn to be aholiahe6 Pod
commissioners are to be abolished on
January LIST, 1899, and the members OF
the Levy Court are to have supervision
over the roads.
The House adopted, on motion oil
Representative Donaldson, a Joint reso,
luton appropriating from the State
treasury 5000 to the Robbins Hose m,
OF Dover, with which to improve the
apparatus, for the better protection oi
State property. The Senate concurred
10 the resolution, after defeating MIR.
Pierce'B amendment to make the
amount 500. After the adoption Of
the resolution the Rev. Churles l.,
Stengle was given the privilege of the
tioor and invited the Senators TO Welt
the hose house.
The House accepted Oyster Revenue
Collector Lewis invitation to take a
TRIP to the State oyster beds in tho
Delaware Bay.
The Senate committee on corpora.
tlona MADE favorable report on tho
Senate dill 10 incorporate the Rescue
Flfe 70 OF Wilmington, and it WIS
apout TO ba put on final passage, when
oenator lyle presented a communica-
tlon from the C,ty Council Of Whining.
mr. kH, L., -