The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-01
THE INDECENT INSANE
\ CLOSE FIGHT OVER THE LAW
GOVERNING THEIR ADMIS-
SION TO ASYLUMS.
SENATORIAL VERSION or AN OLD PROBLEM
Senate Takes up Ediication Of insanity Laws.
Senator Campbell 10 Offer a Minority
Report in Election Contest Sic.
Mnnc IN kcc ciant GInrL
vens an Ass slant Clerk.


The Senate ran yesterday with the
raw edges exposed. The cold, insistent
drizzle seemed to have soaked and chill
cd the sensihilities of that ordinarily
amiable body. Things got cross-ways
of the current of the days business.
First off somebody made a motion in
behalf of the Committe on Enrolled
Bills to elect another assistant clerk,
as the work has now become too heavy
for the force in the Enrolling Clerk
office. This precipitated discussion,
quite inconsequential which lasted for
4 half hour, all hinging on the ques-
ton as to which was cheaper to have
the work done by enrolling clerks or
by copyists AS no one knew what
copyists charge, until Senator Jackson
mentioned ten cents Il sheet. but all knew
the salary of clerk, the discussion was
very similar TO the familiar mathema-
teal problem IF eggs cost 20 cents a
dozen what would cart load Of turnips
cost" At the end of the half hour
the Senate came TO the conclusion that
eggs at 20 cents the dozen are cheaper,
and Mr.. Stevens, OF Newbern. was elect
ed as assistant Enrolling Clerk, having
received the caucus nomination at the
first of the session.
This disposed Of things went smooth
II enough for while, barring the fact
that a good many Senators wished to in
troduce bills at the same
time and wanted bills taken
off the committee lists and put
on the calendar and insisted that House
hills be permitted to shoot the ciutes
straightway. Zion was in a hurry to
get itself Incorporated. and all the little
fishes were scurrying for the protecting
wing of the law.
The chronic bill to codify the insanity
laws of the State being special order
for noon. the Senate, on motion of Sena-
tor Smith, went into committee of the
whole to consider the bill. For two
hours the patient reading clerk ploddnd
on through its original provisions and
its multifarious and needful amend
Then the Senate showed that if il
was not long on the prevailing price for
copying it knew how to attend to mat
tiers OF Importance. There is scarcely
n contingency that can arise under the
law hereafter that was not anticipated
and turned over in the discussion Of the
bill.
Among the provisions that passed but
that in its crisp originality deserves
more than the homage of an asserting
silence is the following:
Section %. Every sheriff or other
person, bringing to a hospital n pa
tient. shall see that the patient is
clean. free from contagious diseases and
vermin, and that he has clothing proper
for the season of the year. and in all
cases. two full suits of under clothing.
When necessary to buy clothing for the
patient, or to do any act necessary to
comply with this section, the sheriff
shall make the purchase, or have done
the act, and the same shall be paid for
by the county of the PATIENTS settle
ment. If any sheriff or other person
shall carry to hospital a patient with
out meeting the requirements Of this
section. he shall forfeit 10 and pay 10
the hospital TO which he carries the pa
tient the sum of $3.50. to be recovered
by said hospital in the manner herein
after provided"
AS the bill was carefully, very care
fully. prepared it is, perhaps. a proof
Of the fallibility of human wisdom that
night shirts: tooth brush and nail file
were omitted from this compulsory cata-
logue OF personal effects. fine Of $50
for each would doubtless prove efficaci-
ous in persuading refractory sherilfs to
add them. 1t is perhaps the first time in
the history of modern Jurisprudence
that the absence Of two full suits Of
undertaking has been made as helm
Gus an offence as spreading scarlet fever
or the smallpox.
The provision Of the bill admitting
inebriates to the asylums was the first
-.
Senator Travis thought that .nebriates
should be excluded from the asylums
and so moved. Senator Wilson asked
il the constitution did not declare that
inebriates should be cared for Senator
Speight replied that it did. Senator
Travis explained that it did not pre-
scribe that they should be cared for in
the asylums. Senator Jerome opposed
striking out inebriates. Senator Daniels
thought the constitution left it 10 tie
discretion OF the Assembly when proyl-
sion should be made to care for inebrl-
ates Senator Brown thought the limit
of - of each sex of inebriates at one
time was reasonable and should stand.
Senator Speight said that l. rooms were
set apart at Morganton that were not
available for the care Of insane persons.
Senator Cooley thought that inebriateS
should be admitted. There was no diff
ference between insane persons and inc
briates. The amendment TO strike out
inehriatcs was lost.
The section providing that the SUPER
intendent and officers of the asylum
should not be summoned as a witness in
court. unless the subpoena shall have
been served upon the officer fifteen days
before the day of trial of the case. was
the next to provoke discussion. 1t was
the sense of the Senate that no citizen
should be absolved from the duty of at