The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-01-13

~ sTar and the number of patients to be admitted 70 Is 'S'"
ton is absolutely fixed by iaw' m,,..;y study 1t
sa- that the appropriations made in South Carolina are less sma
the amounts allowed for the same purpose ny MY ons ,n 1
State except Florida, while the per capita expense Oh our nI "on%i
;s lower than any other similar Southern institution l mo aHo "N'
in other neiehboring States the number OF inmates IN the "'uN
bosnitalsi is limited by law, and that when mes IKE hotoei
reached new patients cannot be received excePt WIN" ".""""
1905 with nc no such law " custom exists. Consequently, our
institution seems to serve as a receptacle for all classes IL =.
and rnfortunates, who are not otherwise Pro"oeo i'
rare exception that applications for admission are aSe al"
these executions arr only for non-residents of South Carolina.
The Regents and resident officers seem to take tn roadest a"
of the purposes of the Hospital and the junction" Snou pei o""
the public by fostering the idea of the greatest Sooo " 'e S'ea'e9e
number and of restricting the number and classes of patients as
little as possible. 1t hardly becomes the Executive to WISH 10 c"f'ah
the usefulness of the Hospital, yet the question may well again D.
asked whether the institution is not frequently imposed upon IN TN
class of individuals committed to it, and whether after all o'ate
Care" is not attended with certain deficiencies. The Regents them
selves ask whether greater care and local interest may not be se-
cured by requiring the counties to pay a portion o I me expenses
for each patient sent to the Hospital. The present system seems
rather to offer an inducement for each community to place upon nv
State burdens and responsibilities which they should assume them
selves in part, at least. We cannot at this late date take a back
ward step in the care Of the insane, but either our appropriations for
that purpose must be greatly increased in the next few years, or
VIC must devise methods Of restricting admissions to the State Hos
pital. Furthermore, there seems little doubt as to the need OF the
separation Of inebriates and epieptics from the insane proper. But
it is a question whether the State is at present in a financial condition
to undertake the support of another separate charitable institution,
with the prospect of others still later on. Such inmates should be
placed in separate buildings upon the present property. y
My deepest synpathies go out to those unfortunate ones among
our fellow citizens to whom has been denied the blessings of life,
and have taken pains to bring the noble institution for their home
before YOU in full detail. They are fortunate, at least in being under
the faithful and gentle minBtrations of the capable and thoughtful
Superintendent OF this institution, to whom our State owes a debt
of gratitude. need not add that heartily concur in the recon-
mendations which are included i'll this report.
THE STATE P~ENITENTIARY
In conducting such an institution as this our object should be to
care for its inmates with thoughtfulness and kindness, to keep it
upon a plane where humanity and consideration, together with bus
mess judgment, are never lost sight of. The present management
of the penitcntary and the condition OF its affairs show that this
can be accomplished, and am sure you will agree with me that