The news & observer., 1905-11-23

Ine following is an open letter
that Governor Glenn hab addressed
to the Superintendent and Directors
of the State Hospitals a. Raleigh and
Morganton. The matter of the colored
hospital at Goldsboro will be consid-
cred by the Governor later:
To the Superntendents and Directors
of the State Hospitals at Raleigh
and Morganton:
Gentlemen:-
Before any newspaper discussion
was held concerning. our insane
using the means at q II command, the
Council of State and /, In a quiet way,
We're gathering all data that we
thought would aid us in finding out
the true condition OF these poor un-
fortunate ones throughout the State.
Treasurer Lacy. through the sheriffS
and the Board of Charities, from the
County Commissioners, were getting
Il complete list Of the insane in the
county jails. county homes. and in pri-
vate homes. Also I was trying TO
gather information through the Board
of Internal improvements, as we'll az
by IN interview with the superintend~
ents of the different hospitals. From
these various sources much valuable
information has been obtained. l
likewise have been carefully studying
the law in regard to the insane, In
order that ] might correctly advise
the directors of the hospitals, what
| thought was their duty.
Prior to November 9. 1880. the
State Constitution, Article XI. Section
TO- provided, that "The General AS
scmbly shall provide that all the deaf
mutes, blind and insane of the State.
r,l, tI,.N x11e,
the State" This allowed all insane
persons to be cared for by the State.
This article however, was amended
by the Legislature and ratified by
the people on November 22nd. 1880,
so as to read THE General Assem-
bly, may provide that all the INDECENT
deaf-mutes, blind and insane OF the
State shall be cared for at the charge
of the State"
Thus by the act of the Assembly,
and the will of the people expressed at
1 the polls, the Constitution was chang
ed from the care of all insane, to
''indigent'' insane. After this by diff
ferent acts of the Legislature, ineb-
rates. and insane. not INDECENT were
allowed to be cared for, priority. how
ever being always given to the tndi-
gent insane.-in fact any other law
would have been repugnant to the
Constitution applying only to the in
digent insane.
The word ''insane" does not neces-
sarily include all idiots, imbeciles
those with dementia, or even some lu-
naticS who are harmless and incura-
BILE, and who can be comfortably pro-
Vided for by friends. or cared for in
the county homes, but the class in
tended to be cared for, are the durable
and ihcurable. who are dangerous, or
who cannot be properly looked after
at home or by those destitute of the
means of comfortable subsistence"
Applying these definitions, we con
clude that the INDECENT insane are
those who have not sufficient prop
erty themselves. or whose friends can
not afford To care for and maintain
them
From ou>' Investigations, we find
that from the' eighty or more cOun-
| ties already heard from. there are
115 white male and female patients
now in the county homes or jails. and
probably this number will be increas-
ed TO two-hundred, when we get the
returns from all counties This does
not include, as many more perhaps.
! still kept by friends at private homes.
All of these people, however are not
persons who should be placed in the
hospitals. With these facts before us,
our duty is plain, and I will, as Gov
ernor of the State, insist upon the
provisions Of the Constitution and
statutes. made in conformity thereto.
being literally carried out.
The proper application must Ire
made from the various counties to
admit these unfortunate people into
the hospitals. and if upon investiga-
ton, they are found to be INDECENT
insane. and there is room, they musi
he admitted. If there is room enough
for those entitled to admission. in ad-
| dition to the inmates now in the hos
pitals, then all right. for this is legal.
but if not. then those patients now in
the hospitals, who are not INDECENT.
| but who themselves. or whose fam-
lies. have enough to maintain them in
some private institution. must he re
moved to make room for the truly in
digent. for not Il man or woman con-
fined III jails or county homes, who
| belongs to this class of INDECENT in
sane. must remain there. if they car
be placed in the hospitals by removing
persons, who do not strictly belong
to the INDECENT class.
II looks very hard. and il is hard.