The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-18
THE GOVERNOR WILL SEE THAT
THE LAW Is OBEYED.

is the State Constitution. II directs
the ''indigent insane" of the State, but
gives no authority and no right to
provide for any other class of the in
sane. And yet, in North Carolina to-
day, we find the 'indigent insane" de-
MED admission into our hospitals be-
cause they are crowded and the coun
ty authorities are informed that
There is no room for them
Why is there no room for the 'in-
digent insane" in our hospitals? The
answer is because, without authority
of law, and, in defiance of the man
date of the State Constitution. a prac-
t:se has grown up of admitting pay
patients to the exclusion of Sin
people who have relatives and friends
able to pay for their care and treat
ment III private sanitariums or in
their homes. The Legislature has au-
tfrorized the taking of pay patients
when practicable but no proper con-
struction of that statute, even if i
did not conflict with the State Con-
stitution, would permit receiving
pay patients as long as an INDECENT in
sane person is vainly knocking for adj
mission. if, indeed, they can be taken
at all under the Constitutional pro-
vision.
According to the statement of Or,
Murphy and Dr.. Mckee the hospitals
are so. crowded that they cannot ad-
nit the insane persons now incarcer-
ated in jails or held in county BONES
There are not many of these. They
are too crowded also, they say, 80 take
the other "indigent insane" who are
enduring a living death i'll homes
where dire poverty prevents half-W@y
proper care. AT the same tine pom
hospitals have patients who are able
TO pay and do pay. and some patients
who are able to pay who are received
as INDECENT Is this right? s IL
humane? Is it constitutional Is i
lawful?
This paper makes bold to say That
if the hospitals exclude all the insane
who arc able. either personally or oy
their family. to ray for treatment IN
private sanitariums there will he
found at once room for every insane
person in jail or in a county hoidc iii
North Carolina i'm the Morgant0n ana
Raleigh Hospitals, and for every in
digent insane" person whose conuitlon
is such as to make their immediate
reception necessary. We call upon
the Governor of this State, whose
heart is in the right place, 10 make
an investigation and see il tins state
ment is not correct, and II II is cor
rect, to issue a peremptory order re-
ouiring the ASYLUM authorities to see
that the insane in jails and county
homes are at once given a place ana
the other ''indigent insane" cared for
as soon as il can be done. Double
quick work ought to be started on
the addition TO the Raleigh Hospital
so that it will be ready for the re-
ception Of patients in the spring. Ii it
costs more to hurry the completion. ii
will be better to spend money TO COM
pIete the addition than to let insane
persons remain in humble homes
where their relatives cannot properly
care for them.
Governor Glenn has been at work
seeking accurate information as to
the number OF insane needing treat
ment in the hospitals, and the Board
of Charities and the State Treasurer
have been at work to give him the.
information. In order further to in
form. himself the Governor invited the
conference of asylum superintendent
and directors which was held in his
office on Wednesday. He is de-
termined to get the facts, to inform
himself as TO the law, and then to see
that the law demanding the care of
the ''indigent insane" is enforced.
break up IA practise that has existed
more or less for a quarter of CEN
tury-a practice that exists less now
than formerly, but is felt more acute
IN NOW BECAUSE IL uelliCS Il CdtiilCHt
and care of the INDECENT insane the
only class the Constitution expected TO
be cared for at the expense of the
State. TO effect the delicate. difficult
and important reform the Governor
will have 10 run counter to q strong
sentiment that sees nothing wrong in
taking pay patients and well-to-do pa
tients to the exclusion of the INDECENT,
but he will find that in this great
work for humanity and for conduct
ing these public institutions in con-
formity TO the law. he will have the
hearty support of all men who believe
that mere need and poverty have
The people have faith that he will
measure up to their expectations and
stronger claim than any other con-
eli