The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-05-19
R0TTENRWSS AND
GRAFT EXPOSED.


In last weeks issue Of The True
Democrat we predicted that before
the expiration of Governor BrOward's
term the period Of his predecessors
term Of Office will be regarded as one
Of the most discreditable to the real in
terests of Florida that has occurred for
many years.
The prediction promises to be full
filed before the adjournment Of the
present Legislature.
On Wednesday the joint committee
appointed TO investigate the hospital
for the INDECENT insane at Chattahoo-
chez made voluminous report Of the
conditions which have prevailed In that
institution during recent years, togeth-
er with q large volume Of testimony,
and referring to other testimony taken
BY the committee which u ''of such q
character that Il would not do to put in
public print"
The committees report declares that
the hospital u mot hospital for the
insane, but Il more Of dumping place
for ell sorts Of people, where they are
maintained after q fashion at an enor-
nous expense 20 the State; that ''the
management has been cruel, negligent,
and heaFtle1s In some instances" that
attendants and nurses have been drunk
while on duty, and have been ''brutally
and inhumanly cruel 70 helpless In
mates" Also that 1.-THE very atEnOs-
phere Of the institution has been scent
ed with vice and immortality TO the ex-
tent that even inmates have begged
and plead for release on account Of 4.
The committee also found gross irreg-
ulaTitles, and worse, In the manage
ment Of the business Of the institution,
and Il holds the Board Of State Institu-
tions very largely responsible for the
deplorabIe conditions It described.
Among the testimony submitted and
published In the appendix to the report,
IL that Of Mr.. v. r. Balkcom, q drug
he admitted 70 9 fourth interest In his
business - partner, ct his own solicita-
1 TCR Tor , SSs sspT e Cs Ust e iG
Mr.. G. H. Dickinson, the private secre-
tary Of Governor Jennings, and, Incl
dentally, purchasing agent for the hos
pital; that 10 and 20 per cent. profit
was charged on supplies thus furnished,
and that the partnership arrangement
was discontinued at the instance Of
Dickinson for the reason that the house
was mot making money enough for
him."
At the conclusion Of the reading of
the report In the Senate, Senator w.
Hunt Harris addressed that body, re-
ferTinR to the horror with which the
people Of the entire State would receive
this report Of conditions "of which hell
itself would be ashamed" declaring
that In this day Of graft, corruption and
whitewash, It Is exceedingly gratifying
TO find q committee Of this Legislature
ready to sign their names 20 such . re-
port. He referred 70 the excellent man
aGement Of the institution during Gov
eTnor Bloxham's administration by a
distinguished citizen of Florida, then
superintendent and now deceased, and,
concluding, he moved that the report
be received and adopted, and that l, 900
extra copies Of the same be printed In
pamphlet form for general distribution,
30 that, II no other or filter punishment
should reach those who were responsible
for the shame and Disgrace thus brought
upon the State, the people Of Florida
may be furnished the fun text of the
committees informal indictment Of the
culprits. The motion was carried unan-
imOusly.
Thus, page by page, the true record
Of what its admirers were fond Of call
ing 1.-THE best administration Florida
has ever had" and the model business
administration, is being made up and
cast into permanent and enduring form
as a beacon light TO successive genera
IAOhb'