The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-05-20
REPORT OF COMMITTEE
TO VISIT STATE ASYLUM
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Who Is Responsible?
1t Is with serious regret that duty
compels the committee to. aintain and
30 present, that the Board of State In
stitutions lis very largely responsible,
and should be so held, for the deplor-
able conditions, the inexcusable and
objectionable evils that have existed
in and about the institution. Respon-.
sible to those poor, helpless, unfortu-.
nate inmates, who have been caused
to suffer the pangs of hunger, toe
humiliation and pain of the keen cuts
of the lash. the sthud of the fist, the
stamp of the foot, the unknown and
| untold physical suffering and mental
| anguish caused by wilf9l, wanton neg
lect of management and attendants.
While the evidence is not absolutely
clear that such cruelty ond failure OF
duty caused death, il is sufficiently
clear to create suspicion of such being
true.
| Shameful Neglect.
| The committee feels justified in say
ing that many evils and Irregularities
| that have existed in and aout the tnsti-
| tuition, its management and influence,
could have been corrected if the neces-
sary watchful supervision had been ex-
ercised. The committee further main
tains that there is too much at stake
that is Of such vital Importance TO
those helpless inmates and TO the peo-
pie of the state for it to be entrusted
to uncertain or irresponsible hands.
The board should give more direct and
special attention and supervision TO
the detailed affairs of the institution
than has been done. To the mind IF
? the committee the institution is more
of a prison than an asylum. IL the
: other duties and requirements and the
: time of the board are such that Il can
not give the institution and its affairs
That watchful supervision so eminently
necessary, such fact should be report
! led to the legislature to the end that
1.-THE needful action may be taken.
/, Awful Conditions Exist.
Your committee represents to you
) that Ward No. l is in an extremely
unsanitary condition; that 1t is cruel
and inhuman to compel even human
lbeings oblivious to their surroundings
to live and stay in it. The floor Is
: worn, decayed, rotting, the seams filled
i with vile filth of the most poisonous
character.
D The committee finds that there is TO
5 provision made for the separation OF
, the criminal insane from other and
o harmless patients in recreation rooms
Tor grounds.
T. The committee recommends t1e
d separation of the violently insane from
l. Those of peaceful and harmless TED
r denotes.
Present Conditions Improved.
II is but Just and proper that thf
g fcommittee should impress the fact tina
e the present superintendent and stan
e have been in cnaIge only very shor
q time. but ii is evident to the commit
Il tee that even in so short time ma
l. lterial improvements have been mace
Il and the committee is much please'
q with the expressed purpose or incl
IS correcting every evil and irregularlt.
D. possible at the earliest possible date
III The committee mas confidence in sue
intention and ability.
u Much evidence and information !
~ before the committee that is not sur
DR. mitted. for the reason that 1t woui
le make the report too vOlumlnous, AM
20 further. some OF the evidence Is ?
n. such a character that 1t would not
Sc to be put in public print
ID The committee believes that IL doe
Fl submit sufficient evidence TO show 20
:. that we have tried to discharge In
% duties imposed without fear or favo
free of whitewash or prejudice, belize
On ing that we are fully sustained l
On every utterance. however strong or r.
Elective such may be, and bellevue
that a discharge of duty requires not
" ing less. All of which is respectIuii
ne submitted for your consideration.
he wv. KNIGHT,
to Chairman.
M