The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-06-16
WHAT THE STATE
NEWSPAPERS SAY.

KNOCKING GILcHRIsr.


taken by our legislators, their way Of
handling affairs and the mode in which
they were handled, and as such feel e
our duty to comment upon such mess-
ures as we see At.
We first take up the action of Cen
erai Gilchrist, the speaker of the House
Of Representatives, in the report of the
investigating committee appointed by
him to look into the condition and at
fairs. OF the insane asylum at Chatta-
hoochee.
OF course the General wants to be
heard and seen-he is often seen when
not heard - and this applies to the in
stance when he descended from the
rostrum and took his stand in condemn
alton of the report made by the COM
mittee whom he had appointed. What
kind of report did Gen. Gilchrist ex-
pect his committee 70 make, and why
did he not instruct them TO make such
a one IS he would sPproveH The News
takes the stand thkt each and every
one Of the gentlemen who visited the
asylum were men of the highest char
acter-men who were fitted for tie
purpose intended thew should perform,
and If they were not whose fault h Il
but Gen. Gilehrist's1 He vas king
ruler in 80 far ~ the appointment Of an
investigating committee was concerned,
and If these men were not the kind to
be relied upon a. rendering q fair and
impartial verdict, according to the evil
eence before them, why did Mr.. Gil
christ select themf His action In try
ing to secure the rejection of the re-
port is not q commendable one On his
part, and the question arises, has the
General bottom upon which TO stand?
He was and Is n sponsible for appoint
ing the committee, and he should have
shown due respect for them IN accept
ing the report as an honest one. -
Jasper News.
LEGISLATIVE AFTERMATH.
II 1t cost the people of Florida $780,
600 to keep 100 men in Tallahassee for
sixty days, land the town dry at that,)
how much would the people save by
paying the members of the Legislature
six dollars q day TO stay at homer
Bronson Times-Democrat.
The famous WALES claim for nearly
5000, 900 against the State Of Florida
still stalks abroad, q restless ghost
which refuses TO be laid. The Legisla-
ture has not only declined 70 pay the
claim, but has refused to pass bin pei
hitting the claimants to bring suit
against the State in the Florida courts
to determine the validity of their claim,
the refusal based upon the alleged un-
constitutionality Of such special legisls-
ton. Considering the hardness Of TIE
times, the toughness Of the legislative
heart, the high price Of money and TIE
certainty Of death, II we were Colonel
WALES we would take that SOS, 900 ap.
propriated two years ago to nay the
-
eclat, from the unequal contest. ANY
elderly gentleman Of inexpensive tastes
In possession Of that sum Of money and
a high-class grievance warranted to
last, can get great deal of solid com.
fort out OF life. IL beats the hope de.
ferred game very badly. Live Oak
Democrat.
The insane asylum report has been
widely heralded as a masterpiece Of ex-
posture.
It is mostly hot air.
Perhaps the committee is holding
back much for the grand jury. II "a
certain that there Is little evidence In
the report that would be judged compe-
tent in q court of law. The report
deals largely In generalities.
II has been known for a long time
that things were rotten at Chattahoo-
chez, and other Legislatures have quite
regularly sent withdrawing committees
to quiet matters.
Suppose these belated Investigations
establish that condition Of graft does
prevail ip our public institutions will a
remedy be applied? Not until those
great duties Of caring for our unfortu.
mates, and molding the minds of youth.
are raised above the plane Of cheap mol.
itics! The care Of our insane miserable
unfortunates!-is, as a rule, in the hands
Of officials appointed TO pay political
debts. One crowd goes out and another
comes in, not for reasons Of public SER
vice, but because If the pull" .
Our unfortunates should be cared for
by the most skilled specialists, who. In
turn, should be paid in proportion 10
their knowledge and skill. Our children
should be taught by scholarly and re-
spected and respectable teachers, who.
| in turn, should be paid on the principle
that the laborer Is worthy Of his hire.
Eighteen hundred q year for the head Of
q hospital for the insane with 400 in
mAtesl This sort Of economy "a an o.
tense TO the common sense OF the p(o.
pie. Sprinkle disinfectants on the nssf,,
political system Of paying political debt
with Jobs; hire capable public servants
and pay them what they are worth