The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-05-26
HOUSE ADOPTS
HOSPITAL REPORT.
NebIs's Supplementary Intssel tntln6
Committee 6 wseG

Quite a commOtion occurred In the
House Of Representatives on Monday,
when Speaker Gilchrist left his place
and took the floor to denounce the re-
port Of the insane hospital investigat-
ing committee. The immediate &C.
casion was the reading of a telegram
addressed to the Speaker by some fe-
male nurses employed at the hospital,
who complained that the committees
report reflected upon their characters.
Strangely enough the only words in
the report which could by the remotest
possibility be tortured into q reflection
upon the authors Of the telegraphic
atmosphere Of the institution has beer,
scented with vice and immortality 20 tbe
extent that even the inmates have
begged and plead for release on account
|okK And citizens living nearby have
felt outraged by it.
Note the fact that the committee did
not speak Of the present time, but of
the past-it says have BEEN not
''is", Nor does IL indicate any class or
any individual or groups Of individuals,
employed or connected with the insti-
tuition, TO whom its remarks apply.
The vice and immortality" TO which
the committee refers may have been
prneticed by employees far inferior IN
position 70 the nurses, male o. female,
% By persona far higher up than the
ngreees and connected with the official
administration Of the institution.
The House evidently took this view
Of Il, for the telegram was not admit
ted 20 place in the pages Of the jour
nal
The debate was appOunded upon a
motion TO consider the report, and
Speaker Gilchrist vehemently opposed
It's adoption, arguing that such action
would stigmatiEe worthy and defense
less women employed at the hospital,
and that the evidence reported was
weak and meagre, and did not sustain
the findings Of the committee. This
brought up the fact that the committee
had taken testimony which Il referred
70 a. being ''of such character that it
would not do to put In public print"
and the imminent discussion Of the
same caused the retirement Of ladies'
who were In the hall.
The debate proceeded for some time,
members u the committee and others
ably defending it, position, while few
opposed the adoption Of the report.
Upon vote being taken, the report was
adopted by the following vote:
Yeas = Baker, EBradshaw, Brown,
Buchanan, Canter, Carlton, Cobb, Corn
well, Crawford, Qorman, DUPONT, Du-
val, Fillingim, Floyd, Girardeau, Har-
Kilgore, Kirkland, knight, knowles,
McCallnm, McElroy, Matthews, Melton,
Noble, Oven, Paul, Peaden. Pefsons,
PirronR, Roberts, Robson, RosborouRh.
Sistrunk, Sledge, Smith of Hamilton,
Smith Of Volusia, Sparkman, SpraRue,
Stephens, Taylor of Gadsden, Taylor Of
HillsborOugh, Tillman, Watson, Wells,
Wilson Of Jackson-62.
Nays-Mr. Speaker, Blanton Of Mad
ison. Blanton Of Taylor, Bryan, Camp
bell, Jewell, Rawls, Williams, Wilson
of fernando, Wilson Of Lee--l0.
Some apparently ardent admirers Of
the genial Speaker, who have been i'm
dustriOusly nursing an incipient boom
let for him for the next gubernatorial
vacancy, will be sadly chaRrined at the
result of his attempt 70 discredit the
work of one Of his own committees, and,
incidentally, 70 shield from further in.
vestigation and just punishment (if
found guilty. those who are believed TO
be responsible for a large part Of the
crook edness at the hospital reported by
the committee; while many more of
Cen Gilchrist's real friends will pro-
foundly and sincerely regret that he
should have received, publicly, such a
marked and emphatic rebuke from a
body over which he was chosen to pre-
side under such flatteFing auspices at
the beginning Of the session.
The House committee appointed under
the resolution Of Mr.. Noble, Of Lake,
'to investigate certain persons and
matters in connection" with the state
of affairs disclosed by the investigating
committees report, held 3 meeting on
Wednesday and proceeded TO the hos
pital TO pursue its investigations. The
committee was enlarged to five msm-
bsrs, viz; Mr.. Noble, of Lake, chair
man; Messrs. Wilson Of fernando,
Carleton Of Nassau, Harvell Of Santa
Rosa. and King Of Dade.
~~~-N~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-N.-
Look out for coupon contest at Capt.
tai City Pharmacy. Further particu-
lara Of lt next week.