The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-22
Mr.. Wickharn's Asylum Bill.
ditnr nf The Tines-Dispatch:

Editor of The Times-lo1spatch'
sir.-The bill by Senator Wickham, re-
curing an alienist to be appointed COM
missioner of lunacy. whilst calculated 70
strike the uninitiated favorably, Is. We
believe. of doubtful expediency. the ob-
ject of the trainers of our Constitution
is clear and well-defined. They intended
that an accountant should be appointed
to that office. who should be man OF
, ana snd he e.
examine the accounts of the hospitals
and when allowances were made. sup
plies purchased and debts incurred. see
that they were paid accordingly, as the
special or general boards should decree
He was simply to be an auditor, He has
nothing. as the law now stands to do
with the government of the hospitals.
though he may make recommendations
to the Governor. The special and gem
eral boards are the powers supreme, the
Constitution declares It mas been III
might be conflict between the boards and
the commissioner under existing laws
and under his now limited authority.
been conservative in his construction
of the law relative to his authority: yet
it is certain that an rreconclable con-
nIct might easily arise between such
officer and the hospital boards as to their
several duties. powers and authority.
A commissioner who feels his lmpor-'
and clash with the boards. We are not
attempting to prophesy when we say
such T be he case hefor srg
commissioners have served their terms
and certainly will be If the present bill
becomes q part of our statute llw,
Should the Legislature change present
conditions and make this office, in a1-.
dtion to its functions as an auditing
department, scientific one, also, placing
only with the proper disbursement Of all
moneys, but who shall undertake 10 and
be required to direct the medical depert.
ment Of these hospitals as we'll confu-
vail and few. physicians of spirit. aid few
gentlemen Of self.respect, will oe found
to serve as superinte,ndents or Is 'nem-
berS of the various boards.
There will then be no incentive to a
! superintendent. No mater what lie may
do. no matter to what t height he may have
orlater be assumed ~. necommissloner.
who .be 1t remembered, will generally be
regarded as the supreme head. aid VINO
san travel Ct panls eYnsnse exer the
State official. ana especially III The car
OF every. legislator.
The boards, whicn he Cois.i.I,ion de-
clare,ss shall ha5s full and, o',yolu,e charge
of the hospitals. Will slrive! INTO moth
ingness, being, c.,.npellsl % draw tier
their orders rs. from 7. the conn ss,'.ner Hfo
Would become The mead l;othaf The ,he'n,s tn
cal and monetll,' ends OF he irst;tutici
Anything the board might -n.eest in
fact, do, would he. IL soo'l clni,ned w
the commissioner. !. lad, thrown lack
upon the board, VITA the Weigh. sof Ills
after-discosarad disarproyai added, so
soon as thu venture .'roveI ;tbnrllNc, no
matter how 'nu.h he Ray haze favorsd
| in meeting, Tie o ,ln,:> l,,er has no
vote in the meettigs az lkn tnard his
approval or ,lislnpsuaal has M ra,.la
hence ln.ssa6 III his Ntklce. counsel
Eor commgin will S,e sad'lled on ,he
ily he claimed ny .hlm, llels ~ In any
sense /, 4 sil,.rt y. he hoard liz. Gnta ma
place from the 60 .ernor, an 4 ls an,,nni,a
Ito him only, HIT hos GEN 5l,rc ii over 4 hn
| superintendell.s is.sl sH, O 8noaris S.vul
the first possibly by his assumed supe-
lGrlor KIN Wledge In mental dis eases !; over
the seconts. ss'y MS s-s,, Y. AZ sGpslior ais