The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-01-19
SPEAKER cILCHRIsT m PRINT.

SIR:-My attention has been directed
TO the following paragraph in your is
sue Of December 10Th.
Would Speaker Of the House of
Representatives who took the floor and
spoke against receiving the report of
committee appointed by himself to in
vestigate the corruption, such as was
shown to exist in the State Asylum
affairs, make Florida a good Governor =?
Besides it is believed that hidden, pow
erful outside influences were brought
to bear upon him to bring about that
grand spectacle.
! would state that upon the converting
of the Legislature, Mr.. Knight of Cit
rus county and Senator jackson a resi-
dent of Citrus county introduced the
resolutions in the House and the Senate
respectively, looking to the appointment
OF a joint committee to visit the asylum.
In accordance with the custom, these
two gentlemen were appointed.
Without any suggestions from them
or from anyone else, the Speaker APP
pointed Mr.. Fillingim Of Escambia and
Mr.. Sledge Of Jefferson. The other
Senator appointed on the part of the
Senate, | infer did not visit the asylum,
as the report Of the first committee was
signed by the above named gentlemen
On May 18th, this committee APP
pointed ITO visit, inspect, investigate
and report it's findings of the condition,
needs and affairs of the Hospital for the
Insane of the State" submitted its
report.
In the preface to the Report is the
following: ION account of not being
furnished with records, and detailed
80 nd NJ Hof aGk
for, the investigation and report are
not as thorough as the Committee de-
sired to make" This Committee made
some excellent recommendations 1t
submitted the testimony of various par
ties, covering forty pages of the Jour-
nal and a thousand copies ordered
printed.
Mr.. Noble of Lake county "moved
that the thanks of the House be ex-
tended to the Committee appointed to
investigate the State Asylum for the
evident careful attention to their inves-
tigaticn." This was agreed to.
Two days afterwards, Friday, May
10Th, Mr.. Noble introduced the follow
ing resolution, which was adopted:
"Whereas the public service of the
State of Florida demands that not only
men of ability, but especially men Of
honesty.
"And, whereas the reports of the
Committee sent to examine the asylum
at ChattahoOche brings to light a very
discouragihg state of affairs in its past
management, therefor be it resolved
by the House that a committee of three
be at once appointed, with power to
call for persons, books and papers to
investigate certain persons and matters
in connection Herewith.
On Monday, May 22nd, upon motion
of Mr.. Noble, it was resolved to make
this committee five instead of three.
The Speaker, on that day appointed
Noble of Lake county, Buchanan of Du-
val, Harvell of Santa Rosa, King of
Dade and Wilson of fernando, Mr.. No
BILE being Chairman
On that morning Mr.. Knight moved
that the report of this Committee on
Insane Asylum be taken up.
Mr. Bryan moved to postpone the
consideration of the adoption of the re-
port until three o'clock p. M, Tuesday,
May 23d, which was not agreed to.
The House then acted upon the mo-
ton made by Mr.. Knight. Mr.. Knight
moved the adoption Of the report.
Prior to the question of the adoption
of the report, a telegram was received
by the Speaker and read to the House,
to the effect that twenty (20) Florida
women wished to be heard before the
adoption II that report.
In its findings, this committee stated,
THE very atmosphere of this lnstitu-
ton has been scented with vice and
immortality to the extent that even the
inmates have begged and plead for re-
lease on account of il. "
In my opinion these women certainly
had right to be heard The evidence
before the House, did not justify these
findings, in my opinion.
There were many conclusions arrived
at by this Committee, which the evil
dence in my opinion, did not justify.
hive been a member of the House
for four terms. | have never before
known any of these committees re-
ports to be adopted There was no mo-
ton made to adopt the report of any of
the other committees appointed to in
yestigate other State institutions and
convict camps.
II it were due the House to adopt the
report of one committee why was il not
equally due the House to adopt the re-
ports of all the other committees"
The results arrived at by this com
mittee were influenced by the Senators,
because it was a joint committee
| notice that in opposing the Buck
man bill" the people of Tallahassee
never thought that it was any disrepect
to the House for their members TO OPP
pose the unanimous judgment of a COM
mittee of nine members of the House,
who recommended the passage of it.
Had the Speaker opposed this commit