The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-02-20
OUR INSANE AsYLUMs.

~ AA~
sane asylums for white patients should
go way back and sit down.
The governor has made a thorough
investigation of these two Institutions
for the purpose of finding out how
many patients they are treating who
/ are able 70 pay their way in private
! asylums. As he says, the law provides
! that the INDECENT insane shall be pro-
vided for in preference to those abe
to pay their way in private hospitals,
and he further says that it was alleg-
ed that if this rule was rigidly carried
out enough patients able to care for
themselves would be removed 70
make room for all the INDECENT o ri
county jails and homes.
That statement VIZ repeatedly made
in some of the state papers last year
and the asylum authorities were as
sailed because they did not carry Out
the law. They were held responsible
for the fact that there were several
hundred insane white persons confined
in the jails and poorhouses of the va
was told by these papers that this
"disgraceful state of affairs" could be
remedied if the asylum authorities
would do their duty. These papers were
either acting through malice or were
making these serious charges without
any knowledge of the true state of af-
fairs.
What does the governor ind TO be
the facts in regard to this charge? At
ter the most thorough investigation by
the governor and members of the state
board of internal improvements it is
found that there are only two patients
in the asylum in Raleigh and two in
the one at Morganton, who are able to
pay for treatment in a private asylum.
All the others in these two institutions
come under the head of indigents.
Thus falls to the ground the effort
of certain papers to make capital out
of an attempt to array n class Of
u citizens against another through
pretended championship of the rights
Of those O unfortunates whose
friends have not been able to secure
admission for them into the state asy-
lums. 1t was an attempt to play upon
the feelings of the friends and relatives
of these poor unf%ortunates and to
cause them to believe that such were
kept in county jails and poor houses
in order to make room in the we'll
equipped and comfortable state hospi-
tails for the afflicted friends and rela-
tives of the richer citizens of the
state.
In having these charges thoroughly
investigated the governor has done a
splendid work. 1t involved a great
deal of labor and painstaking investi-
cation. The whole slste owes a vote
of thanks to the governor for what
he has done in this matter. for he real
ly has taken a blot. off the state which
was put on her and on those who have
the charge and care of her insane by
the charges brought of favoritism be-
ing shown the insane of the wealthy
families. Of the men against whom
this charge was made Governor Glenn
says in his report:
When we remember hat the direc-
tors of these hospitals, whose duty
I: + g. 80 ~ .~:1@& ~o{to1<c on6 |
to manage all affairs, receive no pay
for their services, but only actual ex-
penses, nj yet have SO faithfully and
carefully observed tho law, that out of
1,643 patients IN these ir*titutiOEs
during 1905, only four were not midi
gent, as defined by the supreme court. !
n that even these were admitted
ago., wnan the hospitals were
not full, and taking than was strictly
lawful, it shows an amount oi care
and investigation that is simply oil
derful, n entities the directors to
the commentator, ana not the cen
of every fair minded citizen, for
their work has iIaen che Of the high
est patriotism n state pride.
The following paragraphs in the gov
report should satisfy every one
that the directors Of these two asylums
have done their duty and that there
has been no discrimination in favor of
the rich and against the poor:
If we will remember thu during |
1905, 1,643 patients were treated and
of this number only four could pay for
admission elsewhere, and forty-five
others partially pay for treatment,
leaving 1884 absolutely INDECENT, it
shows how unjust and unkind has
been the charge that those who were
rich or influential, or had a pull. were
taken in preference to those who were
poor n friendless.
During this investigation, I ascer-
tanned hat there are now in the state
from 600 to 1000 men and women,
who should be cared for in the hospi-
tails, and al the proper time. in no un-
certain words / will urge the legisia-
tur to make ample provisions FOR all
this unfortunate class, for we need not
expect God to bless our state, if we
negleof His holnlnSS insane,