The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-21
GOVERNOR TO MAKE
INSPECTION TOUR.
fiWi1l Visit State Hospitals and
Look Into Conditions for
Himself.
BETTER CARE or INSANE
State Has Necessary Funds, and
Should Use Them, He De-
clarcs-College Reports.

That Governor Swanson is giving
close attention to the question of the
care of the insane of the state is evil
dent from the active interest he is
displaying in the conduct of the va
rious hospitals. and from the fact that
he is preparing at this time to visit
every one of them personally. with q
view TO making such recommendations
TO the Legislature as may appear
necessary for their Improvement.
@ The Governor will not only visit the
hospitals and other public institutions
to ascertain their real condition. but
hereafter he will require that every
educational institution which receives
State aid shall report through its chief
officer to him as often as four times a
year.
What Governor Says.
.You may say for me-" declared the
Governor. in discussing the matter
with a representative of The Times
Dispatch last night that look upon
the care of the insane of the state as
q most important feature of our Cow
eminent, and that 1t is my purpose to
get into the closest possible touch with
conditions at the various hospitals: to
see how the money annually appropr
ated is being spent and to inform the
Legislature officially what. If any, re-
forms should be instituted.
IT deem it of importance. too" he
went on, ito find out conditions at the
various colleges and educational in
stitutions receiving State aid. and l
shall personally visit these as we'll.
and require their chief officials to re-
port to me as ofte mas four times a
year.
II have contemplated taking this
matter up for some time, and now that
most of the state days are over at the
Jamestown Exposition, l will have an
opportunity to mako these visits
The Governor will probably start out
within the next week or ten days.
He will look infinitely into every detail
of the work, and will use the informa-
tion thus gained for what it may be
worth in preparing this feature of his
message to the next session of the
Legislature. The Governor is graft
lied with the reports that are made to
him from time to time concerning the
conduct OF the hospitals. and he thinks
they are being we'll managed: but he
wishes to see for himself. so that he
ran intelligently communicate with the
Ecneral Assembly on the subject. He
knows that at several of the State
hospitals crowded conditions prevail,
Ind that 1t is often necessary for ap
plicants to be. kept at home or in jails
pending a vacancy made by death or
discharge. This condition he will ask
.he Legislature to remedy.
state Has the Money.
In making his rounds the Governor
will probably start out with the Cen
trail State Hospital. at Petersburg, and
go from there to the State Female
Normal School at Farmville.
II am going to take plenty of time"
said the Governor. 'and do this work
thoroughly, for I regard it of the
highest Importance to the people of
the State.
I'VE have the money necessary for
the proposed care of these unfort,-
nate people, and it is our duty to see
that they are not neglected but that
they are made comfortable. and that
their burdens are kept as light as
possible
This move on the part of Governor
Swanson is regarded as very inter
esting and important one, especially
at this time. in view of the agitation
by the press of the question of the
care of insane persOns