The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-27
THE ASYLUM INVESTIGATION.
BILL INTRODUCED pROyIDrNC
FOR LEGISLATIVE COMMITS
SIGN.
ihis Action Was Taken i'm RESPONSE
TO Request Of DR.. j. w. Babcock.
superintendent OF the Institution
VINO Suggests Several Improve
ments That Should BE Madc-Pe-
titiOn Making Charges Against
Management Withdrawn.

'iOuuceu III DOtn branches of the leg
islature today calling for a legisla.
tive commission of three senator's and
four members of the house to inves.i.
gate the affairs of the State Hospita]
for the Insane and report its findings
with recommendations to the mex,
session of the legislature. The bill
gives the committee all the powers OF
court, providing for, marshal and
stenographers, and powers to send
for persons and papers and full au-
thority to rule for contempt. It not
only authorizes secret sessions but re-
quires all who may attend the meet
ings as witnesses, defendants, attor.
neys or otherwise not to divulge
any part of the proceedings or testi-
mony under pain Of being ruled for
contempt. The bill carries an oppro-
priation of $4,000 to defray expen-
ses, members being allowed Der
diem of S. and mileage of five cents
mile travelled and witness being
allowed SO day and the same mile
age.
This bill is predicated upon a Ie
ter, to the general assembly from Y
j. Gooding, chairman Of the board o.
regents and DR.. j. w. Babcock. SUI
perintendent of the institution, who
has been in charge over ten years and
wLo achieved some national reputa-
tion last summer on account OF his in
vestigation in Europe while abroad
with Senator Tillman into pellagra
and Its insanity producing effects In
their letter Chairman Gooding and
DIR. Babcock say:
"The board of regents and the SUI
perintendent of the State Hospital
FOR the Insane respectfully urge the
attention Of your honorable body TO
the inadequacy Of the present pro-
vision for and accommodated Of the
hospital, and the desirability Of max
ing certain changes affecting it's well
fare and management. Among these
changes are the regulation of the
handling Of cases of chronic ine-
briates and alleged insane criminal
as to which some misunderstandin
has arisen as to the scope and proper
conduct of the work of the institu
tion, the better classification of pa
tients and the development Ola farm
colony in the country, beside i'm
provements in other conditions now
unsatisfactory.
'We accordingly request that a
special committee be appointed to in
vestigate and report upon the condi-
tion and affairs of the hospital and its
management in order that your hon.
orable body may be fully informed
with reference thereto"
The petition which had been pre-
pared embracing serious and sensa-
tional charges Of brutality and neg
lectful and cruel treatment on the
part Of alleged ignorant and made
quately paid attendants and keepers,
and accompanied by some fifty affi-
davits in support of these charges, has
been withdrawn for the present. 1t
is possible, however, that this may be
read on the floors of both houses if
the provision for the investigation is
not to the liking Of those who have
been urging the investigation. In any
event 1t seems certain that very pain
full revelations will be made which
may reflect more on preceding legis-
latures In failure to make proper pro-
vision than upon the management Of
the institution. But how much will
be allowed to reach the public as to
the true conditions at the hospital
can only be guessed at.
The following is copy Of the bill
providing for the investigation:
Sec. 1. That joint committee
consisting Of three members Of tile
senate and four members of the house
of representatives be appointed by the
presiding officers of the respective
houses to investigate the affairs of
the State Hospital for the Insane, and
that such committee make a repor;
and such recommendations as they
may deem proper to the general as
sembly at the next session thereof:
Provided, That the committee shall
Keep correct record of it's acts and
deliberations and the testimony taken
Lefore ii.
Sec. z. That the said cormittee
shall have full power and authority
:" investigate the past and present