The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-04-30
STATE HOSPITAL
INVESTIGATED
FIRST PUBLIC SESSION OF COM
MITTEE HELD.
Many Changes Regarded as Necessary
Another Meeting is to be Held
Thursday.
The State, 29th.

The State, 29th.
The legislative committee appoint,
ed to investigate affairs at the State
Hospital for the Insane held its first
public session yesterday. The meet
ing did not last very long, most Of the
time being taken up with a forma.
statement by DR.. J. W. Babcock, the
superintendent Of the institution, who
on behalf of the board of regents, set
fort, exactly why this investigation
was asked for and gave some interest
ing facts on improvements absolutely
necessary, in the opinion Of the board
but not yet provided for by the gen.
eral assembly. DR.. Babcock and some
of the members of the board of trus-
tees stressed the necessity for the full
lest examination by the committee in
order that the public might know
what is needed.
There was full attendance Of the
legislative committee, consisting of
Senator Christensen, the chairman;
Sell. .ors Hardin and Bates and Rep
rensentatives Dick, secretary; ". c.
Harrison, Sawyer and Carey. All Of
the members of the board Of regents
were present.
The meeting was held in the main
building Of the State Hospital for the
Insane and was called to order at lO
O'Clock. Senator Christensen then
stated the object Of the session, and
DR.. Babcock outlined the various rec
concentrations of the board, which are
given below. DR.: ". ". Ray, for the
board Of directors, explained that the
board had for several years asked for
some of the improvements mentioned
in the report Of DR.. Babcock. These
improvements had never been given.
He thought the committee would now
see the necessity for these changes.
Another Meeting Today.
After a short executive session the
committee announced that the meet
ing would be Eadjourned until 10
O'Clock today. In the meantime a
special subcommittee will furnish the
board of regents and DR.. Babcock with
copies Of charges that have been pre-
Gerred against the management of the
institution. The subcommittee con-
sists of Messrs. Carey and Bates. AS
stated by Chairman Christensen, the
investigation is along two lines-one
being the plans for necessary changes
outlined by the board Of regents and
DR.. Babcock and the other on the
charges against the institution.
Statement of Board.
The statement made by the board
through DIR. Babcock yesterday out
lined the following changes that are
considered absolutely necessary:
Il. That it has become the policy
of the State to maintain in Columbia
a large central colony for the insane
of both races.
~. That State care is a better
system than was afforded by the old
method Of county support.
"3. That the separate or cottage
plan of buildings or wards is better
suited in our climate to the needs OF
the insane than are large eonglomer-
ate buildings.
Several Glasses.
~. That the separation from the
insane (properly speaHng) Of such
classes as the inebriates, idiots, cpl
leptics, etc., who are now associated
with them would prove advantageous
to all.
rs. That the improvement OF the
county aims houses by having hospl-
tai wards, etc., would relieve this m
stitution from receiving so many help
less dotards.
"6. The establishment of farm
colony for epjleptics, a school for the
Predetermined and a hospital for IN
ebriates should form part Of the fu-
ture policy Of the State
"7. That the erection Of separate
wards for the violent insane is de-
sirable. .
"S. That the establishment OF a
farm colony for the chronic insane
is an important problem for future
consideration.
tuberculosis.
80. The means for separating the
tuberculosis from the non-tuberculosls