The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-12-28
CHANGES URGENT
AT STATE ASYLUM SAYS sENA.
TOR CHRISTENSEN.
Conditions just Now Are Shocking,
n and Large Sum is Needed for
: BetteFInentS.

Senator. Neils Christensen, Jr., of
Beaufort. chairman Of the joint leg
islative committee appointed 10 n
vestigate conditions in the State
hospital for the insane at Columbia,
was in. Charleston few days ago
and was asked by reporter for The
Evening Post concerning the pro-
gress made by his committee In the
investigation. Senator Christensen
said that the investigation had ueen
concluded and that the committee
Ia now formulating q report for sub
mission to the general assembly
which convenes on the eleventh of
next month.
"The testimony taken before the
committee" said Senator Christen-
sen, lis being printed and will be
available In few days. Any mem
Der Of fthesiegislature and any news
paper interested may have copy
by sending a request to a member OF
the committee. The most important
matter to be considered at the COM
ing session Of the legislature is the
report Of their committee that has
investigated the State hospital for
the insane. Unfortunately. the re-
port will not be ready for two or
three weeks. 1t will contain several
special reports by experts which are
not yet prepared. These together
with facts gathered by the commit
tee from personal examination OF
physical condition and records here
and elsewhere are perhaps more I'M
portant than the testimony OF wit
nesses referred to. But it would be
advisable for Legislators and the peo-
pie generally to acQuaint themselves
with their testimony which throws
food Of light on the deplorable
conditions that are general through
out our State hospital for the In
sane. - -.
ut is going to take several hum
dred thousand dollars to put this In
stitution in reasonably good con-
dition. Estimates have not been
made yet, but the total necessary
Is not likely to be under S6o0,09o.
That Is minimum. There can be
no doubt that If the facts become
known this or. larger sum, II 1t be
found necessary. will be voted. But
there is danger. that the facts Will
not become thoroughly understood
in time, for the, people to make their
wishes, felt, at this. session. UP to
this time the facts have been mini
mized by certain, news agencies and
In only few instances have the
newspapers given anything like o
full and accurate account OF the
testimony. SO. want to suggest
to the press generally that they get
the testimony and read 1t for them
selves.
while it would. he very unfortu.
nate to allow suchyan investigation
as5 this to become an attack on in
dividuals, there will also be a la
mentable outcome If desire to
shield individuals should result IN
covering up conditions. We are
here dealing with matters OF life
and death. There Is no question
that the death rate at this institn-
ton Is abnormally high and the re-
covery rate abnormally low, owing
to shocking unsanitary conditions,
poor equipment q lack Of proper
treatment and lax methods through
out all branches Of the institution
that are deplorable. 1t Is painful
to make these general criticisms,
for there are many faithful workers
ct this hospital struggling with con-
ditions that only their superiors can
remedy and they are as anxious aa
any to see them remedied. The re-
port will make these details clear.
Meanwhile every family in this
State that Is peculiarly interested IN
the hospital should demand that all
tho facts be known and proper means
taken to remedy the evils. None of
US can afford to ignore the needs of
these unfortunates, whose condition
Is now a disgrace to our State. We
have the opportunity to step into the
first rank in our care Of the insane,
and the people are sure to take 1t