The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1909-12-29
WILL SOON REPORT
ON ASYLUM PROBE
Senator Christensen Talks of Inyesti.
CATION Recently Heid-Shock-
ing Conditions.

ing IOnultlOnS.
Senator Neils Christensen, Jr., of
Beaufort, chairman of the joint legis-
lative committee appointed to investi-
gate conditions in the State hospital
for the insane at Columbia was in
Charleston today and was asked by
reporter for The Evening Post CON
cerning the progress made by his
committee in the investigation. Senat-
or Christensen said that the investi-
cation had been concluded and that
the committee is now formulating
report for submission to the General
Assembly which convenes on the elev-
enth of next month.
THE testimony taken before the
committee" said Senator Christensen,
lis being printed and will be available
in few days. Any member of the
legislature and any newspaper inter
ested may have copy by sending
request to member of the committee.
The most important matter to be con-
sidered at the coming session of the
Legislature is the report of their com
mittee that has investigated the State
hospital for the insane. Unfortunate-
ly, the report will not be ready for two
or three weeks. 1t will contain sew
eral special reports by experts which
are not yet ready. These together with
facts gathered by the committee from
personal examination Of physical con-
dition and records here and elsewhere
are perhaps more important than the
testimony of witnesses referred to. But
it would be advisable for legislators
and the people generally to acquaint
themselves with their testimony which
throws flood of light on the deplor-
able conditions that are general
throughout our state hospital for the
insane.
1T is going to take several hundred
thousand dollars to put this institu-
tion in reasonably good condition. Es-
Inmates have not been made yet but
the total necessary is not likely to be
under 100000. That is minimum
There can be no doubt that if the
facts become known this or a larger
sum, if it be found necessary, will be
voted. But there is danger that the
facts will not become thoroughly un-
del stood in time for the people to
Up to this time the facts have been
minimized by certain news agencies
and in only few instances have the
newspapers given anything like a full
and accurate account of the testimony
So. / want to suggest to the press gen
orally that they get the testimony and
read it for themselves
while it would be very unfortunate
to allow such an investigation as this
to become an attack on individuals
there will also be a lamentable out
come if a desire to shield individuals
should result in covering up condi-
tionS. We are here dealing with mat
ters of life and death. There is no
institution is abnormally high and the
recovery rate abnormally low. owing
to the shocking sanitary conditions,
poor equipment. lack of proper treat
ment and lax methods throughout ali
branches of the institution that are
depiorable. 1t is painful to make these
general criticisms, for there are many
faithful workers at this hospital strug-
Cling with conditions that only their
superiors can remedy and they are as
anxious as any to see them remedied
The report will make these details
clear
Meanwhile every family in this
state that is peculiarly interested in
the hospital should demand that all
the 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 it if they are
given the facts"