Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-27
MILLEDGEVILLE MEN CHARGE
SCANDAL is DUE POLITICS


BY j. C. MAULIFFE.
q. C. McAuliffe. by whom the following de-
fense Of the Georgia State sanitarium Is Wit
ten. is editor of the Milledgeville News; was
former city editor of the Augusta Herald, and
lie one of the best known newspaper men Oh tns
stated
Is there a determined effort on the
part of a set OF politicians to place the
Georgia State Sanitarium at Milledgeville
under the ban of political domination!
That is a question which is commanding
the attention of prominent men of Mill
ledgeville, who realize that such method
of administration will prove determentaI
TO the greatest charitable institution In
the south. The wild stories that have been
circulated concerning the management OF
the institution during the past six months
have aroused great anxiety and interest
through the state and from the reports
4 seems that political capital will be
made in the end The board OF trustees
who are charged with the responsibility
of seeing that the affairs OF the institu-
ton are conducted In a proper manner
meet once month and go over the situa-
ton in detail. These men are appointed oV
the governor and it is only necessary that
one man serving on the old board be re
tanned by the new administration. Al
present the board is composed Of the fol-
lowing gentlemen:
Judge Thomas G. Lawson, OF Eaton
president; J. 7. Brantley, of Blackshear,
vice president: Richard Johnston, OF
Clinton, secretary; DR.. T. H. Hall, of
Milled eevilie: Kyle T. Alfriend, of Macon
Isaac Hsrdeman, of Macon: DR.. z. B.
Block. OF Atlanta: DR.. Harris. of Pavo;
DR.. Thomas Wright, of Augusta, and Mr.
McCurry, of Fairburn. Just whether an
entirely new board will be created witr
the exception of the one old member, who
must be kept. remains to be seen. Keen
interest is conferred in this outcome, for
IL a political board Is appointed II may
mean a new deal from top to bottom,
as one of the radical daily papers OF the
state demanded recently.
THE STORY OF BELL.
The public Is familiar with the inves-
tigation of the asylum which was insti-
gated by George H. Bell former inmate,
who committed suicide 80 days after he
was liberated by the courts. His agita-
ton was kept up by r. E. Huntington.
OF Richmond county, patient out on fur
Tough, and as a result special investiga-
ting committee was appointed. The report
OF the committee was placed In the hands
of Gov. Joseph NJ. Brown. within few
days after the legislature met, but 1t was
never submitted to that body until within
few days of adjournment. 1t created
quite a stir, of course, and resulted In
socalled commission to probe deep down
into the affairs of the institution.
The report of the regular committee ap-
pointed by the legislature to look into the
santarium as usual every year has not
been made, so far AS can be ascertained
by the authorities and another feature
that is puzzling is that of the minority
report of the investigating committee In
which Judge Jenkins dissented from the
report of Westmoreland and Grantland
Judge Jenkins did not agree with the ma
jority report in many points, but this was
not given out at the time, and in part he
said:
IT feel after a somewhat thorough In
spection of the buildings and grounds Of
the sanitarium. and Of what pertains
thereto, and after a careful examination
by the commission into the management
of the institution, that it is due to the
trustees, to- the medical staff, and to
many of the employees. to say, that in my
judgment, the management is excellent,
and that the institution as a whole, all
things considered, is one of which the
people of this state may we'll feel proud.
II the institution is not 'up-to-date' in all
respects. 1t should be borne in mind that
its physical plans were devised In the
main many years ago, and that there Is
only one institution of like character in
the United States operated so cheaply.
The expense per capita of the inmates of
II like institutions in the United States.
averages about 80 per centum higher
Doubtless just criticism can be made OF
minor details. In practically all essen
tials, however, there is no just grounds
for complaint The trustees are able,
faithful and dlligent. The same may be
said of the medical staff The matron,
from every source, we found most highly