The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-01-26
REFORM NEEDED
The State Asylum for The Insane is n
Bad Condition.
SHOULD Be REMODELEO

SnOULD BE kEMUDELED
Many Improvements Urged, and the
Sanity Arrangements Said to be
Deplorakle and the Institution
| Very Much Overcrowded-A Ma
jority and Minority Report Filed.
Last year the General Assembly
appointed special commission 70 in
| yestigate the conditions at the State
| Hospital for the Insane. On this
commission were appointed Senator's
Christensen. Hardin and Bates. and
Representative Carey. Harrison.
Sawyer and Dick. The committee
has been di!iseat in It's work ana e
search. Days were spent in taking
testimony and studies were made OF
other hospitals FOR insane. Much OF
:Ae results o: this inquiry is placed
before the people in the reports re-
leased few days ago.
The committee is entirely at va
rance in the most essential feature.
what should be done TO further al
leviate conditions? There are two
reports. one signed By Senator'S
Christensen and Bates and Repre-
sentatiyes Harrison and Dick The
other report IS signed by Senate.
Hardin and Representatives Sawyer
and J. P. Carey. The reports are
so entirely a, variance n point and
suggestion that there is but one way
70 g.: the varying views. and that IS
by reading both reports. which are
very long and volumous-
Without placing the blame on any
particular person. the majority re-
port states that the eviedace shows:
That fifteen patients Of one ward
were ba:hed IN the same water in
bath tub.
That the toulest water closet. CEN
tre .. wide soil pollution. without
screens is located within few ees'
OF an outdoor kitchen.
That the bodies of dead patients
are buried one on top Of another
in the same lot. with as little con-
s!dera,ion as II they were so many
dogs.
That cholera hogs and the dead
are KEEP. in the same lot.
That the wards. eve2 OF the white
women. are orerrun with vermin and
the patients are allowed to 80 ua-
kempt and ragged.
The report also states that some
OF the attendants are reported Il
l.iera:e and brutal. many cases Of
brutality being reported and that
the food served the patients is badly
prepared by persons who never
learned to cook and IS served ia
dirty. greasy tin dishes. Govern
ment reports are quoted to show that
in the South Carolina Hospital thu
death rate Is the highest IA the
United States. 21.54 per cent. as
compared with general average OF
Il per cent
II IS estimated that it will re-
cuire s35o.o00 to put the plant IN
proper shape. and 1t is suggested the
present plaat be sold. the land be
ing worth 100000. and two plants.
to cost S5O0.000 each. be erected 5y
the State elsewhere.
The minority report. submitted
by three members Of the commiS-
sion, disagree with the main Sea'
lures of the majority report. Il
holds that the lack Of funds 10 put
the Institution on modern basis.
due TO the States heavy indebted
ness. is the princ!pa! source OF
trouble. Il states that the patients.
as rule. are we'll cared for. tha:
the food served IS Of good quality
and well cooked. and thai the man
agemen; Of the States farm is sEs-
te1atic and efficient
The minority report states that It
IS Unnecessary 10 create S-ea: debt
for the S;a,e in the purchase Of new
sites. aad ,ha; the expenditure OF
about $4,000 annually toT severa!
wears will meet the requirements OF
tie situation.
They say that the superintendent;
is overworked-doing the work os
three men.
Or Decembe: u last there were
in the institution 1888 inmates
SEQ whie women. so white men.
s2l negro women. 32o negro men.
The board OF regents is composed
OF Messvs. ". J. Gooding. Hampton:
]. Perry Glenn. Anderson: ". ".
RAY. Congaree: J. r. Taylor. Colum-
bia. There are nc better men IN
the Stat: than these. For heir
work these regents receive per
..iern OF aot more than $3.50 q year.
and mileage when they attend meet
iasz. The superintendent. who =
axo the chief physician. receives
s2.0n0 4 year and residence on
the grounds.
Both reports speak we'll Of tbs
carm. The reports together with
n. mass Of testimony have been
published in book :orm-thc reports
and evidence make about j thousand