The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-19
ASYLUM FIGHT CONTINUED,
SENATE SPENT WHOLE DAY ON
THE NATTER.
senator Williams Denounced Gag Law
Tactics of the Senator From Marl-
= boro.-Warm Colloquy Last Night.

l ~-AS oSoSC, = GU.
The discussion of the asylum bill
offered by the minority Of the COM
mittee appointed by the general as
| sembly to investigate conditions at
the State Hospital for the Insane, was
continued in the senate yesterday
morning. When the senate adjourned
last night the resolution asking for
the resignation Of the superintendent
and the board of regents of the insti-
tuition was yet the topic under dis
cussion, and very little else had been
done.
Five speeches were made yesterday,
and the arguments not yet concluded.
senator Bates opposing the passage
of the bill, told of what he saw as
member Of the investigating commit
tee. The senator from Barnwell spoke
for an hour in discussing the testi-
mony and the personal observations
OF the committee at the insane asy-
lum and denounced the management.
Senator Weston defended DR.. Bah
cock, the superintendent and the ad-
ministration. Commencing his argu-
ment before the recess for noon, the
senator from Richland resumed last
| night and urged the senate to exon
crate DR.. Babcock and the board OF
regents of the charges brought
against them. Before Senator Weston
finished his speech the question had
been changed from that of passing
the minority bill to that of passing
the resolution from the judiciary COM
mittee.
Senator Hardin, one of the COM
mittee to investigate the asylum and
| one who signed the minority report
and introduced the bill in the senate
that was until last night the subject
under discussion opposed action dero-
gatoray to the gentlemen in charge
of the asylum. The senator from
Chester said that DR.. Babcock is one
of the great men of South Carolina
and time will see a monument erected
| commemorating his goodness.
Senator Sinkler urged the passage
Of the resolution requesting the resig-
nations. Mr.. Sinkler said that with
reluctance he was forced to criticisize
the actions Of those in charge of the
asylum for the insane of South Caro-
lima. Senator Graydon concluded the
argument for the night, with another
speech denouncing the conduct of the
insane asylum. Mr.. Graydon read
from the report Of the board of health
and said that this in itself exposed the
hospital authorities.
When the bills from the house were
disposed of last night, Senator Wes-
ton who was speaking when the SEN
ate adjourned in the afternoon, called
for the bill he was discussing this bill
being special order. Senator Rogers
moved to take up the resolution from
the judiciary committee. After oppo-
sition this was done, and Senator Rog-
ers then moved to lay the resolution
on the table. This caused a heated
discussion to arise. Senator Graydon
demurred, saying that resolution had
not been discussed at all. Senator
Christensen said that he must protest,
and that this was unprecedented, and
he never saw debate cut off by sem
ator making a motion to table in this
way.
Senator Williams in a vigorous, al
though brief speech urged the senate
to vote down the motion to table. "Do
you wish to gag us?" said the senator
from Lancaster, addressing the sena-
tor from Marlboro. Mr.. Williams in
sisted that the other senator would
have to withdraw the motion so that
the resolution could be discussed. Sem
ator Williams continued that he
would appeal to the senate not to al
low "gag law" in the senate OF
South Carolina. The speaker said
while he was not physically able to
make speech on the resolution al
though he had intended doing so,
other senator's intended to speak. Sem
ator Williams was interrupted by the
senator from Marlboro who said he
q no nf
why he made the motion to table.
Senator Williams said he would yield
TO the senator if he intended to with
draw the motion, accompanied by an
explanation. Just here the two sem
| ators indulged in few remarks that
injected life into proceedings that
have been exciting all the way
through. The senator from Lancas-