The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-16
ASYLUM QUESTION DEBATED.
THE HOUSE CONSIDERED THE
BOND ISSUE BILL.
Alter Passing the Appropriation Bill
Yesterday the Measure Proposing
An Election OH the Question OF Is
suing Bonds for One Million DOL
lars to Erect Two New Asylums is
Taken Up for Discussion.

Ing or submitting to the voters the
matter Of issuing million dollars
worth Of bonds for the erection of
TWO new Hospitals for the Insane. At
the time Of taking the dinner recess
no vote had been taken and there had
been no legislative expression.
The bond issue proposition is q
component part of the recommends
tions made by the majority Of the in
vestigating committee, while the min
ority of the committee is entirely
against bond issue and argue that
such a debt is both unnecessary and
unbusinesslike.
Some Of the best speeches of the
session were made today on the uues-
ton Of bond issue. The minority
side was presented during the morn
ing by Mr.. j. p. Carey, of Pickens.
Mr.. Harrison, who Is deeply in earn
est and most serious in the matter.
opened the argument for the bond is
sue, and later on was followed by DIR.
Dick, also Of the majority of the COM
mittee. Both Mr.. Harrison and DR.,
Dick made clear-cut and good pre-
sentations Of the advisability of the
State issuing the bonds and of letting
the voters have a chance to decide
what shall be done.
Dr. Dick, Of the majority of the
committee. also insisted that this was
no personal matter. He asked first
nave the members read the Testimony
and second, have the reports been
read. DR.. Dick said he wished merely
10 make business statement. He
visited many similar institutions, and
when he returned here was ashamed
or what this State was doing for its
insane. One trouble he found was
that the asylum here had no ground
Tor exercise and work. The average
seems to be an acre per patient. and
even II the negroes be removed from
Columbia there would still not be
enough room for work and exercise
mot an acre per patient. The ma
Jority report simply states facts as
tney were found. Dr. LICK said the
centre building can never be adapted
10 this climate and conditions here.
Ihis state had the finest herd of cat
tie he saw at any institution. The
IDEA OF the minority is to fix up the
present buildings for whites. The
proposition was to put whites in
buildings unfit for negroes. The bond
Issue does not mean debt for the
State. Every fnancier in Columbia
says the present land, II sold in fif-
teen years and invested would can
Gel the debt. He was unalterably on
posed to moving the white asylum
from the neighborhood Of Columbia.
All that he asked was to give the
people chance to vote. 1t does not
mean debt; but 1t means changing the
present plant into money with which
'o puliu TWO new plants.
Many other addresses were made
upon the subject-Mr. Cosgroye and
Mr.. McMahan favoring the proposed
bond issue. In the midst Of Mr.. Nc
Mahan's argument the house ad-
Journed for dinner and he resumed
his argument at the night session.
Mr.. McMahan resuming his argu-
ment In favor of the bond issue for
the building of a new ASYLUM. said.
This bond issue is justifiable and
proper he argued. "It is urged as
If your vote will put the bond issue
on the people. The sole purpose is
TO let the electors themselves decide
Tor themselves" He was only con-
cerned, he said, in the matter of the
pond issue. The plan is to have the
present land sold in business like
way, and to fix an upset price.
1t would be safe to figure on half q
million dollars for the land. All ad-
NIT that 1t is best to give patients
something to do. Employment is the
best thing to do, but there Is no room
for such exercise.
Mr.. M. L. Smith, of Kershaw, wish
ed to extend congratulations to Mr..
Harrison for the manner of his pre-
sentation. There is something high
and noble in this question:" he said.
There is no man who is not deeply
touched by such n question. There
are two reports and I hope that they
VIII be studied" He made q long
argument opposing the bond issue.
Mr.. Cothran, of Creenville, said it
was matter of great regret that
there was division in the commit
tee In its report. He had heard the
arguments This question cannot be