The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-19

Tally dDOnSned.
Question by Senator Sullivan:
with the present buildings could
that be otherwise"
Senator CIR. ..ydon: THAT has moth
ing to do with it,"
Senator Graydon, upon question bv
Senator Rogers stated that he did not
mean to say that over-crowded con
ditiOns had not been reported before
but that was all that had been
brought to the attention OF the gen
eral assembly.
Senator Rogers read from the re-
ports of 1907, which showed a legis-
lative committee had stated that the
asylum should be enlarged to meet
the growing needs; that the medical
faculty was too small. Senator Rog
ers pointed out that DR.. Pabcock
should not be expected to do the
work Of five or six people, as explain
ed by that committee in 1907, and it
was even stated that few thousand
dollars could not be better expended
than to provide more medical atten-
dants.
Senator Graydon, continuing, reit-
Grated that conditions had been point
ed out by the legislative committee
of 1909 such as were never before
called to the attention of the general
assembly.
He pointed out DR.. Babcock's state
ment that physical restraint would
continue to be used at the hospital.
I'm ew Of the testimony" said Mr..
Graydon, "he is not a suitable man
to be at the head of the asylum"
DR.. Babcock had called to the at
tention Of the committee the fact that
the hospital is a dumping ground for
a crowd Of inebriates and feeble
minded persons. On that occasion
DR.. Babcock had said: 1--WE are doing
the best we can for them," and had
said that they would receive them
| until they crowded upon each other.
This statement Senator Graydon re-
viewed and interpreted against DR..
Babcock, while later Senator Rogers
took the same statement and showed
that it was out of the kindness of his
heart that DR.. Babcock tried to do
the best he could with them"
Portions of the testimony as to
choking of patients by attendant.
whipping of patients with straps. etc.,
We're read by Mr.. Craydon, and he
said the hospital was "dirtier than a
we'll regulated hog pen should be-
that the hospital was run without the
chart system to keep up with pa
| tents condition; that the hospital
was unclean; that it hadn't been
| secured for twenty-eight years; that
patients were buried in "hog lot" are
few of the charges.
"The bones lie bleaching in the
SUM- said Mr.. Graydon. Many other
| matters were read from the report.
and the testimony, including a state
ment that the board had not been
| through the buildings on inspection
in years except one member.
Senator Graydon referred for the
| first time to IAN insinua ton being
whispered around" that members of
the majority had had improper in
| fuences brought to bear on them,
that there were whisperings Of graft,
but Notwithstanding all these insin-
uations," said Mr.. Graydon, "the man.
agement should not be continued one
| instant longer"
| The flashlight pictures in the COM
mittee's report were held up before
the senate, the water cure was dealt
with, the alleged uncleanly condition
of beds and patients and other mat
ters in this asylum investigation, were
referred to by the senator in charac-
terising the asylum as a place that
exposes to disease, and furnishes men
as food for lice and bugs.
| After having spoken for an hour
and half Senator Graydon stated
that he had no malice in his heart
and hoped his message would reach
the borders of the State.
Senator Rogers stated that he was
! amazed at what he had heard dis
| cuSSed under a simple bill to nrovida
for the purchase of land for the asy-
| lum.
The majority had been whipped
out on the house side, declared Mr..
Rogers and now had come on the
senate side and were trying to oust
officials against whom their report
| contained no recommendations for
! dismissal"