The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-11
Republican I4aunche Ii
rade Against Health
Commissioner.
WILLIAMS READY
WITH FULL REPLY
Senate Thrown Into Uproar BY
Charge Of Misappro opriation and
Misuse Of State Funds in
Purchase and Equipment
Of Catawba Sana-
torium.

Startling the Senate with the light
ning-like unexpectedness OF his state
ment, charges OF misappltcatton and
nlsappropriatton OF public funds were
preferred against State Health Con1-
missioner Ennion &. Williams last
night by Senator Noel. 1t was while
the upper branch was considering the
clause OF the general appropriation bill.
setting apart $4,000 to the State
Board OF Health. and a like gum for
building and improvements at the Ca
tawba Sanatorium, that this unlocked
FOR indictment came.
II rise to question OF personal
privilege" said Senator Noel. when the
clause mentioned was reached. Some
weeks ago. an editorial appeared in
the Roanoke Times. which classed me
almost as: murderer, declaring that
| i wanted to see people and children
die without any aid being extended
to them by the State. This was.
imagine in connection with my SUP
/ posed stand on some Of the public
4 heath questions. though could flndA
nothing upon Investigation that Justt-
4 fled such charge being made against
me.
Going deeper in the matter. found
4 out that the Roanoke Times Is edtteus
by relative Of the State Comnis sioner
OF Health, DR.. Williams
4 charges Misrepresentation. shss.ass
4 "r began to investigate the actions
az the state Public Health Commits
4 sioner. and I charge that hcs has great
ls1v rmfsappropriated. misapplied ant
: m,sused the public money appropria
q Ito the uses of his department
!. charge that in buying the site for tn
.l,,,.. F,,y1 <SyI
and unwarrantcd price was paid. IN
tstst.e is Eross1 " llns,iita Bile FOR q sana
n .torium. It is almost itiacc es slblei q
Z 81 a hollow, and is a place VIII ere #s nc
consumptive ought to be a flowed 70 to
go. !, IS. .SSs ~, /,
senator Noel then referred to . tne =
r. report made last year by Dr. RopeIl
z Il. Williams, the first superfnte !.
IS of the sanatorium. FIe left 1t. de clared
s, the Senator. and said that the place
t-E.onld never be a sanatorium IN the
= truc name and sense z,
: son May S, 1909. DR.. Rob VIII
= lliams resigned. Though he served bu,
= two months. DR.. Williams was giyer
Il $3.50 by the Board OF Health, the
7 equivalent OF SIX months salary, =
: addition to mileage and other sIeS
: penses. This. he charged. was TO
q no possible reason.
r Location "HoPcless.'' .. ..
4 Senator Keezell confessed that tn
: charges were new to him. He ha
: heard no criticism: on the contrary
:, he had thought that the establishmer
q OF the sanatorium was a long strid
!, toward most profitable object les
It son. He stated that he had seen
g petition from the inmates speaki11
highly Of the management OF the sans
toriur1 Still. he explained. It lniEl
be that he had heard only one sid
OF the matter. .f&
r. Quoting from the report OF DrasRot
ertg Williams that the site was ri hope
IS less" and that the patients would b
= practically confined to a narrowssr sra
- vine, Senator Noel proceed ed to sui
or stantiate his allegations with great Dc
IN termination In view Of the latenes
8. of the hour, he consented that I'll
Is matter be passed over until to-day,8 an
er tho Senate at once adjourned.
80 >, 1t was apparent in the Senate ths
"a "a the charges were by no 8nea MS 6eSpec
as cd, and some discussion ensued anon
MS members after the session was owe
as DR.. Williams Replies.
he When seen last night regarding II
charges made against the Health D'
rs rs partment by Senator Noel. DR. Enniu
w ~, G.. Williams, State Health 6Commis issiol
Of Ter, gave out the following statemen
he .'AIy only regret about the charge
'es made by Mr.. Noel is that they wei
In not sprung sun til this late hour. whe
Us the Assembly has little time to- q I
'os cuss any question. Had such charE'
been made before the FINANCE COMM .'a1' y:
tce OF either House, when the al
preparation for this department. WI
under discussions, we would have we
In coined them, inasmuch as they Won
5% have given us an opportunity to pr
eo ~ sent the work OF the department. b
Ich fore the public in such form
ser to make the charges absurd on the
the face. s3i S. \,
his .'NIr. Noel'sI chief charge against u
lal department was In connection with y
'ur purchase OF tho present Catawba z,
IN berculosis Sanatoriunl. He declare
',, va that we paid a most ostBunrcasonable&p &prt,
ct for this property. and had shown hs
sht tud sment in Its selection.
en- What Cntayvbn Cost. NJ
- "Catawba cost the State of Virgin
sls,75o. In this was included q ira
ST Of $50 acres. Of which almost 800 8acr
we're arabic land and bluegrass pasture
10 The property included also a splond
Young orchard OF 1000 apple trees al
yor a wooded watershed of 800 acres.
to- I'm addition to these $50 acres
Jay land, We secured for 81 81 10 about q
= az. :. OF thirty rooms; two cottages OF tWcl
sby rooms each, two cottages OF :
the rooms each five COTTAGES. WI n
,ts- rooms each, and one vii two room
yor While some of8these buildings we
tie, T., ta !, 6rena = n n AZ were #,ls ed as III,
rty ~ ~ :, one ~ q ccomoflate 35O 4 sues
vas ~ -. ( I, 4, = ,.s ,,,h ~ !, II
as architect at 8cataWba, tel Is me th
the property we bous sht. coui q "a ot i.aa
,ta- been duplicated for less thar n;s aal .9
,e.- IN other words. In additton to- \
lnn l farm, with all It's applrtera aAnces. s '
Nh .a,,raa a & I,u1 AT n rs WI ich III or yor1