The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-14
Lee Senator WithdraWs the
Charges Made Against the
CataWba Sanatorium.
EXPRESSES REGRET FOR
DOING AN INJUSTICE
Explains His Various Charges
and Asserts That His Informa-
tion Came From Former En-
ploye of State Board.

Rising to a question of personal
privilege in the Senate Monday. SEN
ator Noel Of Lee county, who last
week made alterations Of damaging
character against the State Board of
Health and Commissioner Ennion O.
Williams. withdrew his charges" and
declared he had been made a tool
of by persons with grievances. Mr.
Noel said he had been taken adRan-
tage of by former employe of the
Board of Health, and that by placing
credence in the latter's statements
had done the manager of the Cataw-
ba Sanitarium and DIR. Ennion Wit
liams an injustice.
Statement to Scnate.
Senator Noefs statement on the
floor of the Senate Monday follows;
II feel that these men have i'm
posed upon me in making me a me-
dunn through which they hoped to
bring disfavor on this institution to
CRAFTY their personal spite against
the management of the Catawba San
itarium, but who did not have the
moral courage TO force the issue like
men when their names were discios-
ed.
Il believe that in putting credence
in their statements | have been led
into doing an injustice to both the
esfifttarfara management and br. En-
MON G.. williams.
- am ow-satis4ieta- that / have
probably done the parties whom |
may have criticised an upintentionai
wrong.
Acting under this belief and i'm
preston | avail myself of this oppor-
tuntty tn ask to be allowed to with
draw my criticism OF the manager of
the Catawba Sanitarium and to ask
that this paper he spread upon the
journal of the Senate.
Reviews His Charges.
Before making the ..apaiags, :.
senator Noel reviewed all the state
rHents he has made against the
Board of Health since the Legislature
convened. While the Fletcher bin
was under discussion Senator Noef
charged that the States money has
been squaHdsred with the predigaii.y
of drunken spendthrift,' and to
substaz tiate this pointed to the fact
that s63.00o was spent by the board
In 1909 as against $4,000 in 1908.
When the appropriation ftr-the
Board of Health was reached In the
appropriation bill Friday Senator Noel
rose to a question OF personal priyi-
iege and declared that the selection
OF Roanoke Red Sulphur Springs as
the site OF the Catawba Sanasorium
was most unwise. as the site WAS not
conducive to the Improvement OF
consumprtves He further charged
that in paying $4,000 for the old
buildings and the property the State
paid too much. Mr.. Noel quoted con-
siderable testimony from DIR. Robert
Nfiifiart s at an executive session of
the Board Of Health.
The proceedings of this executfv.
session, II has been learned. were re-
ported by the stenographer accord
ing to officials OF the Board Of Health.
did not voluntarily leave the State
service, nor did he take with him the
ssenographic record OF the executive
proceedings with the knowledge of
the commissioner of health.
In reviewing his remarks Mr.. Noel
said he had gotten his Information
from discharged stenographer. who
reported the testimony of a removed
superintendent of the catawba Sana-
torium.''
Not DIR. Williams.
On Saturday night Mr.. Noel again
rose to a question OF personal privi-
iege. saying he had received tele-
phone message from "a Dr. Williams
In Philadelphia. who says ali that
charged on tne i1oOf Oh the senate
was correct, and that the purchase
OF the site was graft pure and sim
Pile. He Is coming to Richmond Sun
day morning, and Il the facts he gives
me warrant II shall press the
charges I have made
The person alluded to az "a DR.
Williams turned out to be Mr.. Rob-
ert Williams Daniel "a nephew of DIR.
Robert williams who was the first
superintendent OF the Catawba SAM
tarium, and who was so often quoted
by Senator Noel to suhstantiate his
allegations against the Board of
Health.
Mr.. Daniel. instead OF seeing Sena-
tor Noel Sunday. gave out state
ment to the press. In which he said
he made his name. Daniel. very plain
to Senator Noel over the telephone.
and denied that he had said the pur-
chase of the site was graft pure and
simple. MT Daniel said he came to
Richmond to protect the name and
reputation OF DR.. Robert Williams.
his uncle. because the latter was in
FL Paso. Tex. and could not get here
before the Legislature adjourned.
Thus does campaign material with
err.