The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-02-21
RECOMMENDATIONS ON
STATE INSTITUTIONS
Among Other Things Committee on
Penal and Charitable Institutions
Recommends Abolition of Hosiery


stitutions has been sent to the gem
eral assembly. A number of recon-
mendations are made. The commit
tee investigated the State Hospital
for the Insane, State penitentiary,
Lexington reformatory, South Caro-
lima institution for the education of
the deaf and blind, South Carolina
industrial school and the Confederate
home. The members OF the commit
tee are G.. X. Laney OF the senate and
Olin Sawyer and O. l.. Sanders of
the house.
I'VE feel" says the committee,
with reference to the State Hospital
for the Insane, that the nursing
force, although 1t has been increased
is still insufficient, taking into con-
sideration the nature of the work and
the exacting requirements. They are
not sufficiently paid, nor do we think
that the number Of physicians on the
stan is adequate" 1t Is recommend
ed that the positions Of treasurer and
superintendent of the farms be
separted and that man be placed
at the head of each department.
J State Hospital.
Continuing, the committee says.
with reference to the State Hospital
for the Insane: I'VE visited this in
stitution and made careful investi-
CATION of the physical condition, the
methods, anG general management of
its affairs.
We found that the extension of
the Taylor building has been com
pleted and is occupied by white men.
The domitory for colored men, in the
Parker building yard, has been COM
pleted and is occupied. Sufficient
sleeping porches to accommodate 100
beds have been arranged in the white
women's department. y tuberculosis
ward has been constructed on the top
floor of the middle section of the white
women's department, which provides
for the separation of these patients
in this department. Sleeping porches
have been added to the wooden build
ing in the colored women's depart
ment These additions and improve
ments relieve to certain extent the
crowded condition OF the institution,
but 1t is still very much over crowd
ed, when you bear in mind that there
was an average of L63o patients in
1911. We are glad to say that the
general appearance and condition of
the buildings have been improved by
repairing floors, cutting windows,
plastering and painting"
Work Commended.
Discussing the South Carolina In
dustrial school, the committee states
that there is no institution in the
State that is to be more commended
for it's work. There is a great need
OF new building, better heating ia.
cilities, cooking apparatus, water sup
ply and additional teachers" says the
report. The management of the in
stitution is highly praised The com
mittee states that the institution
should be literally supported for it's
future efficiency and growth.
The old soldiers seem to be we'll
satisfied. The buildings are in good
repair and are neatly kept" says the
report, with reference to the Con-
federate Home
State Prison.
The following statement is made
with reference to the State peniten-
tiary:
THE committee visited this insti-
tuition and examined into its man
agement and control and checked up
its books and accounts.
I'VE are of the opinion that this
institution is keeping pace with the
idea of progressive prison reform.
1t may be well to say here that the
truest and highest object to be at
tanned in punishment by imprison-
ment is the reformation Of the pris-
oners and to give them back to So
clety better and more useful citi-
zens than they were before. To at
tain this object, of couse, REQUIRES
skillful management, because the
prisoner should be punished and at
the same time reformed. We call at
tention to section 10 of article l of
the constitution, which forbids the in
hiction of corporal punishment. Some
still believe it is necessary, and
whipping of convicts is still resorted
to In some cases.
There has been considerable dis