The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-02-26
GOVERNOR BLEASE TRIES TO DUST
DR.. BABCOCK
THE SENATE FOlLS HIM
Blease Got Mad Because the General
4 Assembly Refused to Elect His
Family Physician, DR.. Houseal,
Trustee of the Medical College, and
He Gives Him Dr.. Babcock's
Place.


DR.. ". Gustaye Houseal, of New
berry, was appointed by Governor
Blease as superintendent of the State
Hospital for the Insane Thursday
night, succeeding DR.. J. W. Babcock,
was sent to the Senate, and by re-
quest Of the Governor, was read in
$ open session An executive session
! was held by the Senate to pass on
the appointment.
Gov. Blease had expected DR.. Hous-
cal to be elected a member Of the
board Of trustees of the Charleston
Medical College and said that he
gave the position Of superintendent
of the State Hospital for the Insane
Ito Dr.. Housea1 to show what he
thought Of him, the Governor being
very much disappointed over the fail
snre Of the General Assembly to elect
SsDr. Houseal as trustee Of the Med
Seal College.
DR.. Houseal is a resident Of New
berry and the personal physician of
5 the Governor. DR.. Babcock was ap-
pointed superintendent Of the Asylum
by Governor Tillman during his Srst
term in the early eos and has
held the position ever since. The
Constitution gives the Governor the
right to appoint the superintendent
and board Of regents OF the State
Hospital for the Insane.
- The naming Of DR.. Houseal to sue
ceed DR.. Babcock came as a great sur
prise to the General Assembly and to
people generally, and caused much
discussion. The reason for the ap-
pointment is attributable to the fail
ure Of the General Assembly to name
DR.. Houseal as trustee of the Med
ical College.
: The Senate went into executive
session at once to consider the ap-
pointment Of Dr.. W. G. Houseal as
superintendent Of the State Hospital
for the Insane. A hot debate took
place over the matter, and during
the course of the discussion the
splendid work which Dr.. Babcock has
done for the State Asylum was laud-
ed by member after member. DR..
Houseal was referred to in highest
terms, but the Senate did not approve
of the Governors attempted ousting
Of DR.. Babcock.
The statements that the Constltu-
ton requires that the board OF re-
gents Of the Asylum and the super
fntendent be appointed with the ad-
vice and consent Of the Senate; that
the Constitution forbids the holding
Of any Office for life, except that OF
notary public, and, that the appoint
ment of DR.. Houseal was Illegal
were brought out during the thresh-
ing out Of this matter. The Senate
debated the matter until after mid
night. when a vote was taken on the
appointment.
By a vote of 81 to the Senate re-
fused to confirm the appointment OF
DR.. W. Gustave Houseal to be super
intendent Of the State Hospital Tor
the. Insane, and Dr.. Babcock will
hold over. The vote came after mid
night; and before it was taken the
governor for his action was severe
his action. The reason assigned by
the Governor for his action as severe
ivl denounced. The vote shows that
even Governor Blease's friends in the
Senate refused to sustain him.
Governor Blease was on the toor
of the Senate when his message frst
came in, but left soon afterwards.
His sudden action caused sensa-
ton. It is conceded on all sides that
DR. Babceck, who is close personal
friend OF Senator Tillman, has no su-
nerior in the country as superin-
tendent of insane asylurs, and the
refusal of the Senate to vote for his
removal will meet with the approval
of the public generally. He is un-
doubtedly the right man in the right
place.