The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-01-27
TO INVESTIGATE ASYLUM
GOVERNOR EMPLOYS EXPERT
FOR THOROUGH INQUIRY.
Wants Only the Facts so as to Adopt
Permanent Policy for Good Of In
Stitution.

In order to get an unbiased anc
unprejudiced report of conditions Al
the State Hospital for the Insane Gov
Manning has employed DR.. A. P. Her
ring, secretary Of the Maryland lun'
acy commission, as an efficiency ex.
pert, and instructed him to make 8
thorough investigation. into conditions
at the asylum.
DR.. Herring is the personal repre-
sentative of the governor and has in
structions to make complete and de-
tailed examination as conditions are
now at the asylum and to report his
findings and recommendations. Dr..
Herrings arrived in Columbia We'd
nesday and Immediately took up his
work.
The governor desires to get re-
port on conditions at the asylum as
they now exist. He wants this with
out regard to politics, persons, or
prejudice. He wants the facts. In
setting about the proper way to have
this accomplished, Gov. Manning con-
suited physicians of prominence with
in and without the State. He spent
much time seeking information as to
where he could get an expert famil-
lar with high ideals, but with good,
common sense.
After interviews with men Of ma
tional regulations in this line Of work
in other states, the governor consult
ed Dr.. Thomas W. Salmon Of New
York city, who is, among other
things, president Of the national COM
mission on mental hygiene, and one
Of the best known authorities in this
county on this subject. He recon-
mended DR.. Herring as the most COM
petent part to make an intelligent in
yestigation. Inquiries from other
authorities on lunatic asylums added
to the recommendation Of DR.. Her
ring, and the governor finally en-
'ployed him.
Dr.. T. J. Strait, superintendent Of
the asylum, was called to the COVER
nor's Office and made acquainted with
the purpose Of the investigation. He
approved Of the governors course and
offered every cooperation. The gov
ernor telephoned for Mr. J. A. Sum-
mersett and DR.. julius H. Taylor,
members Of the board of regents who
live in Columbia, and they too, ap-
proved Of the investigation.
Col. Alva II. Dean, of Greenville,
another member Of the board, was
consulted over tn. ong distance tele-
phone. and he added his consent and
approval. The other two regents, Mr..
J. D. Bivens Of Ridgeville, and Mr.. F.
r. Hunter Of Newberry, were ac-
ouainted with the purpose of the gov
ernor by letter.
With the approval of the majority
Of the regents and Of the suDerin-
tendent in his hands, Gov. Manning
instructed DR.. Herring to make
sweeping and complete investigation
His instructions are to o'absolutely dis
regard politics, as it was made clear
to him that the purpose of the gov
ernor was not to dig up old sores, but
to get, an unbiased and unpre1udiced
statement of conditions as they exist.
The report will be filed with Gov.
Manning to be used by him in decid-
ing whether legislative action is nee
essary, or what plan is to be followed
in settling on definite policy for the
asylum.
Friction between the superintend-
ent and regents under the dual sys-
tenn Of government now in force at
the asylum, discomfort and charges Of
incoMpetency which have been made
have been heard year after year, and
there has been talk already of anoth-
er legislative investigation.
The governor wants to have the
asylum removed from politics and to
use his efforts to settle on a policy
and plan of management which will
remove the asylum from being used
as football for poliics and make it a
well managed business institution,
where the greatest care is taken Of
the unfortunates who are its inmates.
". F. Caldwell.