The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1915-09-23
COMMITTEE SPLITS
ON CHARITY REPORT
DR.. GREENE IS ENDORSED
PRESENCE IN STATE HOSPITAL
DECLARED BENEDICTION
TO INMATES.

Little Rock, Sept. 16.-The special
committee appointed by the last leg
islature to investigate the manage
ment of the state hospital for nervous
diseases has finished its work and SUBJ
mitted its report to the governdt.
There are majority and minority re-
ports. One report, that already SUBJ
mitted, is signed by Senator J. O. A.
Bush and J. l.. Carter, and Represen-
tatives Lee Cazort and Joe Joiner re-
fused to sign it, but say they will SUBJ
init another. The fifth member, Rep
.resentative w. O. Young of Benton
county, is not here, but Senator Bush
says that he is confident he would
sign it if he were.
The report is accompanied by 384
typewriter pages of testimony.
The investigation began February
Is, when George A. Bone, an expert
accountant of Memphis, began work on
the Institution and board, concluding
his work soon after the adjournment
of the legislature. Only part of the
testimony taken has been Transcribed,
on accounty of lack Of funds to pay
the stenographer.
1t is stated that there were 1924 pa
tients in the hospital September l.,
1911, when DR.. J. L. Greene took
charge, with only two assistants and
there can be no doubt that this force
.x,,o~ orf;ralxy IN a doouofo m v,orforyo tho
work as it should have been done"
Before DR.. Greene came there was no
:alienist in charge, consumptives were
mixed Unfortunately with other pa
tients, and the hospital was full with
800 insane persons in the various
county jails. .
1t costs the state about 100000 a
"a year to equip and maintain the in
,stitution, and the committee declares
that "'the unfortunate inmates are en-
titled to the kindest care and the most
scientific, and human treatment that
can be had" The committee says:
The undisputed evidence shows that
q class of inhuman, cruel attendants
had charge of some of the wards, es-
pecially ward No. 9, where the poor
helpless patients were beaten, stamped
and choked into insensibility by these
brutal attendants
n When DR.. Greene took charge pho
visions were made for all the insane
of the state, many abuses were stop
ped, "the cruel and inhuman tratment
of inmates by unmerciful and brutal
attendants was broken up and the
offending parties discharged and not
given the opportunity to take revenge
on the patient when their cruel con-
duct was reported. 1t was shown by
competent testimony that under the
.skillful administration of DR.. Greene
conditions were greatly improved, and
his presence in the institution SEEM
ed to be bendiction to the unfortu-
nate inmates who had been subjected
to such neglect and savage cruelty
that would bring the blush of shame
to the keeper of penitentiary. I'm
der his wise and human management
light, life and hope sprang up in a
thousand hearts"
Considerable space is given to the
construction of the central heating
plant, during which time the relations
between DR.. Greene and the board be-
came strained. The board is criti-
cised for drawing $4,000 from the
current expense fund to apply on the
cost of the plant. "There seems to
have been a general looseness or ex-