The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-02-10
REPORT ON ASYLUM
MANNING SENDS HERRING'S RE-
PORT TO LEGISLATURE.
WHAT HOSPITAL NEEDS

Governors Invitation to Legislature
to Visit Asylum and Study Its Nee
essary Needs is Accepted-Exper
Recommends Improvement of Old
Asylum Property.
Fair and impartial in every detail
was the report sent to the general
assembly by Gov. Richard I. Manning,
dealing with conditions at the State
Hospital for the Insane. The special
report on the asylum was prepared by
DR.. A. P. Herring Of Baltimore, Sec
retary of the Maryland lunacy COM
mission.
Dr.. Herring acted as the personal
representatives of Gov. Manning. Ac-
companying the report was a mes
sage from Gov. Manning, in which he
asked the members of the legislature
to visit the asylum on Thursday af-
ternoon and see what is needed there.
The invitation was accepted by the
legislature.
In general, the report recommends
| the improvement Of the old asylum
property; declares that the present
institution is fifty years behind the
times; calls for the removal of all
negro patients to State Park; states
that recreation is needed for the pa
tients; calls strict attention to the
immediate installation of the proper
| fire protection.
The report is the result of an un-
biased probe Dr.. T. ]. Strait, the
present superintendent, is commend
| ed for his kindness. 1t is stated in
the report that Dr.. Strait has not suf-
fcient executive ability to administer
the affairs. In general, all of the
present employees are commended
for doing their best work under pres
ent physical conditions.
| A thorough and unbiased report on
conditions existing at the State Hos
pital for the Insane was sent to the
general assembly by Gov. Richard I.
Manning.
II invite your honorable body to
meet at the hospital on Thursday af-
ternoon at o'clock, so that you may
see for yourselves the needs, and can
the better understand the changes in
the buildings that are contemplated
and desired" said Gov. Richard 1.
Manning in a message to the general
ASSEMBLY, which was sent in with the
report Of conditions at the State Hos
pital for the Insane.
The message follows:
81 have the honor Of submitting
herewith the report of Dr.. A. P. Her
ring on the condition and needs OF
the Hospital for the Insane. You
have doubtless read in the public
prints of my purpose to secure a
thorough, scientific, non-partisan in
vestigation of this institution. ]
realize that we have been fortunate
in securing the services of DR.. Her
ring, who has both technical train
ing and practical, experience neces-
sary for such work. He has ma.
tional reputation and is endorsed by
the highest authorities.
| Il requested DR.. Herring to give a
calm statement Of existing condi-
tions; wanted nothing sensational
or hysterical. In the accompanying
report you will find a strong pre-
sentation of what I want you to in
spect personally and verify for your
selves. The general requirements for
treatment of patients suff ring from
mental diseases, and suggestions for
improvement in the physical condi-
ton of the hospital, and treatment OF
the insane as offered by DR.. Herring,
will, am confident, commend them
selves to you as wise and practical,
and nothing short of plain and man
datory duty-a sacred debt to these
suffering impotent patients"
Here is the keynote Of the investi-
cation:
"The duty of South Carolina to its
insane is a cardinal, a SUI IRENE obli-
CATION to do all and everything with
out stint for their benefit that its
financial resources possibly permit or
enable it to do; to exercise in. their
interests, through the public officials,
every effort and labor they are cap
able Of, and to put into effect all the
means and resources at its command
to perform most effectually this great
debt to humanity, this direct and i'm
mediate obligation to its people and
this noble duty to all the future"
DR.. Herring says that the funda-
mental principles underlying the en-
tire plan of reorganization proposed
in the report is to make certain
changes in the law relating to the
control of the State Hospital for the
! Insane.
The following amendments to the
constitution governing the asylum
are recommended:
| l. The superintendent should be
appointed by the board Of regents,
and not by the governor, removable
only for cause and after a hearing.
2. The board of regents should
consist Of five members, appointed by
the governor, with the sanction of the
Senate. They should be appointed,
at first. one for two years, two for
four years, two for six years, subse-
quent appointments to be made for e
period of six years. The members of
| this board are not removable except
for cause and after hearing.
8. The superintendent to make all
| appointments, with the sanction of
the board of regents, and to have the
power Of dismissal of same, to be ap-
| proved by the board. The superin-
| tendent is to report to the board Of
regents the activities Of the hospital,
and the board Of regents to report to
the governor end general assem- bly,.
PrfoHy tho mill -