The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-01-19

dent, except that in the appropria-
ton bill there is provision of $4,000
Tor the salary of the superintendent,
and of course that fixed it. There
fore, l undertook to find a man who,
by his qualifications, and by his char
acter and attainment, and his etficl-
ency, would be able to put into effect
the changes contemplated by you in
the acts that you passed.
l made an honest effort to find a
man for that salary-for $4,000. l
tried to find him for that salary, even
taking into account the perquisites
which went with that salary. The
perquisites which went with it were
as follows: The superintendent had
the use of house, he was furnished
lights, water, fuel, he was furnished
vegetables; he was furnished such
servants as he needed, from the in
stitution; he was furnished carriage
and pair of horses, and driver, and
he was furnished an automobile; In
addition to that, he had the privilege
of buying his supplies at the reduced
rates that were secured in the pur-
chases of goods for the institution.
A conservative estimate of the val
ue of these perquisites places it easily
between $1,000 and $l,400 and the
$4,000 salary provided for. found
il impossible to find a man, a physi-
clan, who had, in addition to his pro-
fessionl knowledge, those traits and
qualifications of administrative and
executive ability which, in my judg-
ment. would qualify him to carry out
efficiently the work of reorganiza-
! ton, change in the treatment of pa
tients, and general management of
that large institution, for the salary
provided.
Procuring Superintendent.
! What was I to do under these cir
cumstances, when l thought of those
1900 patients in that institution, suf-
fering, as they were, from lack of
treatment which advanced and pro-
gressive skill and knowledge in that
! line of training gives. | felt that un-
less got man as superintendent
who had those qualifications, the acts
which you had passed would be void
and of no effect, so far as those pa
tients were concerned. That was the
situation that confronted me. What
was l to do? We know these patti
ents would continue to lack those
comforts and cares which an enlight-
ened, advanced and progressive
knowledge administers. There were
no other funds available for it. I
could not change his salary there
was no fund for it, no provision to
pay it, and the question then came
up, at the same time, to me, was to
let those patients continue to suffer
for the lack of that necessary skill in
this institution; or should I make a
personal contribution in order to re-
lieve their suffering and improve
their treatment?
1 determined, gentlemen, that I
could not endure the thought of the
continuance of the condition and the
environment of those patients. There
fore, the only thing that I saw that
| could do was to go to the bank and
see what I could do about that money
that was needed. was we'll aware
of the fact that the salary of an Off
cial Of the State could not be increas-
ed during his term of office.
Therefore, when went to the bank
and found it would take $2,375 in
order to secure the services of a man
who, in my judgment, would fill the
position, the money was offered to
me at the rate of per cent, so that
/ determined that I would make that
contribution to this institution, giving
my personal notes for $2,375, at 3
per cent. ltnerest, so as to pay the
additional amount which was neces-
sary in order to secure him.
Doesn't Seek Reimbursement.
Then l determined to fix the term
of the superintendent to run from
May l, 1915, to February Is, 1916,
at which time this honorable body
would be in session, and l would then
put the question fairly and squarely
up to you, whether you would make
this provision for a competent and
efficient superintendent, or whether
you would be willing to let the insti-
tuition lapse back into the condition
and treatment which prevailed there
previous to his incumbency.
Now, gentlemen, I feel that have
been justified in making that contri-
button. 1 want to say to you that
there is no act of my official life that
has given me more qualification.
When have seen the improved con-
dltions in that institution, the i'm
proved treatment, and the results of
that treatment on those patients, I
feel that l have been justified in this
contribution. have done it cheer
fully! | have done it gladly. I do
not ask to be reimbursed for this
personal contribution that I made to
the alienation of the suffering of
these unfortunate fellow citizens of
ours. The consciousness of having
done my duty fully repays me. Of
course you realize that that condition
can not continue. l could not go on
through this next year. making pro-
vision for the salary of State Off
cial. and that responsibility will now
rest on you.
want to say to you that the bene-
fits of that work are shown in re-
suits which you find by an investiga-