The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-12-02
KLOCK CONFIRMED
His Report on Conditions at the Mar
ianna School Fully Borne Gut by
the Investigating Committee

81. E. Wo-thington in Tampa Times)
Tallahassee, Nov. 30.-Ine.iciency
of the worst type in the management
is what allied the Mariana school. ac-
cording to report of the special COM
mittee composed of Senator's Hugh
lett and Anderson and Representa-
tives Crews, Miller and Hamblin,
made to the house this morning.
Idleness was the prevailing condi-
ton among the boys and every harsh
word that has been written about the
conduct of the school was justified in
this report.
The board of commissioners of state
institutions is not whitewashed.
ain view of our observations that
the institution is in a deplorable con-
dition and not properly doing its
great and necessary work of reclaim
ing boys" says the committee, 1--WE
feel compelled to say that the board
of state institutions has been negli-
gent in visiting this institution and
properly directing it's conduct, such
negligence having extended over a
period of several years, and that the
superintendent, lately removed, was
unfit for the position he held and neg
ligent in discharge of his plain du-
ties"
After making a recommendation
for an appropriation of $4,000 for
immediate needs and urging a salary
of $500 to attract competent sup
erintendent and other recommends
tions as to hospitals and other needed
buildings, the committee says:
eve further recommend that this
institution be placed under the super
vision of a committee of three we'll
informed citizens, whose duty it shall
be to visit and inspect the place twice
Ia year and who shall be paid reason
able per diem and mileage, and who
shall be required to report to the leg
islature and to the board of control" !"
In speaking of the report Repre-
sentative Miller, who has caught such
cold that he could hardly speak,
said the committee could have made
even harsher criticism, but thought
best to recommend constructive work
for the future rather than to go into
the troubles of the past. However, its
report bears out in every particular
the criticisms that have been made.
The hospital room they found in a
very unsanitary condition, "the floor
apparently not having been scrubbed
in weeks" The mattresses were wet,
dirty and uneven from wear and the
bed linen did mot appear to ever
have been laundered." The reading
and recreation room was in good
shape but mo sign that it had been
used in weeks and nothing for the
boys to read"
The old hospital, not now used, had
leaky roof and one of the beds was
wet from rain. In the smoke house,
Every rudely constructed, they found
| 25 barrels of syrup, some of them
with the heads knocked in and no pro-
vision to keep them covered. Meal
and grits were stored here but ruin
| ed. The bakery was unsanitary, dirty,
greasy and not screened"
They found 256 pairs of fieece-lined
undershirts 'unpacked, and apparently
in the storeroom for some time, yet
attendants testified that the boys had
not had warm underwear for two
years. There were plenty of stores
but no inventory of them and no ac-
count kept of what was used. Sew
eral of the boys had keys to store
room "and things occasionally disap-
peared."
The mess hall was clean but un-
screened. The boys were given chunks
of meat, but no knives or forks and
tore their meat with their fingers and
teeth, wiping their hands on their
clothing. The officers at a much bet
ter meal in the same hall and with
proper equipment.
Three thousand pounds of smoked
red meat was bought during the year
The matron of the colored department
made frequent requisitions for it, but
was refused and 1000 pounds spoiled
and was buried.
Many of the boys were bare-footedi
few were warmly clad and all appear
ed in bad condition.
DIR. Baltzell, physician for the home
told the committee he warned the
superintendent of the impending cpl
demic. but that no efforts were made