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THE ItEFEBS AND THE LEGIS-LATTJKE.A pntMJOtlnt duty of llic legislature is to provide for the unfortunate lepers, resident of the State. The Dumber of lepers as computed by competent authorities, several of them eminent physicians, and one of them a member of the board of the Charity Hospital, amounts to five thousand in Louisiana. In presence of a disease so incuruble and probably contagions, which has assumed an endemic form in some portions of Louisiana, the State has manifested a degree of apathy and listlessness, winch astonishes one as be becomes bolter acqdlinted with the situation. Heretofore lepers were allowed to roam about wherever they pleased ; the General Assembly of 1892 enacted, however, that the residents of the State afflicted with leprttey should be couQued in the New Orleans peat-housc, operated by Ur. J. C. Beard. In other words, these outcasts of humanity were farmed out to Ur. Beard, and so many complaints were made against him by the lepers themselves, their relations and friends, that theafrand jury of March 1, 1893, thought it proper to make an investigation, and they reported that “the coudilioc of the place was so revolting, and the neglect of its nufortu-uate inmates so shameful that they deemed it advisable to send a committee to investigate.” After the investigation, they made a report, in which they said that “they regretted that they saw no way of lodging a criminal charge against the contractor, but they stated to the public their unqualified condemnation of his [Ur. Beard’s] rapacity.”This year, the lepers themselves sent to the General Assembly a petition, praying for relief, remonstrating that “they are human after all, and not responsible for their condition” and asking for its betterment. It is in answer to this that the legislature framed a bill appropriating $15,000 a year for the lepers’ relief and support, to bo spent under the supervision of a board of control composed of seven members. So far the legislature has done its duty; but the bill bos a strange and express provision that the lepers shall be farmed out on contract; that is,that their care shall he given to thelowest bidder, Dr. Beard, or another such, to make as much money as j he can out of these outcasts of humanity. We wish no harm to the framers of the bill, but as these poor unfortunates say in their petition to the Assembly, we do not know whose turn will come next,” and how would j Mr. Framer of the bill feel if later I on he would be so unfortunate as to; be farmed out to Ur. Beard or sue- j cessor ? How would he feel if bej saw his wife or children, father or ■ mother, because afflicted with lepro- j sy, turned overby law to Dr. Beard's! extraordinary tender care, when from i the grand jury’s investigation, “$1 35 a clay had to feed them all, and the poor lepers were practically abandoned.” Is there.no philanthropy left in the land, and can the State find no one with charity and disinterestedness enough in his heart to which he can say, as the Samaritan said to the innkeeper, Here is my purse, take care of this unfortunate brother, and if that is not enough, 1 shall pay thee when I come back?” Has the medical fraternity, who in former years in Louisiana has given so many examples of heroism, no one left who would consider it as an honor to take charge of these unfortunate brothers, alleviate their sufferings and make pleasant their last days?It is a downright shame and a crime against humanity that the State should exact that the lepers should be farmed out to the lowest bidder, for no doubt, if an appeal were mode by proper authorities, many good Samaritaua would come forward, who, not for filthy lucre, but for the love of Him, would consecrate their lives to the relief of the lepers. Out of the many religious and charitable institutions that irehave in the State, some one would certainly volunteer to take care of the poor lepers and tenderly nurse thatn as a labor of love.Charity and pbilanthrophy are not dead in Louisiana, and the legisla-j ture sbonld remember it, as it should : remember that the poor lepers are: hnman and citizens of this State, I suffering through no cause of theirs.
Newspaper Details
The Banner Democrat
Lake Providence, Louisiana, US
Sat, Jul 07, 1894
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Joanne O.
USA 28 Nov 2023
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The Banner Democrat
