, 1875-11-11
THE DISPATCH.
Contributed.

Mr.. ED1ToR:-Is it possible thet our
Territorial Legislature will. adjourn
without enacting, radical, reform in
the management of our Insane Asylum.
The writer does not pretend TO know
about tie merits of the controversy be-
tween DR.. Hemenway and the contrac-
tor, Mr.. Harmon. Whether there is
brutality in the management of pstients
or not, is unknown to your contributor.
Of one thing, however, he is certain.
The present Accommodations for the pa
tients at Steilacoom are lamentably in
adequate to the wants of the numerous
patients at present confined there. The
quarters for the patients should be en-
larged. If torch was applied to the
buildings at present occupied by the
patients, and suitable building erected
on their ashes, one step would be gain
ed in the matter of proper care for that
class OF unfortunates. Every medical
officer in the army of the United States
who would permit the soldiers under
his charge, to say nothing of the inva-
valids, to occupy such quarters as are
at present provided for the insane of
Washington Territory, would be. in all
probability, recommended for dismissal
from the service in disgrace, by tie very
first medical inspector that visited his
camp. If our august Legislature ad-
journs without. taking the necessary
steps to have the mouldering and in
tested cribs at present in use at. Stella
COON replaced by large and perma-
nent structure, such as would be cred
it to the State that WILDE soon admi.-
ted into the Union, bearing the sacred
name of the illustrious father of his
country, Washington. then they will
every ore of them deserve the fate of
being compelled to see their wives or
children, brothers and sister or parents
carried off to that narrow constructed,
overcrowded, reeking, feted atmosphere
and quarters, the present home of the
unfortunate insane of Washington Ter
ritory.
But they must not stop at cleansing
of the quarters. The system is radi-
cally wrong. 1t is precarious. 1t is
abominably disgraceful. A contract
system for either the insane, ,'the poor or
the convicts of any State is disgrace
to the civilization and humanity of the
age. The writer has had the opportu-
nifty to visit the Insane Asylrms of New
+ Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts. New
York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Georgia,
California and Oregon, as well Washing
ton Territory. and in justice n ust say.
that to compare any of the above NAM
ed institutions with the Territorial Asy-
lum Of this Territory, would be like
comparing the Inferno of Dante with
the Paradise of Milton. The contract
system in every one of the states nam
ed. except Massachusetts, Maine and
Georgia (the writer is in doubt about
Oregon), has been tried and absolutely
condemned and abandoned as worse
than none; as barbarous and inhuman,
as unchristian and unscienti6c. For
humanity's sake, let the legislature at
once and forever cut aloof from this
black spot on our public institutions.
Does any one suppose for moment
that any one would contract to take care
OF the unfortunate at SO much per head,
unless he saw money in the transaction?
And cannot the state set the example of
refraining to hold out inducements for
anyone to speculate and grow rich out
of the misfortunes Of this human race?
For the sake Of humanity, for the sake
of our good name abroad, let this in
stitution be put on respectable basis,
regardless of cost. No more contracts
to take care of and heal the diseased
brains of our territory at SO much per
head. Build suitable building. its
architecture of such style that it can
be enlarged as increasing wants de-
mand; place it under the care of q suit
able superintendent. that superinten-
dent to be man of the highest scien..
tific attain c. ents-the best talent that
money can procure, and make him re-
sponsible to the State for his manage
ment of every department of the in-
stitution. In this way and no other
can the stain of jobbery be wiped from
the records of our public institutions.