The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-11-20

require 1t. In estimating the average cost
per week OF each patient the authorities in
charge OF the institution failed to include
the clothing-on the ground, we suppose,
that the counties to which the patients are
accredited have to pay this amount The
omission to do so is ingenious but we fail to
see how that lessons the aversge-because, If
the counties pay it, il does not
lessen the cost of the institution
The general assembly should so arrange the
laws governing the benevolent institutions
OF the state that all moneys should be paid
by the auditor of state on certified accounts
70 the parties by whom the articles are fur
nished. By this method the public can at
any time know the exact expenditures of
the institutions, and to whom and on what
account the money was paid. Are not these
facts sufficient to convince tax payers that
there must be change? That change will
be for the better. The cry that old expert
enced officers should be retained is all
"stuf." Daily exposures teach it. After
years OF experience and the model reports
country, the republicans have not
yet produced report that will
bear close scrutiny The figures above
cry aloud. The people will rejoice at this
exposure of radical mismanagement. which
has been going on for yeas. Legislators
wiil blush for shame when they think of the
manner they have been ''gulled." And the
next legislature, which will be democratic,
Will only do their duty when thorough in
veshgation is made and the present radical
officials are driven into political oblivion.
COMPARISON.
Space will not permit the COMPARISONS wa
have made with nearly one hundred institu-
tons for the insane. We will close with
but one. Dr. H. 3. WILDER, of the state
board of charities for the state of New York.
alter making an extensive examination of
q m ri nff hn
Great Britain, says:
In the English county asylcms which. i'm
their mode of support and in their general
scope, correspond with our state asylums, the
average weekly cost of maintenance includ-
ing clothing, is less than three dollars; i'm SINH
lar asyIums in Scotland and Ireland, consid-
In comparing the cost of maintenance in
the British institutions, with those of the
same grade in the United States, several facts
are to be borne in mind.
The salaries of officers are about the same In
either case. The wages of attendants and SER
wants are nearly seventy per cent. higher in
the United States than In England The sta
pie articles of provisions cost much less in
America. Looking at the bills OF British asy-
Iums, see that beef costs "a cents per pound,
mutton, % cents; pork, IL cents 'Of Course
hour and grain are higher. Fuel is about the
same.
One source of expense in American asvIum.
is the supposed necessity for the free use OF
stlmulants and the extra diet required In an
inst tuition, containing 600 patients, where
pains had been taken to record the number of
extra meals ii is stated that over I7,OOO were
furnished in single year.
The expense OF living to-day is less than
one-half it was in 1868, yet the expense of
the insane asylum is more than double.
Further comment is unnecessary. We pro-
pose to follow this matter up to the very
end, until every radical is driven from Office
and honest, working democrats are placed in
their stead. The institutes for the
blind and for the deaf and dumb
will have their turn before
many days. Enough Is known al
ready to warrant us in saying without fear
that the same state of facts exist in both of
them. Any legislator who will refuse to
vote for the displacement of the above Off
Gals is not true democrat, neither has be
the welfare of his constituents at heart with
these facts staring him in the face.
The following tables need no comment or
explanation: