River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-01-20
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.

beiJttS.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
The whole number of patients treat
ed at the Northern Hospital for the
Insane during the last fiscal year was
719, the daily average 529 SIC, and the
number under treatment at the close
of the year 489. The number dis
charged recovered was AZ, improved
70, and unimproved ". OF those dis
charged % were removed to the State
Hospital and So to the Milwaukee
County Insane Asylum The total ex-
penditures were $13S 910-45, of which
1929, 056 % We're for current expenses.
The current expenditures for the
present calendar year are estimated at
1921 $500 which will require an APP
preparation of $70,319.67 in addition to
| the amount to be received from coun-
ties, and the surplus.which it was ex-
pected would remain ON hand at the
beginning Of the year. The trustees
request special appropriations to the
amount of S16,800.00 for purposes
| specified III their report.
The Wisconsin State Hospital has
given treatment to 753 patients during
the year, with a daily average of $50,
and $50 under Treatment at its close.
| The number discharged from the
hospital recovered is reported at
~, the number improved at AZ, and
the number unimproved at Is The
! total expenditures were S178,317 SO; of
which SIS, $4,000 were paid for previous
years liabilities, and 81, 538.34 on ac-
count of special appropriations The
current expenditures for the present
year are estimated at 1874, 5000, re-
/ quiring an appropriation of $4,000
in addition to funds on hand and
amount to be received from counties.
The trustees Of this hospital also re-
quest special appropriations for the
purpose set forth in their report in
amounts aggregating $27 600.
In obedience to a joint resolution in
that behalf adopted by the last legisla-
/ ture, | appointed Senators Sutherland,
McGrew and Smith, a committee to in
vestigate the affairs of this hospital.
This committee has, | believe, most
| faithfully and thoroughly performed
| the duties assigned them, and their re-
port, with the accompanying testimony
! and papers, was filed in the executive
office December %, where they now re-
main subject to such disposition as you
may be pleased to make of them.
There seemed to be such a general de-
sire to be informed concerning this re-
port that, with my permission, copies
of 1t were made, and 1t has been pub
lished in many newspapers. 1t is
therefore unnecessary that / should oc-
cupy any considerable time in present
ing the conclusions arrived at, or the
recommendations made bY this com
mittee. 1t sutfices to say that the COM
mittee find many things to criticise and
some to condemn, in the methods and
manner in which the business matters
Of the hospital have been conducted,
and in the absence of order in the
management of its multitudinous de-
tails. Much of this, in the opinion of
the committee, was incident to, if not
inherent In, the system of government
provided by law, and they accordingly
recommend a radical change in the
manner Of supervising and governing
the states charitable institutions.
by substituting for the several To-
cal boards of management, one gen.
eral board Of control for ALL The sub
ject is one of grave importance, involv-
ing the conservation of the high and
widely diverse purposes for which these
institutions were established, as well as
systematic and economical business
management. While, therefore, the
recommendations of the committee
should receive your most considerate
attention, the practical difficulties sur
rounding the administration of these
sacred trusts by single board of con-
troll should not be overlooked.
1t remains for me to add, and | am
much gratitied that may do SO, that
there Is no suggestion in the commit
tees report of anything approaching
corruption or malfeasance in office, on
the part of any one connected with the
hospital, while in many of the most
important particulars, especially those
relating to the condition and care of
patio nts, the committee bestow much
and well deserved commentator.
The expenses of the investigation, in
GLIDING the per diem charges of the
members of the committee, amounted
to s., S45. 10, Of which sum, as before
stated, $4,000 were paid from the CON
tingent fund. An appropriation to pay
the balance should be made at an early
day.
The Milwaukee County Insane Asy- /
lum has been completed during the /
year, and embodies the best results Of |
recent experience in all matters per |