The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-26

The State ought to provide tor lts ae-
pendent insane. Public policy and
humanity require this, and the people
ought to be willing to be taxed for it.
Tho Superintendent Of tho West Virginia
Hospital For Tho Insane complains that
the present accommodations are notsufti-
Gent, and asks for $4,000 to enlarge the
establishment at Weston. The Directors
endorse the superintendent request, ana
the Governor concurs.
In his message the Governor says; THE
reports Of tho Superintendent for the last
three years show q. gradual increase oil
patients, thereby indicating as our popu-
lation increases that the number Of
patients must necessarily increase" This
Is reasonable enough. Uphappily the de-
pendent classes increase with the increase
ofpopulation. The Governor quotes from
the superintendent report THAT the
HOSPITAL has been and is now crowded to
It's fullest capacity. The whole number
under treatment for the last six months
was 7o4, daily average COL" Upon which
the Governor remarks-"an increase OF
nelrly forty percent in three years." This
ia more than "a gradual increase OF
patients" and indicates that our insane are
increasing out Of all proportion to the In
crease Of population.
The population of this State does not
show ian increase OF nearly forty percent
in three years" There may be-a cause
for the increase in insane, but since 1t is
not found in the oilicia! reports, the
Legislature may find 1t Elsewhere. 1t is a
noticeable coincidence that the very great
increase in the number OF patients in the
Hospital has come about in the time that
the Governor and his appointees have had
control. II insanity increases in like
proportion SO long as the present regime
continues, where shall we all be in few
years? It could not be long before West
Virginia would be known as the State OF
the Insane.
II the Legislature will take the trouble
to look into the matter 1t will probably find
that persons arc in the Hospital who
ought not to be there. lit be found that
the institution is used largely as house
OF detention for idiots-that 1t is choked
with incurables for whom hospital is not
a proper place-then it may be thought
possible to accommodate the waiting in
sane fwho are said to number tiity-fvc)
and leave some room for future needs.
An inquiry by the Legislature will show
that the law governing the appointment OF
Directors can be amended with great ad-
vantage to the public. II the law be per
mitted 70 stand without change Governor
Wilson win be unablcto inaugurate n re.
form il he wishes TO. In the present
month Governor Jackson has the appoint
ment Of three Directors to serve for six
years-two years into the term OF Gov
ernor Wilson's successor. In January,
1887, Governor Wilson appoints three and
in January, 1880, Just as he is going out,
three more, keeping up the same round.
A bill offered in the Senate by Mr..
Scott, Of Ohio county, seeks to remedy
this evil and to give to the Hospital the
benefit OF minority representation in the
Board OF Directors. 1t is Of no moment
TO the minority party whether it has or
has not representation. 1t is Of great i'm
pertance to such an institution that it
shall not be run as partisan machine.
It ought to command the cordial
support of every taxpayer ilrthe State.
To this end 1t must be conducted as a pub
lie institution, not as partisan asylum
for politicians and the friends and kins-
men of politicians. The present Legisla-
ture has chance to perform a signal ser
vice in behalf Of an unfortunate class Of
nannla