Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-01-31

"a luS department VI LucCuuNlC arts IN
the University. The appropriation re-
quested for the carrying out of the pro-
visions Of the act is one and one-haIf
per cent of tho funds derived BY the
state from the license tax upon railroads
and other transportation companies
and upon telegraph, telephone and
other electrical companies. The
amount of such tax received by the
state during the year ending September
80. 1888. was SLOT ,ssl. thus in round
figures the appropriation asked is
$4,000.
Assemblyman Showalter's bill in re-
lat'on To ex-insane persons is now in
the hands Of the committee on Chart
able institutions of which no himself is
chairman. The bill has for its purpose
the restoration to civil rights of persons
adJudged insane who may have re-
covered from their insanity. A man
possessed of property whose affairs
may have been placed in the hands of
guardian during insanity, is claimed to
have no legal status after recovery. but
in the eyes of the law he is an insane
person, even though he may be in full
possession OF his mental powers. This
Mr.. Showalter's measure seeks 10 rem
edy 1t provides that upon the receipt
of petition from any individual stat
ing the conviction that person pre-
viously adjudged insane is sane, any
county judge may appoint commits
sion of two physicians to examine tho
person with respect to his sanity and
take further steps that shall eventually
place the person in full possession Of all
rights possessed before insanity Re-
garding the bill President Elmore of
the State Board of Charities and Reforms
recently stated to your correspondent
that he was quite favorably impressed
with the object of the measure and be-
lieved that it should become a law
Mr. Showalter's experience as a poor
superintendent aud asylum keeper has
afforded him an opportunity to study
the defects of existing laws in relation
TO these classes and now that he is a
legislator he is giving evidence of the
fact that his priviledges were not per.
mitted to go by unimproved.
Another measure which he has intro
dnced aims to perfect the system Of
commitment Of insane persons so that
county Judges may in certain cases
make commitments directly to countg
asylums. At present the law is not
clear as to authority for the commit
ment of such perzons except to The
state hospitals. tits proposed by the
terms of the bill to add to the list of
questions to be answered by examining
physicians the question whether in his
opinion the insanity is of a chronic
nature. If the answer be in the affirm.
tive the county judge may in bis dis.
erection commit the patient either to the
state hospital or to the county asylum.
1t frequently happens said Mr.. Sho-
walter, that there are old or idiotic per-
sons whose sanity is without doubt If
a chronic nature who are sent 20 State
hospitals and soon afterwards returned
to the county asylums. and this meas
ure is especially intended to briag about
a condition of affairs which will
prevent such commitments and the un-
necessary travel and expense required
in making the changes back and forth.
Mr.. Elston. OF Grant, was heard from
the other day in bill to authorize the
assignees of the Grant and Richland
County Bridge company to construct
bridge across the Wisconsin river. The
bill was referred to the committee on
roads and bridges.
In the distribution Of committees the
Grant county representatives Jared
fairly well. As stated, MIR. Showalter,
as chairman, presides over the commit
tee Oh charitable and penal institutions,
while Mr.. Mccoy holds the chairman
ship of the committee on militia and
has side place on the assessment and
collection of taxes committee. In the
Senate Mr.. Kidd as chairman of the
Joint committee on claims, looks after
all business referred to it. Also In the
selection of seats the Grant county
members drew some good positions.
Probably that OF Mr.. Elston is the most
desirable in the Assembly. He occu-
pies desk number 73 in nearly the GEN.
ter of the chamber and is thanked on
either side by the Winnebago county
representatives, on his left being the
wealthy Oshkosh Zimmerman G. w.
Pratt and on his right w. +. Miller, a
Winneconnie granger. MIR. Showalter
drew seat 10 in the last row at the GEN.
ter of the room, back, and his neigh
bors are Dennis, Milwaukee member
and McCourt, CT Polk county. Mr.. Nc
Coy sits to the left Of the speaker and
has sea 30 in the back row. He has
for his companions Mr.. Blyton, of
Sparta, who serves ON the committee
on banks and Insurance and is one OF
the prominent members OF the house,
and Hans johnson, a Norwegian far
mer of Door county. In the Senate
Mr.. Kidd has seat. 10 Immediately in
front of the president, Lieut.. Gov.
Ryland. IL is among tho best on the
floor. DR. Reynolds. OF Lake Geneva
sits at his right and Hugh Fl. Price at
his left Mr.. Price is the son of the
late Congressman Price and is the
youngest member of the Senate. being
20 years of age. HoYT 4 TIErH.
Philadelphia North American: A
recent visitor says the King of amoa
wears scarcely anyt ling but chin whis-
kers and string of beads. We believe,
however, that he also wears look of
apprehension s1st now.