The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-01-22

a ,.s. sssa snploysd IL .he tabor Of n.aurae-
s1ttslactory 70 Justify its continuance.
aas.e oOolaance With quite widespread ssnti-
mouh @ attompt viii be made TO employ
twloo Machinery for this purpose, OF the bost
e1staetef ootatnable, was purchased upon eat-
.sSassetosy terms by COMMITTEES selected for
sS!A purpose. guarantee has been given
that The machinery will perform tho labor
Stained for It: and In case It docs not meet "a.
eciremsnts. ne state Is not obligated to take
periment may prove success, II results
seem TO make It desirable. additional machin.
ery may be purchased and the producing ca,
tempt 70 manufacture binding twine result
sasisiactorily. II viii be Of inestimable advant
seo " producing much needed article Of
dition. the convict labor viii be utilized ia
1H NOT to conflict with the free labor
o. On sn Ss STATE Some additional appropriation
| ness 81 the manufacture OF binding Irvine in %.
cordanco with the present plan. =.
the STATE EXPLORATORY. g.
a LIZ Hste Ioiormntory NJ St. Cloud 10 IN full
| Ing the result claimed for 1t. The building il
entirely INADEQUATE to the demands upon It,
e9avinS WITHIN lts walls moro than can DO com
!orteDly cared Tor. IL Is no longer question
| that much good can be effected in checking
criminal impulses by means of reformator1
me!noos. ana TO that end provisions should be
meet the requirements arising from the In.
creased number of inmates
HOSPITALS FOR THE INSANE 49,.
into
| In this and other states has convinced me that
We may make radical improvements in meth.
oos OF construction and management. All that
should be done cannot be accom- pilshed at once
Out beginning may be made upon some we'll
considered plan that would eventually place
times and cause her institutions Of this char
actef to be recognized as embodying she
best results of modern thought. In dealing
outcome Affects the only class within our Dor
ders unable 10 make . demand or enter a
protest, and that for this reason our obliga
Nor should We fail to remember that these
helpless wards Of the state are the fathers,
mothers, sisters, and brothers of our friends
Toner for your consideration the following
suggestions. a!l:important in any plan that has
for ise object the elevation Of the standard OF
excellence OF our hospitals for the insane, and
some OF which. In my judgment, may and
should receive your Immediate and careful A.
tention.
Firsl-The corps of physicians should be 40
increased as to provide one for each one hun.
dred patients. The practice of placing nine
hundred to one thousand patients under the
care OF. say. four physicians. amounts practi
cally, to o herd,ng OF the insane and as it is
contemplated upon the part OF the state to
cure % wen as care for the inmates one Of the
purposes fOrWhiCh the asylums are provided Ii
IN large measure frustrated.
Second-No physician should re.
osvom uns he has nas..o an
thorough examination before the lunacy com.
mission, to test his knowledge Of mental and
nervous diseases, and his general fitness for
Thlrd-A training school for attendants
should be established. and course of lectures
and practical instruction in the care Of the IN.
sane provided. Before attendants are accepted
permanently as employees OF an asylum they
| should be required to graduate from such train.
ing school. There should be one attendant, at
least. for every ten patients, and o graded sys.
tenn OF promotion. all examinations being com.
Fourth-Al the asy,ums should be furnished
with mortuary room, fully equipped.
Fiflh--1t is no longer matter for doubt that
In the large majority Of cases improved mental
| condition results from giving employment to
| thority says: "The real value OF occupation as
remedial agent in the treatment of insanity
has not 6 been appreciated until
patton we are compelled to note its four fold
l. In the Improvement Of the general health
and mental vgor OF the patient.
2 In errest.ng tendencies to dementia.
D. In tho reduction Of violence and disturb
snces In the refractory wards.
T. In the decrease of mechanical restraint,
There should be separate industrial build
ing, and the occupation OF the patient should
be adapted, so far as practicable, to his pre-
Sixth-Although it is not practicable at this
time to nuke separate provision for the class
known to the medical fraternity as the crimi-
nal insane, it is, In my judgment, desirable
that it should be done whenever the necessary
appropriation may be properly asked for: 1t is
manifestly wrong to compel insane people of
ordinary refinement and Of liability to Us
sociate with insane murderers, criminals and
disreputable characters. How offensive to the
mildly and harmless insane-to the mo; hers,
| wives and sis,ers-in their lucid intervals,
must be this enforced association. Experience
has shown that insanity simply lntensitos
criminal propensities, and 1t is u fact that the
non criminal insane do not com bine for any
are constantly scheming and attempting
escape, thus necesstating greater precautions
and Q larger number of attendants
would recommend that greater supervisory
powers be vested in the lunacy commission,
! and that it be charged with further RESPONSE
bi tty in the commitment and discharge OF pa
ITEMS Some OF the provisions Of u law In force
| In the state OF New York. covering this whole
matter, and which in operation Is giving EN-,
nent satisfaction. is well worthy your consider
alton.
FUNDING OF MINNESOTA RAILROAD ADJUST
MENr BONDS.
In July next the state may avail itself of the
privilege if it so elects, of paying and retiring
the ~ per cent Minnesota railroad nd justin ent
bonds. The amount outstanding at this time
Is 81, o.. co., OF this sum all held by the
various trust funds OF the state, save 63G, OOJ.
OF this latter amount certain portion may be
by the cash avaaots in The
bonds which may be allowed to run at the
present rate OF ~ per cent or funded into .
bond bearing lower interest charge: I
be prepared permitting tho proper
officers to take up the bonds when the option
may be avaied Of, in case any saving can be
! the money market warrant. l think bond
bearing . rate. as low as 81 per cent per annum
could be sold at par. ltwould be we'll, also, to
general election authorizing the trustees OF the
internal land improvement fund to exchange
the land contracts IN that fund, amounting to
other trusts, and to provide that when SO OK.
changed an equal number OF bonds be can
celod, thus extinguishing that amount OF our
state debt.
AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM OF VOTING
The last legislature enacted law relating to
the manner OF voting and the holding of PR,
people or more. and o test OF the plan (known
generally as the Australian system) was made
the last general the law IN the
changes being apparently necessary to per-
feet It. In my judgment the statute should DO
so amended asto make 1t applicable to the
entire state, and suggest for your consid.
Grafton the desirability of causing such ad-
ditiOns to the present laws as will accomplish
the necessity Of throwing such safeguards
about the ballot box as will insure purity 10
elections. No means should be spared to pre-.
vent fraud, intimidation or corruption ut the
polls.
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
Our whole educational system Is so excellent,
and rests upon so secure q foundation, that
hardly deem 1t necessary to enlarge upon 1t
particularly. The excellent character OF the
work being done IN the university, in the nor
NAL schools and in the high schools is gen
orally known and appreciated as to require but
little comment other than words Of highest
praise. Some changes are needed in the direc-
ton Of the management OF the high schools Of
the state, IS we'll as some additional appropri
alton to meet the natural growth incident to o
rapidly increasing population 1t would be
we'll to enlarge the present high school board,
consisting Of three members, to 1--we, tho two
additional to be selected, one by the board Of
regents and one by the normal school board.
The employment OF . special secretary VINO
would devote his time to the inspection and i'm
provement OF the high and graded schools,
seems to me desirable.
Quite number Of graded schools might rank
IS high schools il the appropriation were in
creased $500 per year, and thus very desir
able result would follow q moder ate additional
| expenditure. The sum of 500 IS allowed each
high school under certain conditions, and ut
this time the appropriation only provides for
$50. At least Is additional schools should re-
ceive the aid OF &40O as py this assistance they
SnH~ S~~.% ~v1A