The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-01-22

have been employed in the labor OF manurac.
| turing wooden ware. with results sufficiently
In accordance with quite widespread senti.
| ment, an attempt will be made to employ a
portion OF the prison labor in making binding
| twine Machinery for this purpose OF the best
character obtainable. was purchased upon sat.
| lsfactory terms by q committee selected for
that purpose A guarantee has been given
claimed for it: and In case it does not meet re.
Quirements, the state is not obligated to take
or pay for 1t. 1t is sincerely hoped that the ex.
pertinent may prove a success, II results
| seem to make it desirable. additional machin.
cry may be purchased. and the producing ca.
pacity OF the plant increased. Should the at
satisfactorily, It will be OF inestimabe advant.
age IN producing much needed article at
home presumably At reduced cost, and, in I'D
dition, the convict labor will be utilized in a
way not to conflict with the free labor
| Of the state. Some additional appropriation
VIII De required to properly carry on the bust
| cordance with the present plan.
THE STATE REFORMATORY.
the state reformatory at st. Cloud is in full
Working order. and is apparently accomplish
entirely inadequate to the demands upon 1t,
having within its walls more than can be com.
| fortably cared for. II is no longer question
that much good can be effected in checking
criminal impulses by means of reformatory
methods and to that end provisions should be
made to so enlarge the present buildings as TO
meet the requirements arising from the in.
creased number of inmates
HOSPITALS FOR THE INSANE.
most careful and painstaking inquiry into
matters pc raining to hospitals for the insane
in this and other states has convinced me that
we may make radical improvements in meth.
DDS Of construction and management. All that
should be done cannot be accomplished at once
out beg inning may be made upon some we'll
considered plan that would eventually place
our state: in this particular abreast with the
times and cause her institutions of this char.
acter to be recognized as embodying the
best results of modern thought. In dealing
with this subject we should not forget that the
outcome affects the only class within our Dor
ders unable to make demand entera
protest, and that for this reason our obliga.
tions TO them are OF the most sacred character.
Nor should we fail to remember that these
helpless wards OF the state are the fathers
mothers. sisters, and brothers OF our friends
and nelehborS.
suggestions. all-important in any plan that has
for is 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 at
tention.
tlrs:-The corps OF physicians should be so
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-
caly, to herd ng of the insane, and, as it is
contemplated upon the part OF the state to
cure as we'll as care for the inmates, one of the
purposes for which the asylums are provided is
in large measure frustrated.
second-No MUSICIAN should re.
ceive appointment at an
asylum until he has successfully passed a
thorough examination before the lunacy COM
mission, to test his knowledge Of mental and
nervous diseases, and his general fitness for
the position.
Thlrd-A training school for attendants
should be established and a 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 graded sys
tenn of promotion, all examinations being com
petitive.
Fourth-All the asy1lms should be furnished
with mortuary room, fully equipped.
Fifth-It Is no longer matter for doubt that
in the large ajority OF cases improved mental
condition results from giving employment to
the h rsa au
a remedial agent in the treatment of insanity
has not been appreciate ed until a comparatively
recent Date In tracing the influence OF occl.
patton we are compelled to hote its four fold
effect:
l. In the improvement OF the general health
and mental vigor of the patient.
2. In arrest ng tendencies to dementia
3. In the reduction OF violence and disturb
anceS in the refractory wards.
4. In the decrease OF mechanical restraint.
There should be a separate indusi rial build
ing. and the occupation OF the patient should
be adapted so far as practlcaDl to his pre-.
vious life and habits.
Sixth-Although it is not practicable at this
time to make separate provision for the class
known TO the medical fraternity the crimi-
nal insane IL Is, in my judgment, desirable
that it should be done whenever the necessary
appropriation may be properly asked for. 1t is
manlfestly wrong to compel insane people OF
ordinary refinement and of responsibility to as
sociate with insane murderers, criminals and
dsreputabie characters How offensive to the
mildly and harmless insane-to the mo hers,
1,<,;-
must be this enforced association. Experience
has shown that insanity simply inensites
criminal propensities, and it Is fact that the
non criminal insane do not com bine for any
purpose, while the criminal insane
are constantly scheming and attempting
escape thus necessitating greater precautions
and a larger lumber of attendants
would recommend that greater supervisory
powers be vested in the lunacy commission,
and that it be charged with further RESPONSE
bi ity in the commitment and discharge OF pa
tients. Some Of the provisions Of a law in force
in the state Of New York. covering this whole
matter and which in operation is giving emil
nent satisfaction, is well worthy your consider
alton.
FUNDING OF MINNESOTA RAILROAD ADJUST
MENT BONDS.
In July next the state may avail itself Of the
privilege, if it so elects, Of paying and retiring
the Az per cent Minnesota railroad I'D juslment
bonds. The amount outstanding at this time
is 81, g65QOJ. or this sum all are held by the
various trust funds Of the state, save sl6S6,0OJ
OF this latter amount certain portion may be
absorbed 10y the cash available in the internal
improvement fund, leaving about ST. 900 OF
bonds which may be allowed to run at the
present rate OF Az per cent or funded into a
bond bearing lower interest charge: l
be PREPARED rsiS' permitting the oDf proper
officers to take up the bonds when the option
NAV be availed of, in case any saving can be
effected for The state. Should the condition Of
the money market warrant. think a bond
bearing rate as low as 3is per cent per annum
could be sold at par 1t would be we'll, also, to
if,,ftN ,n1 nr1y, In
general election authorizing the trustees Of the
internal land improvement fund to exchange
the land contracts IN tba fund, amounting to
say Sl,S 0Ooo. for the adjustment bonds held in
other trusts and to provide that when ex
changed an equal number of bonds be
celed, thus cxtinguishing 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 pri-
maries in cities in this state containing 10O0O
people more, and q test OF the plan (known
gene:a ally as the Australian system) was made
at the last general election The law in the
main worked satisfactorily, some minor
changes being apparently necessary to per
feet it. In my judgment the statute should DO
so amended as to make it applicable to the
entire state and I suggest for your consd
Grafton the desrability Of causing such adj
ditions to the present laws as will accomplish
that result Public sentiment is fully alive to
the necessity OF throwing such safeguards
about the ballot box will insure purity iD
elections. No means should be spared to pro
vent fraud, lntlm lQatlOn or corruption At the
polls.
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
Our whole educational system is so excellent,
and rests upon so secure foundation, that I
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 he high schools is so 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 as we'll some additional appropri-
alton to meet the natural growth incident to a
rapidly increasing population. 1t would be
we'll to enlarge the present high school board,
consisting OF three members, to fve the two
additional to be selected, one by the board Of
regents and one by the normal school board. |
The employment of special secretary. who
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
as high schools if the appropriation were in
creased a., 900 per yea, and thus very desir-
able result would follow q moder ate addii ional
expenditure. The sum OF 500 is allowed each
high school under certain conditions, and at
this time the appropriation only provides for
$50. At least Is additional schools should re-
ceive the aid &4n aS this assistance thew