The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-03
STATE AID FOR insane
Report Read BY Secretary Lyaett at
the Poor Board Meeting.
VISIT 10 DANvlLLB ASYLUM
Committee Discovers Thst the nill Did
Not Mean What at First Was
Supposed Report Explaining
tho Act Of Assembly.

A meeting Of the poor board held yes
terday afternoon transacted only rou-
tine business aside from a report pre-
sented by Secretary Il. J. Lynett and
Director ShOtten. a committee appoint
ed to visit the state department In rela-
tion to the measure passed by the last
legislature giving the Scranton district
state aid. The full text Of the report
Is as follows:
To the directors OF the poor of Scranton
p"2r district:
Your committee appointed to investi-
gate and report In relation to the re-
uuirements necessary for the district
to take advantage OF the provisions
Of the act providing for the care or
INDECENT insane In poor districts ana to
ascertain the manner OF keeping ac-
counts between the state institutions
and the commonwealth would respect
fully report:
That In accordance with instructions
of the board we visited Harrisburg ana
called upon Auditor General Mylin. to
whom we We're kindly introduced by
Captain John G. Delaney. That we
were cordially received by the auditor
general. who was not familiar with the
provisions OF the bill. Having been
furnished with a copy of the measure.
and having read 1t. he acknowledged
the justice Of our claim and expressed
regret that the provisions of the bill
Were not sufficiently broad to cover his
own county of Lancaster, which also
takes care of Its own insane.
He mentioned as the first require
ment certificate the secretary of the
l..sx .xf - t.Nn e1 Af
public charities that We had complied
with the requirements Of the act.
This having been secured, the district
would be entitled to an allowance from
the state from the date Of the approval
OF the act by the governor, June &C. 1895,
to be collected quarterly upon the re-
QUESTION Of the poor district authori
ties.
About the NOrristown Asylum.
This allowance Is not $226 per week.
as We supposed. 1t Is the actual cost
of maintenance in excess of sl.75 q
week which the district must pay. In
the expenses of maintenance may be
figured in the cost Of carpets. furniture
and any other supplies that may be
necessary. also any repairs that may
be made upon the buildings. but the
cost Of new buildings, nor the interest
upon the cost of the buildings. cannot
be included. The just proportion Of the
cost OF administration. such as salaries
OF officers. etc. may also be charged
in this bill. The amount paid by the
state to Norristown asylum. according
to a report shown us by the auditor gen.
eral. was equal to $1S6 per week for
each patient.
To take advantage Of the provisions
OF the bill 1T will be necessary to keep
seperate accounts Of the cost of MAIN
taining the insane, as quarterly ac-
counts must be made to the state un-
der oath Of a majority Of the members
of the board. These accounts must be
submitted to and approved by the Sec
retary Of the committee of the board Of
public charities and approved by him.
Accounts must also be rendered Of all
moneys from whatever source received
for the maintenance OF the insane. and
the amount of such receipts will be de-
ducted from the amount payable by the
state.
The accounts between the state and
the state Institutions are not at all COM
plicated. They simply involve a quar-
terly statement. and a quarterly roll
Of inmates with the number Of weeks
Of treatment set forth. But as we have
never kept a separate account Of the
cost Of maintaining insane, and as In
the case Of the insane asylums the
farms belnOg TO the state. while In
our case the farm belongs to the poor
district, the new law will involve re-
volution in the system Of bookkeeping
ct Hillside Home and probably the en-
ployment Of g. clerk to keep the ac-
counts.
Must Notify BOARD Of Charities.
We, therefore, recommend: First, that
committee be appointed to communi-
cate with Cadwallader Biddle, secre-
tary Of the board Of public charities.
to procure the certificate that we have
compiled with the requirements Of the
act.
Second. that committee be appoint
ed to devise a system Of accounts to be
kept at Hillside Home whereby the ex-
act cost Of the maintenance Of the In
sane may be determined.
Your committee would further report
that our visit to the Danville Insane
asylum was made pleasant by many
courtesies at the hands Of Superintend-
ent Meredith, DR.. Adams, resident
physician, and Mr.. Otth, the clerk. and
that, in accordance with your instruc-
tons, we made inquiries as to the terms
with and treatment OF the attendants.
We find that the authority Of the SUI
perintendent In the hiring. placing and
discharge Of help Is absolute.
Attendants are on duty from a. m.
to p. M, when they go to bed. They
are expected to be on duty every day
and always In the wards with their pa
tients in view. At meal times half of
the number OF attendants remain In
the wards, while the other half go to
dinner. Attendants are given one week
vacation every six months with pay.
one-half day every week and part of
every third Sunday on their turns. In
addition to this the men are allowed to
spend Sunday evenings out on their
turns. The female help not being
granted this privilege have. In lieu Of
II. the right to take two additional
weeks off each year without pay at
their option. A change Is now meditat-
ed by which. instead Of the two weeks
without pay, the female attendants will
be allowed two hours q week with pay
The schedule Of wages Is as follows:
The Schedule Of Wages.
For female attendants--First six
months. 314; after that, SIC to 81. ac.
cording to time Of service and efficiency
IWO uOIIdTs per TnoHtH 10 TetdlHeu iVl
the first siv months. to be forfeited II
the attendant leaves for any reason.
For male Observation-Disclosures dol.
lars for the first six months, and S22
324 and $25 per month afterward. nc.
cording to term Of service and efficien-
cy. Three dollars per month is retained
| for the first six months, to be forfeited
II the attendant leaves for. any reason.
We were particularly impressed with
O. book known as the Nurses Report
which contains record Of the doctors q
instruction as to sick inmates and the
nurses report az to how they were car
ried out. Such a system should be
adopted in our institution.
We were kindly escorted through the
institution and were agreeably sur.
prised by the home-llke comfort. even
luxury. with which the female depart.
v,anf In furnished There were carDets