The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-08-23
PROVO CITY.
INSANE ASYLUMS.

The investigation into the manage
ment of The Dunning insane asylum
is creating a feeling Of horror in the
minds of the public, hence word or
two about our territorial insane asy-
lum will not be out of place.
We have about 220 of the most un-
fortunate of all human beings, that
are receiving treatment and care in
the insane asylum at Provo. The last
legislature cut down the appropriation
for that institution 30 low that the
directory have been compelled to cause
inmates who, in their judgment, were
not fully entitled to remain there, to
be removed so as to be able to properly
care for those who must be confined,
and if possible keep expenses within
the limits Of the appropriation.
An insane asylum is necessarily ex-
elusive. The visiting of patients by
the public would be very detrimental
to the patients, but not SO the visits of
the friends and relatives of Individual
patients, those who haYe relatives con-
fined there should not neglect them.
OF course they must observe the rules,
and not through mistaken kindness do
anything that would be injurious. but
they should not be forgotten.
We think the public should know
something about our insane asylum.
The board of directors meet in regular
session every month for regular busi-
ness and once in three months an of.
fetal examination of all the wards is
made. The executive committee
makes an examination at least once
between each regular monthly meet
ing not at any stated time or hour, but
varying the time, so that each examin-
alton will be at an unlocked for time.
The president and other directors drop
In and make inquiries and exami ma
tions into details in such a manner as
to convey TO all officers and employees,
that all their doings are carefully
watched and known by the directors I;
and all this is being done when thev
have no reason to suspect any derelic.
tion of duty by any one.
1t would be infamous to make the
peculiarities of insane persons matters
of public possip, or to make public
show of them in their fortunate
condition; that must be kept from the
public. Common humanity demands
it. But the public have right to
know that the guardians of these pub
lie wards are using the utmost care
and kindness in treating them and
that there is no waste of public funds,
hence the executive committee, and
sometimes the whole board, have exc
cutive sessions so that they may know
ali details of management and be pre-
pared In regular meetings to act in an
efficient manner.
The present discussion of insane
asylum matters is all right. If any of
the managers of these institutions OBJ
ject to reasonable criticisms, it is fair to
assume they need great deal more
than they will get, and those who are
fit for the place will gladly take ad-
vantage OF any valuable suggestion, no
matter by whom made, that will aid
them in more efficiently executing their
most sacred trust.
THE DISPATCH says to the public
press: Give our guardians of the in
sane the benefit of your suggestions,
make sIl reasonable inquiries, and
when our legislature meets prompt its
members to adopt such regulations
and make such appropriations as will
cause our insane asylum, and all our
state institutions to be not only cred
liable to the state but models that may
be copied to advantage by other states. |