The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1895-02-05
DR.. M'FARLAND WRITES.
some Terse, Pointed Views on the Care Of
Oslahoma's Insane

The following letter is self-eNplana-
tory and treats at length on the care
of Oklahoma's insane:
Editor Leader:
JAcKsoNvuur, H., Feb B. 1t seems
TO me at this distance from Guthrie
that your Legislators are getting into
a snarl i'm regard 90 the insanity busi-
ness and / am fearful the limited ses-
sion OF the legislature will not enable
the question TO be satisfactorily settled.
The governor in his message recon-
mcuds that the insane be provided for
the territory, and this ! most heartily
concur IN, but i'm doing SO these unfor-
tunatcs should not be Harmed out, 3"
SO 10 speak. Let the Oklahoma Sani-
tarium company take the insane, but
let not the territory lose its guardian
ship over them. Let each county
judge have the power TO investigate
and II in his opinion these unfortunate
ores are not properly cared for, per-
NIT the county commissioners TO ar
range elsewhere for their mainteD-
aucc. Another safeguard TO the terri
tory would be, 10 have "A board Of pub
iic charities appointed 10y the COVER
nor and confirmed by the council, this
board To have the power 90 investigate
and report such misdcmeanors as
might occur, with power To annul said
contract provided sufficient bonds
had been given TO secure the terri
tory. This board Of charities should
have the power To examine all pa
tients at all times and none but acute
and chronic insane should be admitted.
/ + some one does not have this power
agN fux hal
will become nothing more nor less than
haven of rest tor paupers. who,
many of them, feign their insanity.
Your territorial laws are all wrong
i'm regard TO the insane The jury
trial should be established, as in
Illinois, and the expense Of the trans
pprtation to- the Institution be borne
10y the county, as well as the expense
for burials. As il now is the trauspor-
tation is too great 10 charge no to the
territory outrageous bills, when, if the
county had these bills TO pay county
| commissioners would he more guarded.
! As the contractor for keeping your in
sane since 1891, IL VIII be perfectly
satisfactory to me to turn over the
whole or "a part of the patients 10 the
! territory.
The crowded condition Of the state
institutions i'm Illinois and the well
known reputation of Oak Lawn Re-
treat tCgyther with my reuutation, as
| ou,ractor, for having kept the insane
! of Colorado ard Wyoming when those
state, were territories, / am free TO
say ! ave uo trouble to keep my in
stit ti.u foil of patients OF a wealthy
elias
The governor and legislature will
e thr ugh my suggestions on the
construction and organization of hos
pitfalls for the insane, which were sent
them, that would gladly turn over
this class TO such parties as shallsbe
deemed advisable 10y the governor and
legislature, and cannot do so without
expressing my gratitude for the hon
est and fair treatment have received
at their hands. / also hold myself in
readiness 10 cooperate with them at
any time IN paving the way for them
60 prepare such accommodations as
will be for the best interests OF the
territory aud for those unfortuuates in
their care. Yours most respectfully,
GEo. C. MCFARLAND, NJ d,
Contractor for Keeping the okla
huma Insane.