The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-16

any detrimeat to the state The state
| board Of health might be made less expensive.
Without materially Diminishing its efficiency.
The once OF state veterinarian might be abol-
iShed and the once placed under the control
Of the professor OF veterinary az NE agricrl-
tural college. In these times OF depression ii
is your duty TO cut OF all expenditures no:
absolutely necessary There has never seemed
to me any reason Why members OF tho state
boards should be paid mileage Itwoaid be faI
more reasonable and sensible to psy them
their necessary travelling expenses actually
paid and their per diem for all time necessar-
lily employed and know no good reason Why
the per diem should be increased. The treas
urer OF the board OF charities handles a large
amount of money. and gives only small bond
as member of the board. The business like
way to do would be to abolish all these minor
treasurers and require all moneys 10 be paid
by the state treasurer. But il this not done.
he ought 10 be required to give bond suf1-
GENTLY large TO cover any moneys belonging to
the state that may come into his hands
There seems to be no system of checks or
counterchecks on any OF these boards The
board OF charities expend about s3500OO per
year. They make their own contracts. audit
their own accounts and manage matters after
their own will. There is no provision even for
the investigation of their accounts, except
when the legislature is seized with spasm OF
virtue. and examinations of this kind are but
of little value. The most critical examinations
ought to be made of the accounts OF every
state institution. at least once q quar-
ter. by an expert accountant, VINO should
visit the institutions az irregular sea-
sons without the slightest notice TO the
officers lie could render valuable assist
ance by suggesting improved modes Of
keeping accounts. The governor. as the chief
executive Of the state, is virtually responsible
fer the proper management of the state insti-
buttons. To enable him to be brought in closer
touch with their management, 1 would suggest
that he be authorized to employ an additional
clerk, who should be an expert accountant,
and whose duty it should be to examine quar-
terly, or oftener If directed by the governor.
the accounts of all the state institutions and
state boards He should also be subject TO the
orders of the governor 1T all times, with au-
thority to examine the accounts OF county
treasurers far enough ut least to protect the
state in the matter of state taxes and school
land funds The simple fact that there is
difference of almost SOD 900 in these accounts
emphasizes the Importance Of this last sug-
gestion.
l deem 1t Of far more Importance that these
suggestions should be carried out than that
radical changes should be made in the num-
bers, powers and duties OF the boards. Free
quent changes in the laws make many and I'M
necessary complications, and it is better Ito
endure the ills we have than 10 fly to those We
know not Of"
Insane and Insane Asylums.
The dictates Of humanity demand that the
tenderest care should be given to our unfortu-
nate fellow-citizens who have been bereft or
their reason. No reasonable expense should
be spared to provide for their comfort or to
furnish the best medical attendance attainable
At present the two aSylums at Topeka and
Osawatomie seem inadequate TO pro-
vide suitably for all of this unfor-
tunate class. The detached building
lied by the last legislature, is now nearly
completed and when proper provisions shall
have been made for furnishing and fitting 1t
for occupancy, it win furnish accommodations
for about three hundred females. This will re-
1ieve for the time being the pressure upon the
two institutions; but additional room will
soon be required To provide for this need,
the asylum at Topeka should be completed by
the erection of a ward building for women, and
. center or administration building. When
the institution was opened in 1879, with ca
pacity Of 125 patients, temporary accommoda-
tons for officers were provided in one end OF
one OF the ward buildings, and they have ever
since been, occupied for that purpose. This
greatly lessons the comfort OF the patients, and
this temporary arrangement should be abolish
ed at the earliest possible mo, -ent.
The original plan for buildings at Osawato-
ME has, understand, been carried out. After
the completion Of the original design for build
ings at Topeka no more should be erected at
either place, but whenever additional accom-
are required location should be
secured in the western part of the state, where
patients from that section can be cared for. IN
order that they may be moro easily accessible
to their friends who desire to visit them The
cost of commitment would be materially re-
duced
The present laws for the commitment Of the
insane to the asylum seem to be relics Of bar
barism. There is something absolutely repul-
sive to me in the sight OF sheriff taking
young LADY from her home as he would take
person accused OF q crime, aud bringing
her before the court where q gaping
crowd of curious people have gathered to see
her tried by jury like thief. cannot
see where there could be any danger Of per-
son being unlawfully deprived OF his liberty IL
The probate judge were authorized TO appoint q
commission OF two or three reputable physi-
;ians to go quietly to the homo Of the unfor-
,unate, and make the necessary examination.
And when any person Is adjudged insane, it
would seem much more appropriate to employ
;ome friend in whom the insane person had
confidence, to take him quietly to the asylum.
And in case the patient is female, a lady at
endant ought in every case to accompany her.
In the legislative session of 1891 a law was
Enacted, giving the directors OF the peniten-
iary authority to send insane convicts 70 the
Isyluuis. There is a natural and very strong
epugnance on the part OF the friends OF the |
insane to having them compelled to associate
With convicts. at any rate. there is no reason !
o suppose that the directors OF the prison are |
specially well qualified to decide what insane |
prisoners should be transferred. and II such |
ransfer is to be made at all, It should only be !
With the fun consent OF the superintendent OK |
he asylum, after careful examination OF the |
person proposed to be transferred.
Reformatory.
The legislature in 1885 appropriated $4,000 |
o purchase n site and to commence the cree
ion Of buildings for reformatory. for the |
Of class OF young criminals /
Fhom 1t would be possible 70 reform and turn /
D lives Of usefulness. 1t is startling fact |
hat the number OF criminals in the eoantry az
lrge is steadily and surely increasing There !
GEMS to be = large class Of vsgrant. shiftless \
ramps, from which the supply Is con-
family recruited. The effect OF confinement /
D the state prisons seems 70 make confirmed |
rininais out Of those who In some measure
hight be called incidental coaYiets. Primarily. /
be object Of ali punishment for crime is the 1
rejection Of society, but it is ofsentimes
etter and cheaper safeguard 20 society 70
l3ke good law-sbidinz citizen out OF the /
Dung man who has fallen into evil ways, than
would be by repeated convictions to keep
i'm in the penitentiaTy. Other states kaye
dopted = system o. reformato-ies vita
larsed success. and suggest 20 you careful
IyestIgsti0n Of their systems and the results
lst have followed, with q view Of carrying out
le original plan for q similar system In tbs
late
IL pursuance OF the act o. the legislature o.
81 commission Was appointed. and . site
n reformatory YES selected at Hutchinson,
le CITIZENS OF that county donating 60 acres
valuable land for that purpose Two hun
red thousand dollars have since been sppro-
rated b the legislature and nearly The en-
re amount has been expeaded IN tee erection