The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-01
NEEDS OF THE INSANE
DIR. EDENHARTER WANTS s260,0OO
FOR MAINTENANCE.
DR.. smith. of the Eastern Hospital,
wants 100000 to Increase the
Capacity of the Institution.

The House committee on ways and means
met last night at the Statehouse to con-
slider the appropriations necessary for the
hospitals for the insane Drs. Edenharter,
of the Central, Rogers, of the Northern,
and Smith, of the Eastern. were present,
at the request of the committee. DR.. Thorn
as, OF the Southern. sent word that he was
detained, and would abide by the conclu-
sions of the committee.
DIR. Edenharter was heard first in behalf
of the Central Hospit IL for the Insane. He
went over the items of appropriation asked
for, saying that $4,000 would be needed
annually for maintenance, the same as for
two years past, and that $12.5O0 would be
needed to finish the new laundry which was
built after the old one was destroyed by
fire. He asked for $4,000 for painting the
buildings, which cover fifteen acres, and
have not had paint for fifteen or eighteen
years. He said it was a. question not mere
ly of comfort to the inmates, but of preser
walton Of the property. He asks for $40, 900
in two years for repairs upon the same
score and $4,000 for plumbing. He declared
that the condition of the buildings and the
plumbing would show the committee the
urgent need if they would only visit the
hospital and see its condition. The mem.
bers of the committee asked number of
questions. 1t is probable they will visit
the institution. DIR. Rogers asked for s25.-
100 for the purpose of charging the hos
pital at Logansport so as to admit the large
number that are waiting for admission. He
asked for 100000 for maintenance for the
first year and $1O5,000 for the second He
said the institution has 506 beds and every
one occupied.
Dr. Smith, of the Eastern Hospital, asked
for $95, 900 maintenance, the same as in the
past year, and for 100000 for increasing
the capacity so per cent. He said the in
stitution, in years time would be abso-
lutely filled with chronic cases, which he
is not under the law governing three new
hospitals, allowed to remove to their re-
spective counties when it is necessary to
make room for new acute cases. There
would then be no admission except as room
was made by death, and the inaiitution
would no longer be a hospital, but an
asylum. He said the improvements asked
for would give accommodations for two
hundred more patients, and that he has
already ITS applications for admission of in
sane in the counties which constitute the
hospital district. He said that one-fourth
of these with such treatment as the hos
pital AFFORDS would be durable if received
In time. but the hospital cannot find room
for them. The point was impressed upon
the committee that the period is not far off
when there will be no more room for the
treatment of acute cases of insanity in the
new hospitals, which would produce situ-
alton similar to having no hospitals for the
insane.
After hearing the superintendent of hos
pitais the committee went into executive
session for the consideration of the State
tax commissions bill to correct admin
lstratlve features of the tax law.