The record-union., 1897-01-06
THE GOVERNOR AND THE
ASYLUMS.

Governor Budd asserts In his message
TO the Legislature that there are many
inmates of the State insane asyluans
who should not be there, and who are
really only indigents, and are able to
help themselves to a considerable ex-
tent If they were placed where they
could do work. He charges that one
half of the inmates of the Asylum for
the Feeble Minded have been improper
ly committed, as the law does not con-
template that chronic idiots should be
sent there, or any who cannot to
some reasonable extent be educated and
mentally developed.
He also charges that in the several
a.sylurns There is a large number of In
mates supported at State cost who have
and care, and upon whom the obligation
to do so naturally and lawfully rests.
To these facts he calls the attention OF
the Legislature, and advises that such
action be taken as will rectify these
evils
One plan Is to devote one Of the in
sane asyluns wholly TO the grouping OF
such inmates as, while Improperly
held cannot now be turned adrift, give
them opportunity to do productive la
bor, and have them classed as depend
snt poor and harmless detectives. An
other plan, and running side by side
with that. Is to put half the burden or
all of the cost of maintaining persons
sent from them to the insane and other
asylu1ns, upon the several counties from
which they are committed, the State
furnishing the buildings and grounds
Thousands of dollars would be saved
annually to the State, he argues, be-
cause the counties would then require
all relatives who apply to have mem
Der of the family committed, to pay the
cost if able. and this would relieve
the people of the cost of maintaining
large number in asylurns whose families
ought to pay the charges for their care
In short, the Governor asserts, and
unouestionably he is right, that no one
GxCGDL uIle 0CPSllQCAL PoNN ''N~~ - -
sane have any right in a State insane
asylum. The Governor cites dan support
of his views the case of the two youths
reformatories The Legislature or 1876
provided that half the burden Of annua.
support of children committed to the
lone or Whittier Schools must be paid
by the county from which the person l:
committed The effect has been, says
the Governor, that exceeding care has
euer since been taken in committing
charges to the schools, and the average
number OF commitments has much de-
clined-
IL now it is true, as he asserts 1t Is
that the State maintains in asyluns
large number of people who are nof
weaker mentally than thousands Wht
are out of the aSyluns and whom nN
one thinks of having sent to one; ane
If this practice of commitment Is u
continue. then inevitably the people wal
have TO be further taxed to establish
x,ora insane asylurns He adds thess
words:
In fact, but for the maintenance II
our asylurns of those not entitled to ad
mission or support therein, the mos
ardent advocate for the establishment
Of a local institution in his count!
vvo,,Id never have dreamed OF the neces
sttv of taxing our people millions OF doi
1ay-s for the maintenance and construc
ton of more than three insane asyiuzn'
in California
In searching for reasons for the un
tustifable detention Of such people Il
tbe asvlums we find two causes set ou'
First that large part OF them nav
been there so long to turn them aorii
now with no friends to care Tor tneti y
ass;st them to start again would De III
humanity. Secondly, there is no pio
,asion for keeping clinical recoro
Tho natients. A clinical history OF LII
inmates would develop about all 'il
cases referred to- To these reasons
.dded. somewhat doubtfully 1t woui