The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-22

but that in none of these cases could
the state board act further than i'll
an advisory way He said that about
siXty-flve patients had been returned
to the various counties of the state
yesterday from ST. Peter and other
asylums, and that more would follow.
He thought that many more would be
received here and in Minneapolis dur
ing the present week as result of the
REORGANIZATION. Deputy Robert thought
that the proper authorities should
take charge of Johnson and the Han
son woman Immediately. He said that
the county Jail was not the place 20
keep them, even temporarily, and, In
the absence of Sheriff Wagner, he
hardly wished to assume the RESPONSE
bility of keeping them confined there.
Agent Gates proposed that the county
board of control should be appealed to,
and accompanied by him Deputy Sher-
if Robert went before that body.
Mr.. Robert made known the circum-
stances under which he had received
the patients, and then Agent Gates
explained to the members of the board
who were present by what legal au-
thority Johnson and the Hanson won't
an had been sent back. He thought
that the board could make temporary
provision for the unfortunateS until
the board of county commissioners
could take official action. President
Kerwin could not agree to this sugges-
ton. He said that the board of con-
troll had no authority to act in official
business for the commissioners, and
City Physician Ancker said that the
municipality could not handle the
case. 1t was decided that the patients
must be held at the county Jail until
the commissioners could dispose OF
them, and there the matter rested.
While he was discussing this case
with the members of the board of con-
troll, Agent Gates said that the state
board of corrections and charities was
active just now in it's efforts to rid the
commonwealth of insane and other
paupers who were not residents. In
the cases of Johnson and the Hanson
woman, evidently they were residents
of Ramsey county, although the rec
ordS in the probate court failed to con-
tain information on the subject. Such
being the facts, the county would be
compelled to assume that they were
residents and provide for them. Mr..
Gates said that there were in the state
about 1000 pauperS, including the in
sane, who were not entitled to charity
under the law because they were not
residents. His board was sending these
people away as rapidly as it's small
appropriation of $4,000 would warrant.
but until the state gave more funds
to the work, little could be accom-
plished. He- knew that there were
many insane persons in the Minnesota
aSylumS who were non-reSidentS and
wherever possible they were being de-
ported. President KerWin said that the
city was supporting any number OF
families who were not residents, but
in need, and Agent Gates advised him
to return all such persons to the places
whence they came. He offered to at
tend to the deportation, if the city
would furnish the funds, and President
KerWin replied that the board of con-
troll would take the matter up at an
early date.
Johnson and the Hanson woman are
paupers, and they have been state
charge ever since their Incarceration
at ST. Peter. Many years ago the city
of ST. Paul ceased to send its insane
to this asylum and since that time all
commitments have been made for
Rochester. Mr.. Gates referred to this
fact in connection with the work of
his board and as an illustration of the
manner in which pauper charges are
thrust into state institutions he re-
ferred to what was done in Otter Tail
county Immediately after the new aSy-
lum was opened at Fergus Fails. He
said that the authorities out there
dragged all of the county institutions
of their paupers and sent them to the
new asylum. More than twelve per-
sons were committed in the new insti-
tuition who had no right to be there.
His board was doing everything In it's
power to put down these alleged
abuses.
Minnesota is sadly in need of an
institution which Massachusetts has
made provision for" he said. 1T is in
tended to harbor just such charges as
Johnson and the Hanson woman, as
well al other CHARGES whose pOD0i-
ton throws them upon the charity of
the state, yet are not fit subjects for
insane asylums. There is. plenty of
room in Minnesota for such an insti-
tuition, and sooner or later 1t will have
to come"