The Red Cloud chief., 1897-01-22
Institute ms tor the Deaf and for tho
Blind,

1 desire to call the attention Of the .eg-
islature to the urgent nee essity for suit
able legislation making proper provisions
Tor the control, government and mA.nten-
ance OF the institution for the blind ut
Nebraska CITY and the institute for the
deaf and dumb ut Omaha These Two In
situations are 80 nearly alike In character
that l am OF the opinion hat each can
be provided for by the passage of a single
act. In the treatment Of this subject, In
speaking OF one. I take 1t that the same
remarks Will apply as well to the other.
The law at present governing the insti-
tute for the deal and dumb is found in
chapter q OF the compiled statutes Of
1893; while the law governing the institu-
ton for the blind Is found In chapter Il
OF ta' same statutes. The law for the
governing OF the institute for the deaf
and dumb was passed in 1875. prior to the
adoption OF our present constitution, As
war also the law governing the other In
stitution. The present constitution pro-
vides that a board OF public lands and
buildings consisting of the commissioner
OF public lands and buildings, the secre-
tary of state. treasurer and attorney-Ker-
eral shall have gen sral supervision and
control OF all buildings, grounds and lands
OF the state. the state prison. asylums
and all other like institutions except
those for educational purposes. It was
Intended by the original enactment of tho
law governing these institutions that the
institute for the deaf and dumb should
be controlled by u board Of directors, as
mentioned In the original act, and the
institution for the blind should be gov
erned by a board OF trustees to be So
lected by the legislature. as therein pro-
videi.
Under the provisions of the present con-
stitution these institutions could no long
or be governed as originally Intended.
and In the case of the Institute for the
AAaH and Aa~.k H. 49,.
and buildings assumed control, the gov
ernor exercising the authority to appoint
the managing officers. This institution
has been conducted IN this manner until
the present time.
Respecting the institution for the blind,
IN an carly decision of the supreme court.
found in the 9Th Nebraska, gage 2ss, In
the case OF State VS.. Bacon. It was de-
cided that, this institution was not an
educational institution within the meaning
OF the section OF the constitution hereto
fore cited and was within the control of
the board OF public lands and buildings.
Thereafter this institution was under the
conirn! and management OF that board,
the r2"ernor appointing the managing Of
hcer. In a recent decision. found In the
case Of Curtis VS.. Allen. t3 Nebraska. 1871,
the supreme court reversed the decision
above mentioned and held that this was
an educational institution and not under
the control OF the board Of public lands
and buildings.
SCHOOLS. NOT ASYLUMs.
That both OF these two institutions are
educational in their aims and objects
rather than asylums or permanent abiding
places for the unfortunate blind and deaf
1t seems to me hardly admits OF Sargu-
ment. The latter decision OF the supreme
court was In accord with the spirit and
Intention Of the law establishing and pro-
viding for the maintenance of these two
inatitIiffOpa and N aIthAr ia fn,tpA ~ Ia
educational IN Its character by a prop.r
tribunal, It must follow az a logical Sc
quence that tina other Is likewise OF the
same character; the ono being for ths
purpose OF educaung the unfortunate
children Of the state who have lost the