Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-01-05
CHRIS ELLEFsoN.

The CENSOR gives space to Mr.. Ellef-
sons article, not because it endorses the
annual anathemas that go up every time
the county board meets, but because it
is newspaper, and believes in the full
est and freest discussion of public mat
tiers, ard is conscious that the public
has a right to expect and receive from
public journal hearing on all matters
dealing with their affairs. None can de-
p'ore more sincerely than does the wri-
ter the discussions and transformation
manifest on the subject of asylum adj
ministration and finances. In time this
agitation will do iLcalculable injury to
the institution and the county. We
believe the asylum is now and always
has been we'll governed and it's finances
thoroughly guarded; that no man has
ever been connected with it, either as
trustee or superintendent, who has not
honestly and earnestly endeayored to do
his full duty to the unfortunate wards,
the county and to the higher authority,
which is the state. Then what mistake,
if not calamity, this strife and conten-
ton. 1t comes largely through lack
of information, through talk that ought
not to be countenRnced.
Much stress is laid, by Mr.. Ellefson
and others, on that portion of the trus-
tees late report which says: "The en-
tire property is now owned by the
county, without a cent of cost to Its
citizens" This is without doubt m s.
leading, and is wrongly interpreted by
the average person, but nevertheless
it is strictly true that the asylum earn
ings during it's existence more than
equal its entire cost and maintenance,
exclusive of interest on the investment.
This conclusion is arrived at by adding
to the earnings $31, 240 26, which is the
amount of profit aud saving in keeping
our own insane over what it would cost
were they cared for elsewhere. This, it
will be seen, is just about the amount
the asylum is still in debt, as shown in
Mr. Ellefson's article. This seems to
r. the whole meat in the kernel.
10 Mr.. Ellefson's complaint that the
reports ere too intricate, it is but inst
to the trustees 10 state that they are
made on blanks furnished by the state
board of control, who have absolute
control over county asylums. Would
it be business like to make two different
reports? And while on the subject it
may as we'll be understood by the pub
lic.that the state authorities are all pow
erful-they can give us manv or no pa
tieuts, as they see fit. Is it not fair to
presume that they recognize in the Yer
non county asylum the best possible
treatment and care for the unfortunate,
else why is it our institution is full to
OVERLOOKING while other asylums are
halt filleds
Two years ago Colonel Butt was
elected a member of the board of trus-
tees by the element that annually sees
such dark visions in asylum manage
ment He has not met their expecta
tions in unearthing irregularities. He
is business mqn, and imbued with a
spirit of fairness, and understands that
talk is not always fact. We fear the
asylum management will never be en-
tirely satisfactory until Mr.. Ellefson is
made one of the managers. This is said
in all candor.
The CENSOR has no purpose in this
but for fairness. We believe
q broader charity ought to prevail.
Let all be manly, and if there are mis-,
understandings about the financial and
other affairs OF our splendid humane in
stitution, let all in authority hold
meeting at the next session of the board
and have full and fair understanding
and accounting. Let it be done in
manly spirit, and not in back biting
way. The people are interested in hav-
ing their affairs thus adjusted.