The Ely miner., 1899-04-12
GOV. LIND'S VETO
He Disapproves the Anoka-H Hastings
Insane Asylum Bill.
The Bill Is Returned to the House With G
Message Giving in Full His Reasons
for Withholding Signature.
FavOrs Other Plans.

Gov. Lind, as anticipated by some and
dreaded by Others returned to the house
without his approval the bill for the es-
adjustment of an insane asylum at AnO-
ka and the purchase of site at Hast
ingS.
The message is as follows:
: Hon. A. n. Dare, Speaker House of
Representatives-Sir: The problem of
caring for our insane population has so
long been the subject of searching official
inquiry and public discussion in this state
and the data deducible from experience
and observations in other states, are SO
complete, that certain propositions bear
ing upon the subject appear established
beyond controversy. They are:
Flrst-For the purpose of intelligent
insane may be divided into two general
classes, the acute and chronic insane.
AS to the relative number Of each, the
trustees say in their last report: During
the past two years there have been 1,545
admissions. About 40 per cent of the ad-
missions either die or are discharged
during the first two years, cured or i'm
proved; the rest become in time what
are known as chronic cases. 1t will be
seen from this that the most of the pa
or chronic cases"
Second-That those suffering from the
disease in the acute stages require treat
ment in well-equipped hospitals for that
purpose, which afford the best medical
Skill and where the patient can receive
expert care: Our present hospitals meet
have ample facilities for caring for dou-
BILE their present population of acute in
sane, if relieved Of the custodial care of
the chronic insane.
Third-In the case of the chronic in
sane the disease does not respond to
medical treatment. They require custo-
der conditions that afford abundant out
door exercise, liberty and suitable en-
ployment. Under such conditions they
sometimes recover, though rarely, but
cOmfOrt3 hlp
tented. They need only such occasional
medical care as is required by other per-
sons of like age, and are largely self-sup-
porting if afforded opportunity. hospi-
tai is neither suitable nor an economical
establishment for their condition. To con-
gregate them in large numbers in the
same institution, as has been done in
Pennsylvania has proven utterly destrCc-
tive of such intelligence and power of
self-assistance as they possessed, where
as in Michigan, under colony system,
and in Wisconsin, under the county plan,
where the number rarely exceeds 200 in
the same place, the best results have
maintaining them in hospitals it costs
$3.1 per capita per week; in Wisconsin
the average is $1.7O.
Pursuant to a joint resolution adopted
by the legislature of this state on the 10Th
day of April, 1897, the board of .correc-
eminent citizens, investigated the Wis
consin county system last year and unan-
imously recommended it's adoption in this
state, urging it both on the grounds of
humanity and economy.
The hospital board of trustees also
made a special investigation of the sub
ject of the care of the chronic insane
They pronounce against the hospital plan
for their maintenance and advocate the
so-called colony system. They say of the
latter: 1T is the true solution of the
problem to add to our present accommo-
dations by purchasing farms and erecting
buildings within short distances from the
hospitals already built and under the
officers. This will save much cost in
administration, and is no doubt the best
and most economical method that can be
adopted" To summarizes:
To maintain the chronic insane in large
numbers in hospitals is neither humane
nor economical. We already have hospie
tai capacity for double the population of
acute insane that we now have. The state
only requires additional accommodation
for the chronic insane, and this require
to that class, and with the greatest
economy to the state, by adopting either
the county plan or the colony plan. Not
withStanding these facts, the present bill
proposes that the state build and equip
two additional hospitals, the first at an
immediate expense of quarter OF mil
lion dollars. 1t seems to me that, un-
hampered by inconsiderate action of for
mer legislators, such propositions would
not have been seriously entertained by
the present legislature.
The citizens of Anoka, and 1 presume
likewise of Hastings, claim that on the
strength of former legislative action they
$4,000 toward securing the site for the
proposed hospital at a price within the
limits fixed by the act providing for its
acquisition, and they argue strenuously
bound to erect the hospital.
'"That they are entitled to be reim-
bursed their actual outlay IN TINS mater on,
of legislative mistake the state should
be bound to adopt a system for the main
tenance of the dependent class refer1ed
ment of those charged by law with their
care, and it appears to me against the
interests of the public, ;, As - the & interest e
ciety when the general welfare demands
so here the claims of this community
must yield to the higher interests Of the
that it would be possible for the board
of hospital trustees to establish asylums
for the care of the chronic insane under
it's provisions if it became law. then
I should have signed it, Notwithstanding
my convictions as expressed in my mes
sage. But, it, is in such q form & that the
maintain hospitals-one at Anoka to be
erected forthwith, and later and addition;
al one at Hastings. Section 5 of the, bill
prescribes the first duty of the board OF
trustees that they shall construct an ad-
ministration building with detention
ward. This would not be required for
an asylum. This alone would entail q
first outlay of not less than from $5O,OOI
to $4,000, besides the burden of annual
appropriations and maintenance.
Paragraph 3452 of the General Statutes
of 1894 which prescribes the duties of the
trustees with reference to the present
hospitals, provides they shall appoint for
each hospital medical superintendent
and assistant medical superintendent
who shall be well educated and regular
physicians; a steward or accounting Off
Ger; such assistant physicians as in their
Judgment are necessary, and such other
officers as they may deem necessary for
the welfare of the hospitals
'These provisions are plain and imper-
ative. There are no qualifications and
no escape from them. The administration
expenses in each of the other hospitals
under this provision exceed $4,000 a year
in each hospital and would aggregate not
less than. $4,000 per annum in the two