Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-17

sire to press this bill to passage:
have none today. My friend from
Dover (Mr. Guernsey think has
been misled In some of his examine
lions into this item that he moves to
strike from this bill.
The estimated receipts for the year
1899. according to the State treasurer,
, Is $1.6S9.210. Cash on band. $l54, 1sS.7S.
Temporary loan. $150,00O. Due from
the United States government, $S6,OOO-
Leaving $2.079.Ss3 IS to pay the current
expenses OF the State for the year.
Now the estimated expenses are. In
this appropriation bill. $l.6o5 IVY 30
Regular appropriations, that existing
laws will cause to be provided Tor IN
the second bill. S14s.350. All appropria-
| tons that have been presented to the
Legislature and are pending. winch
| have not been acted upon. 1920. 253.
In regard to this item for insane
State beneficiaries. 5000. In the year
1897 the State paid $4,000 for the State
beneficiaries. In 1896 it paid S66.OOO.
The gentleman from Dover is mistaken
as to the management and government
of the insane hospital. Some years ago
| / ndu tUe W 49,
board. That institution Is an institu-
tion that is created by law. The trus-
tees are appointed by the Governor,
approved by the Council. Inc man.
aeement of it is in their hands, sub
ject to the control of the Governor and
Council. and the Legislature. Every
bill has to be presented to the cover
nor and Council, in their report. and
approved by them. 1t is true that by
wise management. by the treasurer
buying everything that he buys for
| that institution in Boston or New
York. in the larger markets where he
| can buy at wholesale. he gets every
thing at a very low cost.
Now the institution may show that
| it has made so many thousand dollars.
but every dollar has to be expended
| for the benefit of the institution. Civ
| ing them new systems Of ventilation,
ney systems of heating. and those
! things that add to the comfort and
benefit of the patients. Every dollar
earned at that institutions. over and
| above the mere cost of running II. Is
expended for the benefit of those poor
unfortunate people.
| Now the law of the State says that
the Governor and Council shall pay to
; that institution $3.50 week for every
person who becomes a charge upon the
| State, who is insane, or else pay 1t to
the town which takes care of the in
sane patient. This does not all go TO
| the Maine insane hospital. A great
| part is paid back to the towns: and
| they are entitled to Sl.50 a week pro-
! vided that person is a charge upon the
State. 1t Is for the Governor and
Council to investigate and to decide.
and l do not believe any gentleman
upon this floor will question that the
Governor and Council have guarded
safely and wisely the interests OF the
State. They would not allow patient
to receive this benefit unless he was
legally entitled to it by the statutes of
the State.
OF course it is impossible for thp
State treasurer or for the finance CON-
mittee to say precisely what the exact
amount will be this coming year II
may be more than SOS. 900: it may be
less: but the Governor and Council
will not pay one dollar of this sum I'M
less they first examine and audit the
account. 1t seems to me that if there
is any one appropriation in this world
that we should make. regardless OF
income or anything else, it is this one
which takes care of the poor unfortu-
nate insane people of this State. CAP
plause.D
Mr. Guernsey: | have not the slight
est objection to the appropriation OF
all that is necessary TO take care OF
that unfortunate class which is con-
fined across the river. l have in view
simply the idea that | wish an oppor-
| tunity to further examine into the
question as to the amount that is nee
essary: and in an examination this
morning of the report of the institu-
ton. it seemed to indicate to me that
there was a surplus of $4,000 accumu
lated in two years from their income.
| While it is true that this $4,000 is to
pay in part this S1.50 a week. I think
that that is only part Of the bill. the
balance of the bill is the expenses OF
the institution there. and If they can
accumulate that fund in that time.
perhaps it ought to be applied to those
expenses instead of being withdrawn
from the State treasury. If they can
come here and represent that $3O,OO0 is
necessary for certain purpose, as
they did two years ago. and receive an
appropriation of that amount. and then
take $4,000 from the general fund.
general income, and apply it in addi-
ton to that appropriation. perhaps it
might be we'll enough for the men,
bers of the House to inform themselves
in regard to it.
The only object of this amendment il,
to allow delay. 1t can go into the sec
ond appropriation bill. 1t will cause
no one any HARM
| Mr.. ParkhurSt of Bangor: ] wish To
say word in explanation of the man
ner in which the estimates for this ap-
preparation is made up, and how the
money is expended. 1t has been my
| fortune TO serve on the committee on
1 Insane hospital. as it's secretary. for
two terms of the Legislature. During
that timed have been afforded very
full opportunity to investigate the
management of the hospital Under
the law of the State. as it now exists.
the Insane hospital is entitled to re-
ceive money in two ways: First. a
specific appropriate which is carried
in the salary item. amounting to $1,000.
which provides for the salaries of the
superintendent. the doctors in attend