The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-07
OUR FIVE FEEBLE MINDED.
THEY WILL REMAIN AT THE
GLEN ELLEN HOME.
Supervisors Conclude It Best to
Submit to the New Law and
Pay for Them.

Superior Judge Hughes appeared be-
fore the Board of Supervisors in rela-
ton to the matter of the unpaid de-
mands from the Home for Feeble
Minded Children for the maintenance
of persons committed from this county.
Under the law as amended at the last
session of the Legislature there is now
due from this county to the home sew
eral hundred dollars, and the directors
have been threatening to turn the Sac
ramento inmates out if these demands
are not paid.
Judge Hughes explained to the board
that between 1892 and 1894 seven chill
dren were committed from this county
to the Home for Feeble Minded in So
noma. Two have died, leaving five in
the home. The State then paid for
their maintenance, but the law has
since been amended so that each county
shall be required to pay for the main
tenance of those whom its courts COM
NIT to the home. But this county had
declined to do so.
Il had not been on the bench thirty
days." said Judge Hughes, before re-
quests came pouring in for the recon-
mitment of the five Sacramento in
mates of the home. I have persistently
declined to recommit those patients,
simply because of the enactment of a
law to shift the responsibility from the
State to the county. In my opinion
this should not be, and could not con-
scientiously issue recommitments
Continuing, Judge Hughes said num-
erous communications had been re-
ceived from the managers of the home,
in which threats had been made that if
the court did not recommit the patients
and the county pay for them, as the
new law requires they would be re-
turned to Sacramento and deposited at
the door of the Courthouse.
DR.. Osborn, Superintendent of the
home, had just called on him. the Judge
said, and informed him that if provision
were not made for the maintenance of
the Sacramento inmates he would have
TO SEND them back here. Dr. Osborn
said he would do nothing harsh, how
ever, and would modify the threat to
deposit the patients at the Courthouse
door, but insisted that under the law
it was his duty to collect the cost of
their maintenance or discharge them.
IL the children should be sent back
here, said Judge Hughes, the Board of
Supervisors will have to do something
with them, and while he could not con-
scientiously make an order to recon-
NIT them, he realized that some step
will have to be taken. 1t was I'D to the
board. If the children-now nearly
grown-should be sent back here it will
cost the county fully $50 per month to
support and care for them, if not much
more. If recommitted the cost will be
just 500 per month. He wanted the
board to determine what was best to
be done. 1t is a matter that has more
than mere legal significance-it is one
OF revenue and economy. He would pur-
sue such course as the board might de-
sire.
Supervisor Jenkins thought the mat
ter could safely be left in the hands of
the three Superior Judges
Judge Hughes replied that it had al
ready been in their hands a. long while.
and 1t was for the purpose of taking if
out of their hands that he now submit
ted the matter to the board. The State
was responsible for the cost of main
tanning these children when thew were
committed, and the law shifting the re-
~ LILO COuItleS is wrong,
but it will be in force until there can
be new legislation
Under this law, said Judge Hughes
the managers of the home have the
right to return these inmates. and the
question is, what can we do with them .
Whatever the board might wish him
to do in the premises he would do.
Chairman Curtis moved that Judoa
Hughes be authorized to recommit the
children, and the motion carried bv the
votes of Curtis, Jenkins and McLaueh-
lin, ellis voting no, and Morrison
being absent.