Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1899-05-26
The state Shonid Care For Its
Insane

he expense OF caring lot our lhsaut
is becoming serious question The
number Of such unfortunates is on the
increase and our taxpayers are unab'e
to bear the burden of taking care of
them Had we local institution where
10 they could be confined and treat j,
there might not be 50 much room for
complaint, for then the expense Of their
maintenance would be much less than is
annually paid out now for that purpose,
and whatsoever should be expended
would in certain sense come back into
The pockets of those who made the ont
la. Taat is to say the keepers would
be from among our people, the food
furnished would be purchased from our
lo,ai market, and the raiments they
would wear would be supplied by our
merchants. and in that way while the
taxpsying class would suffer the expense
Of caring for them, another class Of our
citizens would reap a benefit from the
expenditures thus made somewhat
equalizing matters AS the matter now
stands, the county has to pay annually
$3.50 90 for each insane citizen of this
county, because Of having to place then
in some hospital for the insane in somt
other portion of the State from which
not fartbings worth of return is evel
received either directly or indirectly
In nine eases out of ten the patients
are never cured Now, we of this county
and SO are the people of many otbe'
counties of the State, too poor to stlnc
the expense. 1t is a most charitable
act to care for such unfortunate people
aud in the fact Of properly caring foi
them the question Of expense should no
enter, but it is the part of wisdom to d.
so as economically as possible and it il
but fair that that expense should b.
equitably borne by all our people alike
We have favored an insane asylum fol
Southern Maryland, and we believe still
that such plan would be feasible, bu
owing to lack of so operation on the par
Of the counties of this section the sug
uestion has never materialzed, so since
we are inclined to favor another plan
We think the State should care for all
the insane of the State, This unhappy
class of our people are citizens of the
State and why should not the taxpayers
Of the State contribute equally toward
their support and treatment. The State
is now practically out of debt, thanks to
the economy and good Judgment of 8
wise Republican administration, and we
see no good reason why the State should
not engage in a most laudable charity Of
caring for such Of her citizens who for
want of mental capacity cannot support
themselves. The cost to each taxpayer
of the State would be but mite where
as to tie citizens Of county under the
present system Of each county paying
for the care and support of its own
insane 1t is an unbearable charge.
We are willing, but the poorer coun-
ties of the State are not pecuniarlly able
to stand the severe taxation occasioned
thereby, hen the appeal to the State
comes With good grace and in perfect
fairness The caring for the insane il
as much 8 public necessity as the teach
ing Of our young The counties canno
properly educate their young. and tina
our children, the poor and the rich
should be educated Is conceded by all
why then should not the same argumen
be as ferceful as regards the caring fol
our insane? These people are as muel
citizens Of the State as our children, anc
as the counties cannot propsrly taxi
care If them why should not the Stat
10 that work of most commendabl,
charity?
The reassembling of the Legis atur'
is now still over SIX months off, but thu
nomination Of candidates is near at hand
hence our purpose in calling public atten
ton to the question at this time Al
effort must be made III that line, there
fore public attention is directed ID
the subject that feasible plan may b,
developed in due time before the meet
ing of the Legislature that the latte
HAY act upon it.