The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-05

would naturally be the tendency in state
whose population is made UP largely as
ours from adult immigrants from other states
and from Europe. The problem of providing
for our insane population presents no fea-
lures essentially different from those that
surround the subject In the other states, so
far as the rate OF insanity or the character
OF our population Is concerned. There is one
feature in our present system Of caring for
the insane that Is in marked contrast with
the practice prevailing in majority Of states
and which, In my Judgment, Is unwise. and,
l might add danoralizing. Our state as
sumes the entire burden of the maintenance
and treatment of those admitted to our hos
pitfalls ait state expense. In most of the states
the rule is different. In many of them the in
digent insane are maintained at the joint ex-
pense of the state and of the county of which
they were residents.
RELATIVES PAY PART.
In some the estate of the patient or rela-
tives bound In law for his support are made
to contribute a portion Of the expense. This
LIS notably the case In Connecticut. The
governor of that state writes me that the sys-
tenn is working satisfactorily. That our law.
by which the state assumes the entire cost Of
maintenance and treatment of the insane, has
a. tendency to unduly increase the number
Of commitments to our asylums Is selfevi
dent. Amy one who has observed it's admins
tration in cur various counties for a period
OF time cannot escape the conviction that
many people are committed to our asylums
some temporary disorder, not at all of
dangerous character. and who might be cared
for ait home OF locally to better advantage
than In AN insane hospital. In fact, 1t seems
to me that our present law practically holds
out premium to the different counties for
loading down the state with the and
maintenance of the INDECENT who are suffering
from amy mental disorder or weakness in the
slightest degree. This Is certainly bad pol
Icy and should be reformed. Such other rec
concentrations as may submit being mere
tiT1cr from, ctr,dxy
walton extending over a limited time and
sphere, may not be entitled to great weight
In your consideration, but on this one ques-
ton my convictions are clear and positive
and the result of years of observation
SHOULD SHARE EXPENSE.
1t is my judgment that whatever plan we
adopt for the future, for the care of our In
sane population, it is vital to the proper So
luton Of the problem that the expense should
be borne Jointly by the state and by the couu-
ty or municipality in which the patient was
settled at the time of commitment, and I
most earnestly recommend that as first
step to the solution of the question in this
state, our law be so amended that each coun-
ty, or municipality, be required to contribute
to the state at the rate of $1.50 per week
toward the care and maintenance Of all set
tied patients committed from it. The figure
named is selected simply because that is the
amount mostly in vogue under the legislation
in our sister states. On this point, both the
board of corrections and charities agree,
which, l venture to say, will commend it the
more to your favorable action. The salutary
effect that such law would have upon coun-
try authorities in making commitments can
not be overestimated. Another feature that
I desire to call to your attention Is the lack
of method and efficiency in the discharge of
patients from our hospitals. The legislature
at the 1897 session enacted law giving the
superintendent Of our several hospitals the
power to discharge, but the last clause of the
nnty doc hot .1vnh pho~ a
operative only when signed by three members
Of the board. This makes the concurrence of
the board as such, or the majority Of its
members, essential to a discharge. I under
stand that, pursuant to this legislation, the
superintendent of our asylums have desig-
mated scores of patients for discharge, but
that the trustees, for reasons which 1 have
been unable to ascertain, have failed to con-
cur, and, as result, these patients are still
inmates This is not as it should be. If the
superintendent of institution, with his pc
culiar advantages for observation. cannot be
trusted to decide this question, it seems to me
that he should be superseded.