Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-04-12
OFFICE IN TRIBUNE BUILDING.
WEDNESDAY, APR. IL, 1899.
THE INSANE QUESTION,

Two years ago AQOkd anu Hastings
fought bitterly over the location of
the next insane hospital. This year
they pooled issues and threw their
combined influence in favor of bill
providing for two hospitals, each city
to have one. This gigantic steal
passed both houses OF the republican
legislature, and would have become a
law but for John Lind, the: peoples
governor. He said no, and returned
the bill without his approval. This
action of course provoked the intense
hostility of the persons directly in
terested in the location of the pro-
posed hospitals, but the people of the
state at large will commend the gov
ernor's action. In his veto message,
the governor summarizes the situation
as follows: 'To maintain the chron-
ic insane in large numbers in hospi-
tails is neither humane nor economical.
We already have hospital capacity
for double the population of acute in
sane that we now have. The state on
ly requires additional Accommodations
for the chronic insane and this re-
quirement can be met to the best ad-
vantage to that class and with the
greatest economy to the state by adopt
ing either the county plan or the COL
ony system. Notwithstanding these
facts, the present bill proposes that
the state build and equiptw addition
al hospitals, the first one at an imme-
diate expense of one-quarter of a mil
lion dollars.' In regard to the in
terests of the citizens of Anoka and
Hastings the governor says: "That
they are entitled to be Reimbursed
their actual outlay in this matter is
readily granted, but that by reason of
a Legislative mistake the state should
be bound to adopt a system for the
maintenance of the dependent class re-
ferred to that does not commend itself
to the judgment of those charged by
law with their care, and that appears
to me against the interest of the pub
lie, is not conceded. AS the interest
Of the individual must yield to that OF
society when the general welfare de-
mands, so here the claims of this COM
munity must yield to the higher inter-
ests Of the pub]ic.'
After reviewing the provisions of
the bill in regard to the outlay of
money made necessary the governor
says: ''These provisions are plain
and imperative. There are no quail
ications, and no escape from. them.
The administrative expenses in each
Of the other hospitals under this pro-
vision exceed ten thousand dollars a
year in each hospital, ana would ag-
gregate not less than $4,000 per an
mum in the two proposed hospitals.
In view of the fact that we now have
more hospital room and facilities than
we need, aud that it is only asylum
accommodations that We require, it
seems to me that to burden the taxpay-
ers with such largely unnecessary
charges uould be little less than wan,
tOn.' =,
The defeat Of this bill by the COVER
nor's veto need not lead to embarras-
ing hardships in providing accom-
modations really needed for the in
sane:< II the Legislature will now, in
stead of attempting to pass this out
rageous steal over the governors We.
to, cody provide temporary cottage
accommod ations for the increase Of
insane population until this question
will be more fully discussed by the
people in the state, it will display
good sense. Let the will Of the PEG.
pie as expressed in the next legisla.
ture decide the question:. Let the peo
pie themselves determine whether they
will sustain the governors. veto o.
not. II: j, .z-sz =. IS ..,.....~. ,@