Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-01-06

sources for raising revenue by taxation
that tho rate may be reduced and still IN
increase secured in tho revenues. But 1t
10 idle In young state like ours with q
constant and rapid growth In population
to speak about decreased expenditures.
What We can reasonably hope for, and
what We should Insist upon attaining, 10
not necessarilyA reduction In aggregate
expenditures, but u system of manage
mont and administration In all public af-
fairs that will give tho people the greatest
possible efficiency and the largest posi-
bio returns for the money expended.
TREATMENT OF INSANE.
Governor Lad Warmly Commends What
IL Known ~ tho Wisconsin Plan.
Tho treatment of insane occupies a
prominent place In tho governors mes
sage. His preference Is between the two
plaps outlined respectively by the board
Of trustees Of the state hospitals and tho
board of corrections and charities Ia tle.
cidedly In favor Of the latter The plan
recommended by Dis board Is substan-
TALLY that now in operation In Wisconsin
The plan now in operation In Mime
sofa, by which all the burden Of expense
is borne by ths state, tho governor says,
practically holds out a premium to tho
different counties for loading down tn"
state with the care and maintenance OF
the INDECENT who are suffering from any
mental disorder or weakness in the slight
est degree. This Is certainly bad policy
and should be reformed.
I'm no sphere of sociological inquiry"
says Governor Lind. has mo>lern science
made greater advance than in the study
and treatment of insanity. Tho early
practices of treating the insane, first, as
possessed, and lattsrly, as criminals, have
been wholly discarded, except as traces
remain In the forms Of our commitments.
The modern and rational conclusion Is
that insanity Is disease and as such re-
quires treatment the same as any other
ailment, In this acute stage, the hospital
IL the proper place for its care. II it is or
becomes permanent or chronic condi-
ton, then the patient is what we might
call mental cripple, and the homo or
asylum Is the proper place for his care
There Is no moro sense in keeping the
acutely insane and the chronic in tho
same institution than there would be in
keeping those who had become physically
crippled In q hospital designed for tho
treatment Of acute cases Of disease or in
jury; still this IL what We are undertak
ing to do In this state to today"
Adopt Humane Method.
In their physical ailments the chronic
insane do not differ essentially from sano
people. On the whole, they seem to suffer
less from sickuess than people who arc
mentally sound. Bearing these facts IN
mind, and the additional one that q
human being cannot be cont Mt without
some means Of employ ent, and that tho
instincts and cravings Of the mentally
crippled In this regard are the same as
those Of sane people, it seems to me that
the dictates Of interest and humanity
alike will compel you to abandon hospital
extension in this state upon present lines,
and to adopt method which will be moro
natural and humane to the unfortunates,
and which will also utilize such elements
Of efficiency for production and self-sup.
port as they possess. As to what this plan
should be the board of trustees and the
board Of corrections and charities do not
agree. Tho board of trustees recommends
what is termed the "Colony System"
The board Of corrections and charities, on
the other hand, recommend what 10
known 40 the "Wisconsin plan"
Under 1t any county that may so elect
should be authorized and empowered by
tho legislature to erect and furnish q suit
able building or buildings for the mainte.
nance and care of the chronic insane, un-
der such restrictions and safeguards as
they point out and suggest, the state to
pay the county $1.5O per week for each In
mate cared for. Both plans have this in
common: that they are better calculated
to place the chronic insane under natural
conditions and thus insure their greater
comfort and happiness, and also that they
will, though In different degree, utilize
the productive capacity of tho inmates
toward their support.
Fsvors the Wisconsin Plan.
The plan of the hospital board retains
the entire subject and machinery of I'D
ministration under state control. The
other RENTS the administration Of the in.
stitution to tho local authorities. reserv-
ing, however, ample power Of control and
supervision to the state. AS between tho
two plans, my Judgment has lead mo to
favor the Wisconsin plan, and l recon-
mend its adoption without hesitancy or
reserve. My first Impressions were
against 1t, and my present judgment Is
Uuo Tc6ult VI nSchUlk5abVlVu OuU VS)60rFb.
ton II no other considerations entered
into 1t, should deem 1t great reform in
itself for you to select that method which
the burden of admi nistration
to the local authorities. Tho administra-
ton of the county asylums In Wisconsin
is most admirable. Judged by the same
standard, 1t Is as good In all respects ~
the administration of tho state hospitals,
in that state or in ours. In respect to
economy, there 10 hardly any room for
com carlson, the arguments in the report
of the hospital board to the contrary not
withdrawing.
Governor Lind then details at some
length his observations in visits to some
of the Wisconsin county asylulns for tho
chronic insane, finding them in manage
ment exceedingly commendable. Hefound
all the Institutions visited better housed
than he had expected, and also better
equipped The food for tho most part be-.
ing raised on the farms operated In con.
nection was wholesome and abundant, tho
beds and bedding rleaner than in any
similar institution he had ever viste
Ho is loath to believe that as good local
cannot be obtained in this
state as in Wisconsin. The supervision
rests in the state, and its aid to tho extent
of 41.5O per capita could and should be
made cOntinue llDOn the mai ntenanco OF