The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-08
GOV. Lind STOPS IT.
THE PROGRESS OF THE ANOKA.
HASTINGS BILL INTERRUPT
ED BY A VETO
RETURNED WITHOUT SIGNING
AND A MESSAGE ACCOMPANIES IT'S
RETURN EXPLAINING THE
REASONS FOR 1T
QUESTION OF EXPENSE BoBs UP

QUESTION OF EXPENSE BoBs UP
The Men Interested In the Two Sites
Hold a Conference, and 1t Ii Be-
lieved Some Sort of Compromise
Bill Will BE Passed-What Some
OF the Men Say About the
Veto.
Gov. Lind yesterday vetoed the Staples
Dill for the location of an insane hos
pltai at Anoka and the purchase of a
site at Hastings, and the bill Is appar-
emily dead forever. The friends of the
two towns, however, held a conference
last evening, and a measure that will be
acceptable to them as well as to the
governor may be arranged between now
and the close Of the session.
There seems no possibility of passing
either the Staples or the Barker bills
over the governors veto. The new bill
must be In the nature Of a COMPROMISE
and that the passage of some bill is
necessary to relieve the overcrowding of
the existing Institutions is conceded by
the governor and the legislators alike.
Senator Johnson Dem.), ST. Peter,
would like to have $4,000 spent on ad-
dftions and repairs at the ST. Peter hos
pital. but this will meet with decided op-
position. Gov Lind lays down his ideas
even more plainly than he did in his
inaugural message in his letter of yes
terday, urging the limitation Of the
acute insane as far as possible to the
three existing state hospitals and pro-
viding for the chronic cases on some
such plan as is in existence In Wiscon-
sin. That roos the problem of any par
tisan prejudice. Senator Knatvold
(Rep.) Albert Lea, has bill on the table
which embodies the county plan, and it
is believed that he will consent to a
rider which will pledge the state to
the purchase of the site at Hastings
This would permit the trial of the co,ul-
ty Or district plan at these two towns,
and afford possible solution Of the diff
ficulty. 1t is believed Senator Knatvold
will consent to such bill. and the gov
ernor declares himself In his message as
recognizing the right of the communl-
ties in question to what they have
actually expended.
Senator Thompson. of Fillmore, anoth-
er Republican leader, has bill SINH
larly tabled providing for the cottage o.
colony plan, and this has some friends,
SO that a compromise on one or the
other Of these plans, with the initial
hospitals to Anoza and Hastings.
The governors message is as follows:
Sir: The problem of caring for our in
sane population has so long been the sub
ject of searching official inquiry and pub
lie discussion in this state, and the data
deducible from experience and observa-
ton in other states are SO complete that
certain propositions bearing upon the
versy. They are: ~ e''N e0',''
First-That for the purpose of intelli-
gent treatment, as well as custodial care,
the insane may be divided into two gen.
eral classes-the acute and the chronic
insane. AS to the relative number of
port (p. 10 Tenth Biennial Report: Dur
ing the past two years there have been
l,545 admissions. About 40 per cent of the
admissions either die or are discharged
during the first two years, cured or i'm
proved: the rest become In time what
are known as chronic cases. 1t will be
seen from this that most of the patients
In our hospitals are permanent or chronic
cases."
Second-That those suffering from the
disease in the acute stages require treat
ment in well equipped hospitals for that
purpose, which afford the best medical
skill and where the patients can receive
expert care.
Our present hospitals meet these re-
quirements in all respects and have am
pie facilities for caring for double their
present population Of acute insane, If re-
insane.
CHRONIC INSANE.
Third-In the case of the chronic insane,
the disease does not respond to medical
and can be benefited only under condi-
tions that afford abundant outdoor exer-
else, liberty and suitable employment.
cover, though rarely, but are comfortable
and comparatively contented. They need
only such occasional medical care as is
are largely self-supporting If afforded op-
portunity. A hospital is neither suit
able nor an economical establishment for
large numbers in the same Institution. as
has been done in Pennsylvania, has
proven utterly destructive of such intelli-
they possessed, whereas in Michigan. un-.
der the colony system, and In Wisconsin,
under the county plan. where the num-
the best results have been attained. I'm.
der our system of maintaining them in
hospitals. 1t costs $Su per capita per
week, III WISCONSIN the average 1S 81. 10.
Pursuant to a joint resolution adopted
by the legislature of this state on the
18th day of April, 1897, the board of cor
rections and charities, composed of able
and eminent citizens, investigated the
Wisconsin county system last year and
unanimously recommended its adoption
in this state, urging 1t both on the
grounds of humanity and economy
The hospital board of trustees also
made a special investigation of the SUBJ
ject of the care Of the chronic insane.
They pronounce against the hospital plan
for their maintenance and advocate the
so-called colony system. They say of the
latter: "It is the true solution of the
problem to add to our present accommo-
dations by purchasing farms and erect
ing buildings within short distances from
the hospitals already built and under the
general management of the same staff of
officers. This will save much cost in ad-
ministration and is no doubt the best and
most economical method that can be
adopted
To summarizes:
SOME OTHER PLAN BETTER.
To maintain the chronic insane in large
numbers In hospitals is neither humane
nor economical.
We already have hospital capacity for
double the population Of acute insane
that we now have.
The state only requires additional ac-
commodations for the chronic insane and
this requirement can be met to the best