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

The expense Of caring for our insane
is becoming a serious question Thu
number of such unfor'unates is "a the
increase and our taxpayers are uaabt
to bear the burden Of taking care Of
them Had we locll institution whore
in they could be confined aud treat d
there might not be 20 much room for
complaint, for then the expense of their
maintenance would be much less than is
annually paid ont now for that purpose,
and whatsoever Should be expended
would 10 a certain sense come back into
the pockets Of those who made the out
Lay. That is to say the keepers would
be from among our people, the food
furnished would be purchased from our
Local market. and the raiments they
would wear would be supplied by our
merchants. and in that way while the
taxpaying 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 them
10 some hospital for the insane in some
other portion Of the State from which
not farthings worth of return is ever
received either directly or Indirectly
In nine cases out of ten the patients
are never cured Now, we Of this county
and 50 are the people of many other
counties of the State, too poor to stand
the expense, It is . most charitable
act to care for such unfortunate people
and in the fact of properly caring for
them the question Of expense should not
enter, but it is the part of wisdom to do
so as economically as possible aud it is
but fair that that expense should be
equitably borne by all our people alike.
We have favored an insane asylum for
Southern Maryland, and We believe still
that such a plan would be feasible, but
owing to lack Of go operation on the part
of the counties of this section the sug
gestion has never materialized, 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 cur 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 aud good Judgment Of 2
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
lhemselye The cost to each taxpayer
Of the State would be but a mite where
as to the citizens Of county under the
present system of each county paying
for the sare and support of its own
insane 1t is an undesirable charge
We are willing. but the poorer coun-
ties Of the State are not pecuniarlly able
to stand the severe taxation oecasioned
thereby, hen the appeal to the State
comes with good grace and in perfect
fairness The caring for the insane is
as much public necessity as the teach
ing Of our young The counties cannot
properly educate their young, aud that
our children, the poor and the rich,
should be educated is conceded by all
why then should not the same argument
be as foreeful as regards the caring fol
our insane2 These people are as much
citizens of tue State as our children, and
as the counties cannot properly take
care # them why should not the State
DO that work of most commendable
charity?
The reassembling of the Legisat
is now still over six months of, but the
nomination of candidates is near at hand
hence our purpose in calling public stten
ton to- the question at this time. An
effort must be made in that line. there
fore public attention is directed TO
the subject that a feasible plan may BE-
developed in due time before the meet
ing Of the Legislature that the latter
may act upon it,
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