Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-12


The first biennial report of the state
board of control is anticipated with in
terest. 1t Will show that the board has
saved a good deal of money. and there
is no question that as an administrative
body the board will be cordially APP
proved on the strength of the showing.
But the recommendations as to future
conduct of the institutions will be
awaited with special interest. Here are
some of the things which, ii is rumored.
the board will discuss:
Establishing a state colony for epilep-
tics.
Esta blishing more normal schools.
Absolutely forbidding the care of in
sane, at county expense in county asy-
lums or elsewhere outside of the state
asylums.
the Clarinda asylum, the Davenport in
stitution for orphans and the Marshall
town Soldiers Home
AS to an epileptic colony it is intimat-
ed that the Cherokee asylum may be
used in this connection 1t is not need
ed for the states insane, though it
would be if law should require all in
Cherokee would hardly be used for an
epileptic colony, because there is not
land enough, and because it is the finest
establishment in America. If not in the
world, for an asylum. But it might be
used as an asylum and some other in
sitution taken for epileptics. More like
" new institution will be recommend
ed.
AS to normal schools. the board has
authority to recommend action regard
ing the educational institutions, though
they are not under its supervision. Ce-
dar Falls is crowded. and must have
double its present facilities unless new
schools are started. superintendent
Barrett wants new schools in the south
west, northwest and southeast corners
of the state, and the board may recon-
mend them.
The board has declared positively in
favor of keeping all insane in state in
stitutions. and will unquestionably rec
onmend it. 1t may also recommend a
state levy for care of insane, thus tax
ing the burden off the counties. This
would remove the inducement to keep
people out of asyiums in order to re-
duce the county's charge. There is no
single policy on which the board is
more determined than this. The men,
bers will make a determined fight for
it,
And as to buying lands for tine insti-
tutions. Farmer cownie is decidedly In
favor of having as much land as can be
profitably used: and he believes several
institutions can use good deal more
than they have. with profit 10 the state
ture will be in friendly attitude to-
ward the board, and any recommenda-
tons it may make will receive serious
consideration.
Lest some may think there is bit of
patriotic extrava gance in the reference
to the Cherokee asylum as possibly the
finest in the world. it may be stated
that Senator Tom Healy. chairman of
the investigating committee and author
of the board of control bill, made that
statement to the Legislature in his IA
NOUS ten-hour speech in advocacy of
the board. Mr.. Healy has visited insti-
tutions all over Europe. and as chair
man of that committee he visited the
best establishments in the United
States He assured his hearers. when
he made the statement. that he meant
it literally. The Cherokee institution is
as near perfection as anything in its
line we'll could be made.
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