Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-11-23
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL

I
After . personal inspection of every
county and private institution in the
state in which insane are kept, the
board of control has adopted rules
by which hospitals shall be governed
in the future. While the new rules
cannot be called radical, the board,
having made an exhaustive study of
the situation, has attempted to make
some needed reforms. There are
i, 200 insane patients in county insti-
lions and several hundred more IN
private hospitals. In not more than
ten of the county institutions were
the insane found to be we'll cared
for. The rules will go into effect at
once. but managing Ulcers are given
until January and board of super
lvisors until February to make the
required changes. Under the new
rules paupers and insane patients
will not be permitted to mingle and
male and female patients will have
to be cared for separately. Female
attendants viii have to be employed
to care for patients of that sex and
only men shall care for male pa
,tieuts. Night attendants will be re-
quired, and one attendant will be de-
imanded for each twenty insane per-
sons. The new rifles are very ex-
plicis regarding care of the pa
tierts and sanitary conditions of the
buildings. The best physicians only
can be employed, and physicians will
not be allowed to furnish their own
drugs. Not l.; than two fire es-
capes will be required on each build
ing. The board also demands that
records of the institutions be kept
The supervision of county and pri-
vate insane hospitals was put in the
Lands of the board of control by the
Twenty-eighth general assembly be-
cause of the deplorable conditions in
which many of them were known -
be.
The monthly report of the state board
If control shows that there is a credit
balance in the support fund of SlO7, l54
which is but $1,000 less than in Novem.
Der. 1899. This is regarded as very cred.
liable showing, in view of the notable
Use in prices in the year that has Just
passed. The report also shows that there
has been an increase of thirty-six in the
IS,
due, of course. to cold weather and the
reconvening Of courts. There are now
a3O convicts. 46l at Anamosa and $40 at
Fort Madison.
Smallpox is very prevalent in Iowa
this winter. At least dozen cases
from various parts of the state have
been reported to the state board of
health, and there IS every indication
that there will be as much OF an
epidemic in this direction as last
year. With one or two exceptions
there is but one case in a commun-
ity, and the disease has only mani
Tested itself in very light form.
The last report received came in
this morning from Hooking, Monroe
county The family had recently
moved in from the state of Washing
ton, evidently bringing the disease
germs with them Many of the cases
smallpox was prevalent last winter,
largely in the mining communities.
The plan of action in the Titus
amendment matter seems to be very
clearly outlined, and the plan which
lis now being discussed is the one
which VIII afford the most speedy
relief. c is the enjoining of the
governor from issuing certificates of
election of the different state Off
GERS elected at the last general cleo
ton. This will bring the matter
squarely before the supreme court at
the December term. and an opinion
can thus be had before the first of
the year, and rendering any delay
unnecessary. The other plan sug-
gested was to have the supreme court
rule on a motion as to whether Gen
eral Remley or Senator Mullan should
be recognized as the attorney gen.
erAl. No cause for action would be
had in this case until after the TIN
of January, however, hence the plan
Of enjoining is much more practic'
able.
Justice Blyler of East Des Moines
will not 60 out of his Office on the
first o--day of January next with
out an attempt to find out whether
or not he is obliged to do so. He
says he believes the Titus amend
ment will stick az it reads, and he
will We entitled to his Office for an
other term. He is determined to
stick to his job If he can do SO all
right.
Judge Mcpherson has dissolved
the restraining order issued Nov. .
against the Tri-City Labor congress.
Judge MCPHERSON declared he had
issued the restraining order under
a misapprehension of the facts. He
held in dismissing the case that the
court had no Jurisdiction. This is
the case known as the government
by Injunction" case. It was the out
growth of strike of the clerks en-
'ployed by plaintiffs, who are cloth
ing merchants, because of their re-
fusal to accede to the demands Of
the Retail Clerks union. After the
strike the trades organizations pa
raded the streets of the three cities
and displayed banners urging boy
colt of the firm, attacked it through
their union publication and delegated
union men to distribute cards in
front of he firms place of business.
calling attention to the boycott. The
firm secured restraining order from
al