Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-04-20
RULES FOR ASILUk|S
Board Of Control Will Insist on Re.
forms in County and Private
Institutions
New Law Giving Them Control Will
Be Enforced-Wi Not Be
Unreasonable.
All Patients Must Be Given Proper
Exercise and Other Humane
Treatment.
pecial 70 Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican,.
Des Moines, April 20.-The state board
of controlis preparing to enforce the
law passed by the last legislature plac-
ing all county and private insane asy-
llums under the Jurisdiction of the board.
Nothing extreme Will be done, but it is
Iquite certain that the outrages and
lcruel barbarities that have. been prac-
l.ticed In various institutions will be
stopped. For instance, in the Polk
county asylum, said TO be the best in
the state, no night watchman is ems
lployed, the patients are given no exer-
licise, because the board of supervisors,
lin its desire to get along as cheaply as
possible. allows only two attendants for
10S patients! In the state hospitals
There is one employe to about six and
4 one half patients. In this same mod
el'' institution the board was not per-
United to see one patient on the last
visit made by the board. The next time
1.-THE board visits the asylum it will see
that patient, and all others, and II any
Iare being abused will have the author
]ity to remove them to the state hospit-
Jals.
We shall not be unreasonable, = said
4 Mr. sCownie, of the board. in speaking of.
1.-THE regulation of the county institutions.
4 1--WE, shall insist that the patients be hu-5
namely and decently treated. We are
4|inow learning what the situation is in
each of the counties. When we have
Itthat information, we shall prepare some
and give a reasonable time
slfor compliance with them. If they are
s)snot compiled with, we shall remove the
5lpatients TO the state hospitals. One
8Ithing is sure, night watchman must
Ibe employed in every institution.
II Enough attendants must be employed to
Il give all the patients exercise on every
q Iday they can be#out OF doors. The in
{ sane must not be mixed With paupers.
!. They must have as good care as they
!have in the state hospitals"
ass<
8 The board is just completing its tour
,,fl.of the state institutions and Will be II
the office next Monday. The state ar
4 chitect has accompanied the boar,i arc
u 1.-THE Improvements and additions provid.
] ed for by the last legislature have beer
,iplanned and located Work Will be
commenced on them at once The reno
9 lvation of the Mt. Pleasant hospital for
81 the insane. which is in a very bad ply
stsical condition, has been bsgun, and
tswhen DIR. Hoyt gets thru with IT and
,sssets his new electric light plant, new in
II dustrial8 building ard complete sanitary
sloverhauling. the institution will be
; hardy recognizabie:
r
: One of The duties of the board on these
"a - 4.
plants that may be made by inmates q
! any Of the institutions. The board see:
= every inmate and gives an opportunity
lfor him to make known any want ht
!. I1nay have This time the complaint:
I were Very few, and not a complaint wa:
e made ofthe bill of fare in any institu
e lion. All were satisfied. The psincipa
I objection came from the eonvicts in tn,
i state penitentiary VINO arrived there
: since last July and found they eou!S
: slhave no tobacco. They sent a delegation
T to appear before the board TO object Z
e this rule. They thought it was farsl
I and unfair, because they did rot know
lit till after they got there, inferrng tha
they would not have patronizeds IN
place if they had knownSnf this rsgula
e tion. Mr. sCowiiieS explained thatRthe neN
L rule had been we'll advertised in the pa
lpers, so they should have been advise
d before going there. The men saw th
IS iiose and We're forced to laugh them
0, selves. The convicts Who We're in tn
h prison last July get half the allowanc
i of tobacco. and they are making n
~ kick.
is The childretisin the school for the dea
9 at Council Bluffs are rejoicing over th