The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-22
TALKED ON STATE CHARITIES
sEcRETARy JACKSON ADVANCES
COGENT REASONS FOR SUPPORT
OF STATE INSTITUTIONS
Practically There Are No Cures Tor
the FeebIe-Minded - State Traln-
ing School Provides Discipline,
Instruction, Trades and Homes.


Secretary Jackson, Of the state board
of corrections and charities, was the
speaker before the Commercial cruz yes
terday noon. taking for his subject
Economic Administration of State lnstl-
tutions" having to do with the WORK III
which he is engaged in his official ca
pacity. He gave the following reasons
WHY the support Of the several state cor
regional and charitable institutions are
useful applications of wealth:
FirstNThe treatment of the insane cures
a fair percentage of the inmates, thus re-
storing them for productive LABOR.
Second-Segregation prevents repro
dnction' and prevents the destruction OF
life and property and reduces the propag-
alton of mental and moral disorders
Third-The public care OF the insane eo re- re-
leases bread winners Gthe natufal c@ie-
takers) for productive labor
Feeble Minded-There are pracUcally no
cures: otherwise much the same economic
reasons for support d hpine aI made 'a care
full study of the question. Secretary Blck-
nell. of the Indiana state board OF chaI-
tiles said, The curse OF 1eeole
ness descends from parents to child as no
other defect does" OF sixty-one famllles
Investigated, he says, There are known
TO have been 267 different feeDle-mlnoeQ
persons. an average of four and one-third
r. q family. These 267 feeble-minded per.
sons consist of 10l women, oil men and LAY
children, three feeble-minded chlldren TO
two mothers" Children who became
mothers were counted twice.. Inc school
for the feeble minded strengthens the
brain. thus reducing the degree OF feeble-
mindedness; occupation causes the IN,
mates to be more contented ana reduces
the cost of their care.
JInilaDtic-Tha reasons Tor the care Ol
the epieptic are essentially the same as
annly to the care Of the H. ,ane and the
feeble-minded. Permanent cures are very
rare, though proper condltlons Wonder-
fully reduce the number of seizures.
State soldiers home furnishes hos
pital and care for the sick ex-soldlerS:
The Schools tqr e tne s,, pear a are.
First-The same economic reasons that
warrant the state in establishing its pub
lie school system. -,
deaf and for the blind is cheaper, more
comprehensive and more thorough tnan
the education otherwise provided.
Third-Large stress Is laid on Sucn
manual training as will enable them to be
self-supporting. Very rare for dea1 per-
son to be found in poor house
The state public school provides MONIES
for the class of children who are sent 10
orphan asylums in other states. Proper
homes with good environments are pro,
vided where they may become normal
citizens instead of bad ones
Similar results are obtained py the state
training school which PROVIDES dlsclpilne,
instruction, trades and, later, homes 1or
juvenile delinquents.
The State Reformatory-For first conVlc-
lions. The economic reasons for its sup
port are that it teaches the habits of in
dl1stry and that self-control and daily toll
are essentials to good citizenship. The
reformatory also protests society by re-
straining the inmates
The state prison performs one OF It's
chief functions in the protection OF So
cietyr 1t also teaches the habits OF IN
dustry and attempt reforms Warden
WoIfer said, about 10 per cent of those
committed cannot read or write, and
a bout 10 per cent have trades.
In general 1t is the purpose OF each OF
these institutions to fit their inmates to
become self-respecting, self-supporting
citizens Occupation not only tends to re-
duce the net per capita cost, but 1t is an
excellent corrective for the offender and
an efficient curative for the unfortunate.
1t has been held by close student of
economics and of charity that the annual
published comparative statistics OF the
state institutions issued by the state
board of corrections and charities has
effected saving in excess of all savings
by other legislative means because the
statements show the facts and virtually
make the demand that each institution
shall equal the cheapest in the purchases
of all sorts of supplies, and each naturally
desires to make the best showing in this
published statement.