The San Francisco call., 1903-01-08
NEW FISCAL YEAR WILL
COMMENCE WITH A SMALL
BALANCE TO PAY DEr1ANDS
Money Will Have to Be Borrowed From
Other Funds TO Pay Creditors of State
When Claims Nature.
Chief Executive Gives Notice in r1essage That
Owing to Existing Conditions Taxes
Will Be Higher

and idle. has an overplus Of inmates
in her penitentiaries and reformatories-
( These unfortunate persons constitute a
small army Of from $500 TO 5000, who are
supported at an aggregate expense to the
people Of about s4Oo 900 year. There is
another army Of stiI more unfortunate
ones, numbering over 5000, who In
mates Of our asylum-hospitals, and the
burden of their maintenance is annually
I three-quarters of a million dollars. In
our two large prisons, our five State hos
pltsls and our Home for the Feeble-mlnd-
ed We are presented with problems
enough 70 call for the efforts OF the best
penologists and alienists. May II not be
proper TO call to the aid of the State, 10
an extent greater than has yet been at
tempted those who have made scien-
tifc study OF these matters, and to get
the benefit OF their counsel and advice?
1t is generally admitted that the man
agement of the State hospitals for the in
sane has been judicious and humane. The
cost OF support per patient in them is
lower than IN majority of asylums in
other States and the percentage Of recov-
cries is creditably high. But there are
other things connected with the institu-
items which are not so satisfactory. The
increase OF patients is great enough to
call for frequent large expenditures TO
add 10 the capacity Of the hospitals,
while. at the same time, there is gener-
ally n considerable number Of inmates
who, although they are helpless and poor.
and therefore proper objects of charity,
are not in their right place in institutions
intended for the treatment and care OF
the insane. 1t is much easier to secure
I the admission Of patients 10 the hospitals
than Il is to effect their discharge after
I they have been found to have been i'm
properly placed there. There is ample
opportunity for Improvement in the meth
| Cd Of commitment and the manner OF dis
posing OF cases which belong in county
/ hospitals rather than in institutions for
the insane. The Legislature will do well
to investigate these matters and provide
a remedy therefor.
Although the continued growth OF our
4 insane population can be counted on with
certainty, IL would be unwise, 1 think. TO
make any addition 10 the number Of asy-
! lums, because Il is cheaper to add to the
I capacity OF the existing institutions, the
4 cost OF maintenance being proportionately
less in a large establishment, UP to GER
tain point. than in a small one. In
course OF time the main buildings at each
Of our hospitals will be surrounded by
groups OF smaller ones, the cottage plan
Of housing the patients having been tried
and found satisfactory. Thus the accom-
modations may be increased indefinitely
without proportionste increase in the cost
OF administration.
II is probable, however. that II Will
( soon be necessary to make some provision
for the separate care OF two classes. the
criminal insane and those insane and
criminals who are afflicted with tuber-
culosis and other infectious and conts-
gious chronic diseases and who therefore
ought not to be allowed TO endanger the
health of those who are free from such
diseases.
To direct the operations Of its hospitals
with their large and growing population,
the State should enjoy the services not
! only Of the best medical specialists, but
/ Of a well trained corps Of nurses and at
tendants. And this can be best insured
by making security OF tenure. certainty
OF promotion and increase OF pay the re
wards of faithful work and effort for i'm
provement Appointments and removals
for political reasons should not, under any
circumstances, be made in the State hos
pitais.
The State Commission in Lunacy, which
was established a few years ago, and
which shares the powers formerly exer-
ciSed alone by independent local boards
OF trustees. has accomplished considerable
in the direction OF unifying the system,
stimulating improvement and equalizing
conditions. Further benefits from the new
arrangement may be expected in time.