The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-02-04

ASYLUM
PATIENTS
BY Trained Attendants In
stead of SheriffS
Has Passed the Senate and
viii Be Fought in House

The bill changing the manner OF
conducting patients to the insane
asylum, passed the senate Tuesday
with bitter opposition from those who
opposed It. Even the judiciary com
mittee disagreed on the matter, but
the minority report was adopted by
the assembly.
This provides that prisoners will be
placed in the care of asylum attend
ants upon being committed to the asy-
lum instead of being conveyed there
by sheriffs or their deputies.
Those opposing the passage of the
bill were Senators Dimick, Fulton,
Marsters, Mays, McGinn, Rand and
Wehrung
Pierce, Of Umatilla, was strongly in
favor Of the bill as passed, and gave
statistics on the matter He said that
20 per cent Of the patients who died
at the asylum. died within 30 days
after being committed. This is great
" in excess Of other states and coun
tries, and he considered IT due to the
treatment the patients are given when
their minds are early diseased and
that this could be greatly overcome
Iby capable treatment He gave fig
ures showing that. besides being a
measure OF humanity, IL Is also one OF
economy to the state. Two years
ago there was appropriated for the
purpose of conveying patients to the
asylum the sum of S27 800, which was
oyerdrawn. He estimated that for the
asylum attendants the expense for the
same would have been $4,000.
Mr. Mulkey said that the expenses
Of the sheriff Of Polk county In con
yeying patients TO the asylum aver
aged Sl5, when II had been performed
by an asylum attendant for So. Even
from the Salem court house the eX-
pense Is about 81, when the sheriff re
ceiyes mileage fees and pays a guard.
Mr. Fulton took the stand that in
places where patients were commit.
ted from interior counties, there
would be delay in making connections
that would necessitate the patients
being kept some time in county iails
like criminals, when they would bet
ter be on their way to the asylum
THE bin does not limit the number OF
extra attendants" he said. and how
long would IL be until there would be
a whole army OF extra attendants. or
course no one but honorable men are
appointed to the superintendency OF
the asylum; but also we are all hon.
orable men here who compose this
senatorial body and We do not en-.
gage more clerks than we need, do
we?"
DR. A. c. Smith replied that insane
patients were seldom confined in cells
unless they were dangerous 10 be at
large, and in such cases they certain
~ needed trained care, and should not
be LETT TO the mercy OF some sherins
deputy
Serator Booth said that n county
courts were really humane, they
would provide female attendants for
female patients, but this is not often
done.
The geltlemen speaking I'm favor of
the mino i,y report were frequently
cheercI by the audience. and Mr. Full.
ton made an objection 20 this. which
ne chair sustained A number of
those given 10 applause were persons
interested in the asylum. and attend
ants who had a day of and listened TO
the debate.
This bin has been KILLED al pre-,
vious sessions hy the influence OF the
sherins and their friends, and may
meet the same fate in the house al
this session, whore the county on
cials are stronger The bin has sew.
eral times passed the senate at form.
er sessions, and been killed i'm the
house.
Il has in this hght the backing of
the Federated Woman's Clubs OF Ore,
gon. and they have a powerful lobby
az Salem 20 see that the bin goes
through the house.
SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY.
Z. No19i Jees ieF ne stomach that which IL