Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1905-01-14

flesh is heir TO. the law that created |
It will not only be violated. but the
cost Of its maintenance win become a !
serious problem to the State Treasurer. !
1t should be borne I'm mind that aims
houses are maintained i'm each county
for the sick and destitute. while the
State Hospital at Farnhurst IS primar-
lily an institution for the cure Of those
afflicted with mental disorders only.
/ desire to call your attention to the
fact that several thousand dollars are
received annually by the trustees of
this Institution, and the money eXpend-
ed by them in the erection of new
buildings, and for whatever other pur-
poses they may see 1T to entertain,
without consulting the Legislature, or
any other Statefauthority. This ! deem
unwise All monies received by the
trustees should be paid over scrupu-
lousy TO the state Treasurer, and the
subsequent expenditure thereof con-
trolled by the General Assembly.
THE DEAF, DUNE. BLIND AND M
BECILE CHILDREN
The last Legislature, on my recon-
lmendation, increased the annual APP
lpropriation for the care, maintenance
and instruction of the deaf, dumb and
blind children of the State by the adj
ditional sum of one thousand dollars.
As far as these especial unfortunates
are concerned this Increase Of appro-
priation has been sufficient to meet all
the claims made in every county. I de-
sire, however, to call your attention to
the law relating to the idiotic children.
I refer to Chapter 2i4, Vol. q, Laws OF
delaware, and TO the provision therein
"That not more than fourteen imbecile
children from this State shall be pro-
vided for the institution at the same
time, and that not more than twenty
eight hundred dollars shall be paid by
the State in any one year"
As long as this provision remains On
force no increase. however generous,
in the general appropriation for these
unfortunates, can be made available
To repeat from my message of two
years ago: 1T is unnecessary to argue
at length upon the injustice OF granting
the aid of the state to fourteen inn
beetle children to the exclusion OF
others who have an equal claim to sucf
aid, and to an equal opportunity for
improvement" Chapter pa, Vol. p
Laws of Delaware, should be amend
ed so that no restriction as to the
, number that may be assisted by the
state shall be placed on our statute
books, and a larger appropriation made
in order that equal charity and oppor'
tunity may be given to all. A limit On
point of age. however, should be pre-
scribed by law. as it is clearly not tbs
intention of the State, nor is it in any
way advisable, to make the insutu-
, tons of other States a substitute fol
our own eleemosynary institutions.
HOSPITAL FOR THE ERADIcA-
TION OF TUBERCULOSIS.
Two years ago there was a well ex
pressed and strongly enforced demand
for the erection of a hospital for th'
segregation and cure of those Athlete,
{ with tuberculosis.
The public press, some, indeed,
may say, many of our most intelligen
citizens, especially those most eminen
/ in the medical profession, whose DAHL
Z observation and experience enables
them the more fully to compass tn
= extent of this most direful of the i'll
by which humanity Is afflicted, joine'
= at that time in urging an appropri
r alton by the General Assembly for tn
\ erection of a modern structure Of
4 scientific lines, and for the futur
. maintenance thereof, in order to NEE
the indispensable requirements 10
successfully combating this disease.
1 fully concurred at that time, and d
I now, with all of these views as to tn
r extent and gravity Of this evil, and i
e the wisdom of providing, II possible
e adequate means of defense agains
what has come to be recognized a
. practically a modern scOurge. But
; ann unable to refrain from pointing gu
= most seriously to every one, especial
e to tn members of the Legislature, tn
fact that before entering upon thi
- enterprise it will be we'll to CAREFUL
h consider what 1t means.
y Such an undertaking win not Onl
j. involve a primary outlay of thousand
n of dollars, but will undoubtedly enta
t an annually increasing charge upon Oh
revenues of the State for its mainter
y ance. In this connection, as a matte
q of admonitory experience, it is not in
y appropriate to recall the fact that tn
e advocates of the State Hospital q
Il Farnhurst calculated that the annu;
d charge for maintenance, after the pr
e mary cost of construction, would M
j. amount TO more luiAu e-ofuVu per al
l. mum. II is perhaps not known to a
l. of you, however. that the appropr
If alton at present for the maintenan'
N of this institution amounts to $50
% per annum. with a reasonable certaint
.e that even this may be insufficient f
l. the future.
" 1t is a serious question, therefor
Is in view of this experience, whether q
= state can afford at this time to ere
n a tuberculosis Hospital without,
l. the same time. discovering some ne
d source of revenue in order to meet q
l. primary outlay, and those demands &
IT annual maintenance which will VI
is doubtedly increase from year to yea
ct Moreover, If the State were ever
able to undertake the erection az
Is maintenance Of such an hospital the
he is a strong and respectable opiniC
N among the physicians of the Sta
ly that the climatic conditions of Del
le ware are not such as 10 warrant !
he to expect the results that are obtain
- in other localities, where the atmO
D. pheric conditions are proved by loI
At experience to be favorable, and WIKI
e. ours confessedly lack.