The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-24
Private Insane AsyIums Are to
Be Investigated.
They Have Neglected to Secure
Licenses.
70 RECORD AVAILABLE
Board of Control Hasn't Even
Names of Places.
Children's Home Societies Must
Also Make Reports.

Private insane asylums located in the
state of Kansas are t. come in for an
investigation by the state board of
control.
At present there are no statistics
showing the number or location OF
such asylums, and SO far as known,
none OF them have compiled with the.
state law which requires all private
asylurns to be licensed by the state
board before receiving any patients.
Up to the present time, the private
asylums have been conducted without
any apparent regard for any law ex-
cept the will of the parties in charge
The result has been that in certain in
situations OF this character, a deplor-
able condition of affairs has been
brought to light
The law on the subject is very clear.
Section 6547 of the general statutes,
which was not repealed by the new
board of control act, says that the
board shall have power to make rules
and regulations in the following mat
ters:
The licensing Of all houses and
places in which any person can be law
fully detained as insane or Of unsound
mind, and the withdrawal Of licenses
granted for causes shown.
THE visitation and inspection of all
private asyluTns. houses or places in
which any persons are or may be de-
tanned permanently or temporarily as
insane, and Of all nersons detained
therein
Section 66O1 says: mo person or
physician shall establish or keep a
hospital, asylum, institution, or house
or retreat for the care, custody or
treatment of the insane or persons of
unsound mind, for compensation or hire,
tf4r-TTf +e.S to-
for from the state board Of charities
and corrections. This section shall not
apply to hospitals. asylums or institu-
tons established and conducted by the
state or county, or to cases where an
insane person is detained or treated
in his own home or that of some rela-
tive or friend. Every application for
a license shall be accompanied by a
plan of the premises to be occupied
and it shall not be lawful for
said board to grant any such license
without having collectively or by com
mittee visited the -remises proposed
to be licensed
It is provided that the license for the
institution shall be fled with the coun-
ty clerk of the county in which the In
stitution is located, and that the board
shall have the right to revoke theliceuss
whenever it is deemed necessary s-ti
1T is our p1an,' said one of the
members of the board of control ito
follow out the provisions of this old law,
which seem to have been neglected. We
do not even know now how many such
private asylums there are in the state,
but we know there are quite a large
number. There is one right here in To-
peka. We viii have to pick up the
names and addresses Of such insutu-
lions wherever possible, and we expect
to embOdy a. complete report on their
location and condition in our annual
report. 1t will bring a lot Of additional
work upon the board, but we believe
that it is a matter which should be IN
vestigated. Unless such a private
asylum is licensed, it can not do bust
ness in the state; it can not lawfully
collect money from the state or county
for the care of insane patients for whom
there is not room in the state asylurns.
ChiIdren's Societies Must Report.
Another important innovation which
the state board of control will adopt
viii be the enforcement of the law re-
curing the numerous "children's home
societies to report in writing each year
a detail of its transactions during the
year, and allowing the board the same
right of investigation Of such societies
as is granted in the case of state in
situations.
This will be a new thing for the chill
dren's home societies to encounter Here
tofore these concerns have, to d great ex-
tent. done their work under cover. They
have carefully concealed from the public
all information about their actions. They
refuse to give any information concern
ing the whereabouts or condition or chill
dren which they take into their charge
It is their idea that their purposes are
better served by closing the door to all
communication between the children in
their charge, and the former friends OF
the children taken.
If the board of control enforoes strict
" the laws now on the statute books
these children's home societies Will nave
to come out in the light. Their books will
be inspected by the board and they Will
have to account for the children which
pass under their charge.
The law further provides that any such
societies which are not Kansas corpora
lions must file with the board a salts.
factory guarantee that the will not
place in the homes of any family in Tho
state any children afflicted with disease,
and that they will take charge Of any
child so placed who shall within five
years become a public charge. Many So
cieties of this character which are not
chartered in Kansas send children ONT
here for adoption. and this provision OF
the law will catch them.