Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-11-23

their discredit, because they want 9
little political patronage to distribute.
or little political recognition from
the powers that be. - They are busy
men and 1t is impossible that they
Snail attain to specialized knowledge
on the subject of the care and treat
ment OF the insane. They seldom put
themselves upon inquiry in that re-
gard, but dispose of propositions
which come to them by main strength
and awkwardness. When, as fire.
quently happens, they love power and
attempt to exercise it they make H.
limitable mischief.
Simplify the System.
In my judgment the legislature
should simplify the whole system of
hospital management by the elimina-
ton OF both the lunacy commission
and the local boards and erecting the
Office of general superintendent into
state lunacy department. The
superintendent should be given an as
sistant and ali the local superinten-
dents should be constituted into an
advisory board with quartely meetings
held to discuss and act for the general
welfare of the hospital service of the
state. This would make for efficiency
and economy.
Cost OF the Commission.
During the fiscal year ending June
30, 1906, the total expenses incurred
by the state lunacy commission
amounted to SIG, 900. SO. OF this 81.
1856. go was expended for salaries and
81, ABB. 10 for travelling expenses. The
rest went for incidentaIs. The
present, and only general superinten-
dent the state has had, DIR. f. w.
Hatch, Is thoroughly equipped for his
work, and likewise, full of enthusiasm
for it. He is at once progressive and
conservative, progressive in keeping
abreast of the best results obtained
IN his line of work and conservative |
in holding back local influences |
from rushing into extravagant and ill
advised expenditures. He has the
full confidence of all the local super
and IS tlreless in devotion
to hospital interests. Although he
does not say so himself, am sure
that If he were less hampered by
official fifth wheels he would be
able to raise the hospital system of
California to. higher state of
efficiency.
One More Reform Needed.
During the fiscal year ending June
30, 1906, the following sums were
paid for Transportation insane persons
to the institutions named: Stockton
hospital $40. 67O. 81; Napa, 80. 1853. 10;
Agnew, s2,64l. 20; Mendocino, Sc, O41.
is; Southern California, IS, 1883. 90;
Home for the feeble minded, 81, 1888. n
DO. Total, s36, il3. 80.
This sum could be cut in half and
the patients brought to the hospitals |
IN infinitely better plight If the
several hospitals were authorized by
law to send trained men and women
for the patients to fetch them to the |
The conveying is done |
by deputy sheritfs who know about as |
much about handling insane persons
as they do about training tigers, and |
they go about the business in a
similar way.
Let us never forget that insane per-
SOILS are sick persons, desperately
sick, many OF them, and not wild
animals to be strapped and hustled
and subdued by physical process.
Such persons are to be handled only
by those who know, and no one can.
know how until he has first learned
how through service in a. we'll ordered
institution for the care of the insane. Il
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