Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-01-25
LETTER FROM DIES MONIES.
Representative Mott Writes of the
Legislature and Visits to Clar-
india and Glenwood.
Des Moines la. Jan. %, 19(

Des Moines Ia. Jan. %, 1906.
Editor of The Republican:--ln full
fillment of my promise | will endeavor
to note for your columns few things
that are of interest about the capitol,
Although the two houses organized
quickly, because the membership is
nearly identical with the membership
of two wears ago and the old organ
ization including committees was re-
adopted, yet IL seems TO take quite
awhile for the assembly to get TO real
work. It Is believed, however, that
this week some important committee
meetings will be held and some of the
real work will be entered into. There
is enough real work which now prom
ises to'be up this session To keep the
assembly here till May, or enough for
two sessions. Many of these subjects
are of great and far-reaching lmpor-
lance, and If the assembly fairly mas
tiers half of them 1t will do pretty we'll.
Some of them will likely lose ont
this time and will come up next winter.
Among the subjects big with conse-
auences and interest that are already
introduced or which promise to be
introduced are bills on the following
subjects: primary elections, antl-pass,
changing one of our penltentlafles
into relormatory, the indetermlnate
sentence as applied to sentencing con-
victed criminals, establishing nos
pital for consumptives, putting the
three great educational institutions
under one board of control, pure food,
and q score Of other subjects OF much
interest. Each one Of the subjects
named above is of so much Importance
that its adoption into q statute would
mark a new policy by the state In each
particular line. Great care is needed
in thus adopting new policies, but the
interest of the state surely absolutely
demands the adoption OF most OF them
But il would be remarkable II one
legislature should adopt so many inn
portant new constructive pieces OF
legislation
Perhaps a little description OF a
visit to two of our state institutions
witch / recently took would be OF In
terest to some of your readers. III Is
the custom to divide the appropriation
committees OF the two houses into
subcommittee and sometimes to add
a few other members to them and as
SIGN these subcommittee to visit the
several educational, charitable and
penal institutions of the state. The
main purpose of this is TO familiar
ize the assembly with the institutions
and their needs. | was assigned 10
committee to visit the Hospital for
Insane at Clarinda. Never having
visited the Institution for the Feeble
Minded at Glenwood, l proceeded TO
that part of the state with others OF
the committee and spent day at
Glenwood. The limits OF this article
will prevent me from as extended q
description as | would like tc give.
They have between 1000 and 100 in
mates, being the largest number OF
anv one of our state institutions. The
kind of inmates are classified some
what into about six divisions, run
ming from the moral imbecile and the
mentally weak down the scale TO the
idiot. All these various types con-
stitute q profoundly interesting study
TO any one who is interested in these
great sociological problems which
these types bring to view, either from
n scientific or humanitarian stand
point. Among the lower grades are
many who cannot talk, who do not
know enough TO even indicate when
thew are hungry, who have TO be car
ed for all their lives like infants. To
me there are more sorrowful sights in
this institution than in the Insane
Hospital Some of the inmates are
AZ or 80 wears old and will remain
there all their lives. Those who are
capable are taught in school, and all
who are able assist in work. The
superintendent, DR.. Mogridge, is a
gentleman, xindhearted and tactful,
and scientific and withal good man
ager of the big concern. Audubon
county has four inmates and they are
we'll cared for.