The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-22
PROBED INTO ASYLUM FUNDS Institution Growing Fast
 CT Than Income. INCREASE WAS TEN PER CENT Funds Were Short for Demands of
 Quarter, June 30. Books of Treasurer John Little and the Steward Are Reported Correct. Number of Indisent Patients
 Growing.
INCREASE WAS TEN PER CENT

Some statistics of interest are con- tatned In a report made recently to the Governor. by State Examiner John Pu- rifoy. on the books and accounts of the Alabama Insane Hospitals located at Tuscaloosa and at Mount Vernon, and made public yesterday. The report cov- cred the operations of the institutions from July 1, 1907. the date of the last examination. to June 25, 1908.
 Judging from the report of Judge Pu- rifoy. there was color to the recent finding of the special commission of the Legislature to the effect that the States appropriation to the asylums was in- sufficient for the support of the insti- unions. In auditing the accounts of the salary and wage-earners. the Ex- aminer found that there was not enough money on hand to carry the pay roll through to the end of the quarter. June 30.
 The sources of income. 1t should bA stated, for the maintenance of the asy- lums, are the proceeds of sales of swamp and overfiowed lands and such balances as are on hand ct the close of business September 80 of each year.
 The report of Judge Purifoy affected Hon. John Little. Treasurer of the Hos- pitfalls. and w. c. Harris, Steward, and S. c. Naylor. Assistant Steward
 After quoting lengthy array of -OA At@~~A covered by the report, Judge Purifoy draws the conclusions:
 These figures show that from March 31, 1907, to June 30. 1908. both inclusive. there has been an increase In the nun. Der of indigent and criminal insane in. mates of nearly per cent. and an inc crease of nearly so per cent in expenG- itures for their maintenance"
 The total receipts by the Treasurer in the period indicated were S2o5.5s7.So and the disbursements were s2S5, 6s. leaving a balance on hand of S54s.s7. This was in account with the Mainten- ance fund. The receipts on account of the Improvement Fund were e7s62e.ee. and the disbursements amounted to st.- 7s2.9l, leaving balance to the credit of the fund of s74S.so.
 Of a total of $S14.s4I.2s received by Steward Harris, it was found that $2o.- a32.32 was received from HI paying patients in the Brice Hospital. A small percentage was refunded by counties for expense of returning indt- gent patients to thetr homes. A small percentage was refunded to discharged patients for unexpired board paid In advance.
 An increase in the cost Of help of the institutions is cited by Judge Purifoy as accounting in part for the notable increase in the general cost of running the n0splLal6. For the nurses the pay has increased from, Sa.725.12 to $4.0s7.52. within a fraction of 10 per cent This relates to the first as compared with the last half of the period covered by the report. The increase in cost of help for Mount Vernon patients amounted to Il per cent for the last half as com pared with the first half of the period.
 Attention is called to the erection of a new gas plant for the Bryce Hospital as thA old 0nA had hacOrne uaalAzs Thfa called for a cash outlay of s12,500.
 The total of the balance of the Bryce Hospital available for the maintenance and improvement of the institution was found insufficient to meet the imme- diate demands to the end of the quar- ter, June 30. The debts credited on this account were only temporary.