Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-02
AUGUSTA LOCAL MATTERS.

erection of a hospital by public. appro-
priation aided by private subscriptions
and that committee recommended TIE
passage of a resolve which is found in
the Resolves of 1870. Chapter 90. and
which after providing for certain ap-
makes the following pro-
vision:
THAT the governor and council Ec
authorized TO prepare suitable rules.
regula tons and conditions for the ad-
mission of patients and appoint suita-
BILE officers and attendants. and fix
their salaries. and for such salaries or
other necessary contingent expenses,
the governor, with advice Of council.
may draw his warrant on the treasury
to be paid from any money not other
wise appropriated
This resolve was approved March 6,
1910.
Note the salaries are to be paid by
warrant or the treasury.
In the first annual report Of the di-
rcl tors Of the Maine Insane Hospital,
made in December 1870, to the gov.
ernor and council. they report that the
building WAS ready for the reception
Of patients on the fourteenth day Of
October. 1s41. This report contains a
system Of regulations for the Maine
Insane hospital adopted by the COVER
nor and coulcl," which sets forth with
much detail the duties of directors,
superintendent. steward, matron, as
sistant physicians and attendants and
assistants. The superintendent for that
year was Cyrus Knapp M. D.. who
was succeeded the following year by
Isaac Ray. NJ. d.
As touching the question of payment
of salaries out of any contingent fund
from the income of the hospital. it l.;
interesting to note that the second an
nuai report, 1911. of the directors OF the
Maine Insane Hospital contains the
first report of the treasurer and stew
ard Of that institution. He charged
himself witli 5000 drawn from the
state treasury and s4.55S. IS from towns
and individuals for the support of
patients and small sums received
FOR articles sold. The entire sum with
which he charged himself was expend-
cd and more than expended for the
total expenditures were S9,92S69. The
items ur expenditure are for provisions
and groceries. fuel and lights, wages
and labor. improvements. furniture.
medical supplies. hay and straw, cloth
ing. stationery, and miscellaneous but
no where does it appear that the sal
aries Of the superintendent, or other
officers of the institution were paid out
of any income of the institution.
The reports Of the treasurer and
steward of the institution have been OK
amined for several years and in no ir.-
stance did we find any payment of the
officers of the institution out Of the in
come of the same.
The management of the hospital as
provided for in 1870 seems to have been
continued until 1s43 when by the Public
Laws of that year. Chapter IL, provls-
ion was made for the
Government Of the insane hospital
AMI for other purposes This act pro-
vided for the appointment of trustees
ana prescribed TIE duties OF those
trustees. r. Section Of the act it
was provided that
Tile trustees shall appoint super
intendent. and they shall also. i'll con-
junction with the superintendent, ap-
point a stew ard. and such other Of
ticcrs as in their opinion may bc ncceS-
sary for conducting efficiently and
economically the business of the IN
stitution; and all appointments MADE
by them shall be made in such manner,
with such restrictions and for SUCH
terms Of time as the bylaws may pre-
scribe: and the salaries of all the ofti-
GERS 50 appointed shall be determined
nv the trustees. subject to the APP
proyai of the governor and council.
The chaptcr from which we have just
ouoted also makes extended provisions
relating to the duties Of the officers and
prescribed the method of procedure on
the part of the Mayor and Aldermen to
obtain commitment to the insane hos
pital. also for the appointment OF
guardians Of the insane and many
other Interesting facts
The first mention that we find of a
chaplain Of the insane hoSpi'al Is III
the Resolves Of 1855. Chapter 223 where
there is an appropriation that there
should be paid out Of the state
treasury slOC to be expended under 'he
direction OF the trustees of the insane
hospital for services of chaplain there-
| for"
An examination Oh the fT\a'e ahu
Special Laws, as well as Of the Re
solves of the various legislatures from
1870 to the present time show that
| nearly every legislature has been called
upon to make some appropriation OF 10
prescribe some method of committing
| the insane or in some way dealt with
| this question, but we do not find IN
any instance where it was even sus-
gested that the superintendent or any
! of the officers Of the institution should
be paid out of any income of the IN
| stitution, but always from the state
treasury In fact. under the Laws OF
1877, Chapter SO, Section 6. it is dis
tinctiy provided that the governor Is
| hereby authorized to draw his war
| rant on the State treasury for the
| amount Que to the trustees and other
| officers of the institution. the atten-
| dants on the patients and laborers on
the premises not included"
AS showing who are meant by
| Officer we would refer to Section 3 OF
the same act wherein the trustees arc
directed to appoint a superintendent.
| steward "and such other officers as
| NAV be necessary etc.