The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-07
County Commissioners Solic-
tied Visit to Make Report
On Conditions Existing
There.
CONFLICTS APPEAR IN
VARIOUS PLANS OFFERED
Law Prohibits Erection OF a
County Building at East
haven So County Must
Solve Problem.


Members of the Wayne county board
of charities visited the county Jail this
afternoon in company with the county
commissioners and inspected the build
ing. The visit was made on the re-
quest of the commissioners who are
desirous that the charities board point
out what repairs should be made In
order to make the jail satisfactory.
As the inspection trip was not COM
pleted before the paper went to press
the conclusion reached can not be
stated at this time. However. previous
to the inspection. Miss Robinson, one
of the members of the board stated
that recommendations would be made
for improving the sanitary conditions
OF the jail One of the things mention
ed was to fix the windows SO that
proper ventilation could be secured.
The present windows are very high
and can be opened only after procur-
ing a ladder. Therefore they are sel-
dom opened because Of the work At
tached.
Improper Place for Insane.
In discussing the matter Of keeping
the insane at the jail Miss Robinson
said that she thought this was not the
proper place for their confinement
while waiting admission to the East
ern Indiana hospital. Conditions 1t
the hospital due to the crowded condi-
! tion are such that the insane can mot
gain admission. Miss Robinson says
the charities board favors the erec-
tion of an addition to the Jail which
would be used for the purpose OF hous-
| Ing the male insane and also . ward
| for the confinement of delinquent chill
dren who had to be punished by tho
authorities following their appearance
in juvenile court. Miss Robinson does
not believe that the county would need
| a new institution providing this addi.
tion was made.
Does Not Approve Plans.
The county commissioners are Of Q
different opinion according to @. e.
Wiley. He says that the county viii
need a new Jail in q few years and
that when such time comes, there
should be erected an insane and ju.
venile ward in connection with the Jail.
Mr.. Wiley says the board does not
favor the expenditure of several thou
sand dollars. probably $4,000. for the
erection of an addition to the jail to
| confine the insane and juveniles. He
says that while the conditions ut the
jail for the care OF the insane are not
entirely satisfactory that they are bet
ter at the present time than for sew
eral years. The housing Of the women
in a separate ward at the county jail
| when the new Jail IL built does mot
meet with the approval Of the charities
board.
The Home for Friendless where
women insane awaiting admittance
are kept and also women prisoner II
regarded as q very satisfactory place.
Miss Robinson said that the institu-
Ition has been visited several times
when the authorities we're not expect
ling them and that every time they
lhave found things satisfactory. Tho
women insane when 1t il necessary
Ican be placed in q ward entirely separ-
ate from the prisoners. Miss Rob
iinson also said that the women's pris-
ON of this county was regarded - .
model institution all over the United
lStates.
Laws Prohibit Plan.
The charities board favofs q plan
whereby the county would erect quar-
tiers on the state ground at Easthaven
where the insane would be cared for
by the state officials. II the county
was able to do this the insane would
be transferred TO the ward immediate
lily following the inquest and given
thorough treatment. However the 90
ciety in its correspondence with state
officials and Amos Butler. secretary
lof the state board Of charities says
that this plan can not be carried out
because the laws do not permit.
Instead he recommended that the
insane ward of the county be erected
at the county infirmary. The local
charities board does not entirely agree
with this plan. In any event they b.
lieve that their plan of an addition 10
1.-THE county jail would be more satis-
factory. Objection Is made to the
icounty infirmary because OF IT. dist
ance from Richmond. and that II 10 .
hard matter to secure . supeF1ntenr
dent to manage the infirmary under
present conditions. With the addition
lof the insane to his care. the employ.
ment Of q competent superintendent
would be even more difficult Furth-
Iermore the board feels that Il would