Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-01-07
PAGES NINE TO TWELVE

industry and a capacity for self-con-
| troll has been pending before the
| general assembly for four years
| Such an institution would be a valu-
/ able addition to the penal system or
| the commonwealth. The careful plans
/ which were procured by the special
! commission Of 1905 are still available
I The problem is worthy of serious
/ thought, and II the finances of the
/ state warrant the expenditure. the
| erection Of a reformatory, through the
| passage Of the bill reported by the
| commission and now before the legis-
/ lature by continuance from the last
session, may wisely be undertaken.
Care of the Insane.
| The appalling increase in the ns1m-
| Der Of our insane patients, which has
| been faster than the growth in the
| rate Of population and our well at
tempted provision for their care calls
! for your early consideration. Word
has been sent out from the exisCnE
asylums TO the towns not to send. pa
tients to those institutions. as they
cannot be received. When we real
ize the inadequacy Of any attempt TO
care for iusanity's victims. even in the
larger towns and the entire lack OF
facilities in the smaller towns, we are
forced 10 recognize the urgency of
Immediately supplying, either in The
present institutions or in new ones,
ample accommoda lions for any pos
sible increase OF patients.
in view OF the facts that both ~
the existing institutions are now To-
Gated on or east of the Connecticut
river. and that the great number ~
patients are sent from further west.
the question naturally arises whether
the public requirements could not be
better fulfilled by the erection of n
new institution in the western part OF
the state.
It has been stated to me that there
are now in our insane hospitals p
considerable number OF mild and
harmless cases Of dementia, so proven
by long observation, that are not IN
need Of the expensive care of state
institution. II might be well for this
body to appoint a commission 20
make a thorough inspection of che
asylums with a view to transferring
such cases to the town farms or 9th
er places where the victims can be
supported at far less cost and given
physical and mental benefit but earn
something toward the expense OF their
keeping
If there are many such cases the
present ba jly congested condition "
our insane HOSPITALS would be greatly
relieved and perhaps the urgent ne
ressity Of a new building be overcome
for the present As a measure both
Of wise economy and philanthropy II
seems to me desirable that such an
inspection be made soon. for 1t is I'M
deniable that at present we are not
equipped TO care for the pressing
needs Of the critically insane.
EpiIepties.
The report Of a special commits
sion on the care of epieptics was left
over from the last session OF the gen
eral assembly for the consideration
OF this body Tho report shows go
couclusively the necessity Of state
care for this class Of unfortupates
and that the most desirable method OF
care is by the COLONY System" that
Il seems desirable that plans should
now be iraugurated for the establish
ment of such a system.
The necessity is acceutUated by tina
realization that there are over Eve
hundred cases Of epilepsy within our
borders today needing this form OF
care This large number is exclusive
of cases so mild a TO be better treat
ed at home and Of cases so severe az
TO be better treated among the idiotie
and insane.
judiciary.
The increase Of population and the
growth and development or business
enterprises and commercial relations
growing demands upon our courts. IN
our state the burden OF these add
tionsl requirements falls primarily
upou the suuerior court, but it has
not been able to keep pace with the
increase Of business which II was
created to dispose OF.
In addition to this natural Increase
Of work. the recent legislation OF the
general assembly which gives 20
either party to an action for damages
the right to have those damages as
sessed by jury. has made it neces-
sary for the judges to devote much
more time and attention 10 the dispo-
Sition OF those cases than they have
required hitherto.
Moreover. the recent changes IN
federal legislation relating 10 the nat
uraliZation Of aliens. by which a very
considerable amount OF extra work
will be required OF our superior
court. viii certainly make it more
than ever impossible for II to dis
charge properly the duties imposed
upon il.
SO long as crime must be punished
and restrained and property and ciyil
rights protected. We must have ade-
uuate facilities i'm our courts. There
fore in view Of these facts. 7 recon-
mend that you provide by law an in
crease in the number OF judges or the
superior court. BY no other means
within my knowledge can that court
be enabled to meet the demands upon
it.
Fidueiary Institutions.
Our banking Institutions haze
grown 10 very large proportions and
the time has come when our state
should follow the example OF the most
important states in the methods OF
supervision It is not right that only
two men should have the vast re-
sponsibility OF this work. with the
hundreds Of millions Of deposits, cap
ital and trusts. in their care.
Under the present law no assist
ance of any kind is given to them.
Such as they have has to be paid for
from their own private means. Many
banks are today keeping their securi-
ties in safe deposit vaults in this
larger banking centers. including New
York city. thus increasing the expense
and labor Of the commissioners great
". The net salaries OF these commits
sioners. after expenses have been
paid. are not half those Of the aver
age bank treasurer.
Our commissioners must be men Of
ability, trained in accounting and n
nance able to Judge the legality q
investments and soundness of paper,
and capable Of enforcing the law. A
savings bank Is the sranary of the
DOOR. Consider the millions upon mil
lions of dollars placed in these insti-
tutions by the widow and wage-esrn-
er: in many instances. their all Is IN
these banks. Surely the bank COM
missioners hold a very sacred posi-
ton.
Savings banks alone pay into tn.
stofa traa z,,rx- ovar bzIf a million dol