The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-04
CARE Of INSANE
NOW CONSIDERED
ALL over STATE
So Perplexing Has the Cues
tion Become That legisia-
ture Will Be Asked to Pro-
vide a Relief.
WAYNE COUNTY HEEDS
DR.. SMITHS ADVICE
viii Not Go to the Expense oil
Building Detention Hospitals
Until State Has Announced
It's Plan.

So serious has become the question
of caring for the insane that many
counties of the state have under con-
sideration steps similar to those
which this county has been consider
ing for the past year. State hospitals
have been overcrowded and has neces-
STATED counties caring for their in
sane for long periods. even though
the counties have no suitable deten-
tion hospitals.
Legislators have been appealed to
and it now seems apparent that at the
coming session of the Indiana legis-
lature this winter, large appropria-
tions will be made with which to pur-
chase farms adjacent to established
state hospitals. It is proposed that
on these farms cottages will be erect
ed with adequate provisions for the
care of the insane.
Relief from existing conditions has
been temporarily obtained by the open
ing of the new hospital at Madison.
This alone will result In the older in
stitutions sending many of their pa
tients to the new hospital and thus
make room In the older hospitals for
insane persons who have been await
ing admission for long periods.
Plan Of Or. Smith.
At the meeting Of the county COM
missioners yesterday - was announc-
ed In thees Palladium that thA board
had decided to withhold proposed nc
tion on the construction of detention
hospitals, one at the county jail for
men and the other at the county IN
firmary for women. This was on The
advice OF DR.. s. e. Smith. superint
tendent OF Eastern Indiana Hospital
who, unable to be present himself, had
delegated Attorney Wflfred Jessup to
represent him. Through his attor-
ney DR.. Smith promised that within =
week or so Eastern Hospital will have
accommodations for all men adjudged
insane in the district which Easthav-
en- serves. At the present time Wayne
county has two patients at the county
jail.
DIR. Smith has been In consultation
with Governor Marshall on this Ques-
tion OF the insane. He has found that
the chief executive is in favor OF the
state taking care of its insane, and
the governor will no doubt demand
appropriations by the legislature by
which this may be done.
In redistricting the state in respect
to counties which the state insane
hospitals shall serve. Decatur county
has been added to the district which
the South Indiana hospital will serve.
1t being removed from that which
Eastern Indiana hospital has served.
About forty patients which are con-
fined at the latter hospital viii be
removed in a short time. DR.. Smith
also has the promise Of the governor
that later another county win be taken
from the district now served by East
haven hospital.
A Useless Expenss.
The commissioners realize that II
the state Is In position to fulfill
these promises It would be q useless
expense to erect detention hospitals.
1t is thought these hospitals would
cost In the neighborhood Of 316, 600.
The commissioners have advertised
for bids on these proposed contracts
to be submitted on August 81. Wheth-
er these advertisements will be re-
called or whether the commissioners
will accept the bids and then with
hold their award until determined
whether the state can take proper
care Of the insane.