The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-02-18
New Buildings in Contemplation
for the State Insane-PrOmi-
nent Men Confer.


AT a conference held in Governor
Crothers' Office in Baltimore it was de-
cided to ask the Legislature to authorize
a bond issue of 5000 600 to erect new
buildings at the State institutions for the
insane in which to house the increased
number of patients in case the proposed
Observation-Disclosures bill passes, and
also to erect a hospital for the negro in
sane. Those taking part in the conference
were Comptroller Herring, members of the
board of managers of the various State
hospitals for the insane and the State Lun-
acy Commission
After a most careful consideration OF
the requests of each institution the follow
ing sums were appropriated: To Spring
FIELD Hospital, $40, 900; to Spring Grove
Hospital, $50 600; to the School for
Feeble Minded, at Owings Mills, $3.50, 900,
and tor a hospital for the negro insane,
SIoo,ooo With the sum given to Spring
field II will be able to erect five new build
ings. and will care for 400 additional pa
tients. Two buildings will be erected at
Spring Grove, and $50 additional patients
will be cared for. The institution at Ow-
ings Mills will also be given increased ac-
commodation, and larger number of the
feeble minded can be cared for The
proposed hospital for negroes, as provided
for in the bill, will be erected at some
place to be selected by the board of pub
lie works. with the approval of the State
Lunacv Commission. The Governor is
authorized to appoint a board of man.
ayers to whom shall be left all the plans
for building. The original draft placed
this duty in the hands OF the board of
publ works, but following the advice of
DIR. Herring, the members of this board
were relieved OF the duty
DIR. Herring is heartily in favor of the
bond issue. In discussing it before the
conference, he said:
"A bond issue of 5000, 600 will increase
the tax rate of the State just one cent on
500. There is now III Maryland $3.50,
100000 of taxable property. A tax of
one cent on the 500 will produce from
$500, 100000 using Il at as a basis, just
$50, COO. This will pay the interest on the
bonds and give sinking fund which will
retire the bonds in II years. In other
words, II man owns property valued at
$40, ooo he will pay 81 year to the sup
port of the insane. believe there is no
tax which will be so willingly paid. Then
there will be a saving to each taxpayer in
the city or county tax. Baltimore city and
each county now pay $3.50 for each insane
person. Under the proposed bill for the
State care OF the insane Baltimore city and
the several counties of the State will con-
tribute 500 for the support of each insane
person. While the State tax will be in
creased one cent on the $780, the local
tax tor the care OF the insane will be de-
creased one-third.
Baltimore city will receive the greatest
benefit from this change. due to the large
number of insane persons from the city.
The bill providing for the State care of the
insane was also taken up. The new pro-
Visions were read to the conference by
DR.. Arthur Herring, secretary of the State
Lunacy Commission, and after a full dis
cussion were agreed to by all present. In
addition to the change in the amount to
be contributed by the counties and Balti-
more city for the support of the insane,
the proposed bill makes several other
amendments to the present law.
ut permits the transfer of any insane
person from county asylums to State in
shtutlon, when in the judgment of the
State Lunacy Commission such a change
would be beneficial. 1t also provides that
all cases of incurables may be removed
from State institutions and sent to county
asyums or aimshouses upon the written
consent of the nearest relative of the
patient and by permission of the Lunacy
Commission. A board Of visitors, con-
slstlng of five members, two of whom
shall be women, the duty OF which shall
he
tons of county asy,ums and almshouses
is also provided for in his bill
" he bill further provides that upon the
request OF the Penitentiary Board, or the
board OF managers of the House of Cor
rectlon shall examine any convict as to
his sanity and if found to be insane, the
convict shall be removed to one of the
hospitals"