The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-23
Some Objection to the Pres
ent Plans Have Arisen Be
cause Of the Great Expense
10 the County.
CHARITY BOARD is
TO ATTEND MEETING
Its Members Favor Building
New INDECENT Women's
Homo, Large Enough to
Quarter the Insane.

That the proposed ward for insane
at the county infrmary will be a
heavy and continuous expense to the
county if constructed. and as there is
a necessity of evading the law in ap-
propriating money for the institution,
combined with the agitation by many
that new WOmen'S ward at the in
firmary is more essential than an in
sane ward. Will be the principal points
brought out in opposition to the plan in
the discussion of the question at the
meeting of the county council at the
court house on Friday.
simultaneously with the council
meeting, the county board of charities
will meet, having postponed it's ses
sion to have been held on Thursday y
until Friday, in order that the chari
ties board could make its recommend
ations and criticisms directly 10 the
county council. The board of charities
is deeply interested in matters of this
character and its members have beer
among the agitators for the reforms
row proposed.
List Of Expenses.
From the standpoint of the expense
of construction. the county can easily
foot the bill but the council members
do not wish TO appropriate money
for an institution which is likely tc
be so expensive as to render it's opera
tion impractical The expense of con
struction probably will be $4,000 tc
$4,000. exclusive of furnishings
which have been estimated at no less
than $4,000. To provide an institu
ton with the lowest possible running
expense is the problem.
If the county proposes not only tc
house its insane, who can not be ad
mitted to the state institution for sew
"ral months after being declared of un
sound mind. in most approved quar-
tiers, but also to give the patients the
best possible medical treatment, it vii
require the employment of a superin
tendent who is familiar with such
work. Such people are not easily
found and command fairly large sal
aries. The superintendent would have
to have assistants, the salaries o.
whom, combined with other runnins
expenses of the institution, including
heating, lighting, boarding and The
like, would make the total operating
expenses very heavy each year. The
administration of this institution ne
I cessarily would be distinct from tha
of the other departments of the coun
ty infirmary.
No Law Covers II.
There is now lay whereby the coun
~ council can appropriate funds iron
the county treasury for a county in
sane ward. Therefore it is propose
that the institution be known as "Th,
! Wayne County Custorial Ward, pro
) viding accommodations for person!
mentally and physically afflicted. Pei
sons suffering from epileptic fits woult
be eligible. Although the institution
would serve the purpose of count.
insane hospital, it would not be known
| to this name, in order to avoid lega
complications.
! The county board of charities ha
raised the question whether it wOul'
not be more advisable to construct
new wOmen's building, which wOuls
also afford accommodations for the in
sane. The present building for age
and dependent women is Old not al
together sanitary and much criticized
/ Inasmuch as new building will be al
| absolute necessity in few years, tn
members of the charities board beliey.
/ it would be wiser to construct larg
/ building with accommodations for botl
an insane hospital and quarters for in
! dignanJ women. 1t would be the econ
omical way. the board members say
! The county council meeting is cal
ed for 10 o'clock. The ordinance ap
proprating money for whatever plai
| is adopted, wili~be up on first and sec
| ond reading at the Friday session an
/ for final reading on Saturday.