The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-05-29
Trustees Of Asylum to Recommend
Measures For Effective Work

Col. A. B. Moss, who with G. Spong
berg and George w. Irwin, compose
the board Of trustees for the Black
foot insane asylum, was in town for
few minutes yesterday on his way
home from the Grove City, where the
board has been conducting an inves.
tigation Of the institution, following
the brutal murders committed by
Peter Bradovitch last week, says the
Pocatello Tribune.
+ Colonel Moss is chairman of the
board and has long been familiar with
the asylum and it's needs. "The con.
dition is bad" he said. to Tribune
representative, land while no blame
can attach to the superintendent for
the deplorable affair Of few days
ago, still we can reasonably criticize
the state legislature in not providing
adequate facilities for the proper
handling Of the criminal insane, as a
similar affair or two happened at the
institution prior to the convening Of
the legislature, and many of the mem
bers must have known it.
1--WE have completed our report to
the governor, which is to the effect
that we have most thoroughly inves-
tigated all conditions and find that
the superintendent and his subordi-
mates have acted according to Their
best judgment in caring for their pa
tients and that neither Of them can
be censured. We find, however, with
q steadily increasing number of in
mates, fer which no appropriation by
the legislature has been made to pro-
vide adequate room, tho crowding to-
geether of inmates who should b.
placed in separate rooms is a neces-
sity and cannot at this time be
avoided.
"Tho recent law providing for COM
mitment of alcoholics and narcotics
to the asylum is bringing to the insti-
tuition gfeat number Of patients for
which the legislature failed to provide
additional quarters or maintenance.
Upon the arrival of patients OF this
new class arrangements of sleeping
quarters of inmates is of daily oc-
currence, thereby constantly disturb
ing previous segregations of patients
as classified.
1--WE find that the legislature failed
to appropriate revenues for enlarge
ment quarters as recommended by the
board Of directors and the superin-
tendent. Appropriating only enough
money 10 0eIray running expenses on
basis Of the population cared for in
1911 and 1912. AS the number of
inmates is rapidly increasing and the
addition Of this new class of unfortu.
mates must be provided for, the trps.
tees find 1t necessary to arrange for
additional quarters SO that proper
apartments for the criminally insane
may be provided The trustees real
ize that by authorizing necessary i'm
provements the available abpropria-
tion will not be sufficient AID that a
deficiency might be the {esult, but
feeling that an emergency exists
which is becoming more al ute every
day as shown by the rec\pt catas-
trophe they are confident thu in the
interests Of humanity the p\pple of
this state, the Taxpayers, and t9e next
legislature will approve of them rec
ommendation in this matter.
I'VE have a detailed report whNh
will be carefully examined by Cow
ernOr Haines, and the trustees will
largely be guided by his suggestions
in the matter after he completes the
work Of going through the report