The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1913-05-30
ASYLUM TRUSTEES REPORT.
Condemn Legislature for Not Making
Appropriations.

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
Bradovitch last week.
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, ''and while no blame
can attach to the superintendent for
the deplorable affair of a few days
ago, still we can reasonably criticise
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 converting of
| the legislature, and many of the mem
bers must have known of it.
"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
a steadily increasing number of in
mates, for which no appropriation by
the legislature has been made to pro-
vide adequate room, the crowding to-
| gether of inmates who should be
| placed in separate rooms Is a neces-
sity and cannot at this time be
| avoided
"The recent law providing for COM
mitment of alcoholics and narcotics
to the asylum is bringing to the in
stitutiOn great. number of patients
for which the legislature failed to pro-
vide additional quarters or mainten-
ance. Upon the arrival of patients of
this new class arrangements of
sleeping quarters of inmates is of
daily occurrence, thereby constantly
disturbing previous segregations CT
patients as classified.
"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 to defray running expenses on
a basis of the population cared for in
| 1911 and 1912. AS the number of in
mates is rapidly increasing and the
addition of this new class of unfortu-
mates must be provided for, the trus-
tees find it 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 appropria-
ton will not be sufficient and that a
deficiency might be the result, but
feeling that an emergency exists
which is becoming more acute every
day as shown by the recent catas-
trophe they are confident that in the
interests Of humanity the people of
this state, the taxpayers, and the next
legislature will approve of their rec
concentration in this matter.
1--WE have detailed report which
will be carefully examined by Gov
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 =
Pocatello Tribune.