The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-01-09

system. we nave but sIlgnt vocational
training in the system. The report
declares that our school system is all
inaugurated upon the proposition
from the kindergarten straight through
the college and that it has been for
INFLATED to the disadvantage of 80 per
cent of our children who go into in
dustrial work. This report recon-
mends no change. no lessening in the
expenditures for the common school
system, but IL recommends an addi-
tional tax for vocational training. |
doubt the wisdom Of carrying out the
recommendations of this report If
we are spending $4,000 900 year for
a system of education which meets the
needs of only 10 per cent cent of the
pupils, we should not provide for
proper training for the 80 per cent I'M
til by a thorough investigation We
have ascertained whether the present
system cannot be changed and the
proper training given the larger num-
Der with the present taxation. Much
as we need vocational training. we
can afford to provide for a thorough
Investigation of the common school
system before making additional ap-
preparations, particularly so if seventy
years has built up only a faulty sys
tenn.
The concensus of opinion of those
interested in honest and decent cleo
lions is that the enactment by the
last general assembly of the corrupt
practices and registration acts was of
great value. These laws have come
to stay, but the corrupt practices act
has some doubtful phrases in 1t and
the registration act is not perfect
Looking toward clearing up these
two acts and making them less eX-
pensive in their operations, l have en-
ployed Mr. Henry Warrum and Mr..
w. H. Thompson to prepare either
new acts or amendments for presen-
tation to you.
The States Social Service.
The purpose of direct social service
upon the part of the state should be
twofold in it's character; first, to min
lister to the needy and unfortunate
in body, mind and morals; secondly,
and more important, to devise ways
and means whereby the need of such
service may be lessened and the in
dividual citizen restored to a reliance
upon his own efforts. This second
purpose cannot be accomplished so
long as general assemblies are care
less with reference to the expenditure
of public funds. We made a mistake
more than twenty years ago when we
permitted admission into the insane
hospitals Of the state of persons able
to care for themselves and gave them
gratuitous treatment. Insanity is
such a subtle and dangerous disease
that it's treatment should be looked
after by the state in the interest Of the
life and safety of its sane citizens;
nevertheless, all persons who are able,
ought to pay for their treatment in
the insane hospitals.
In this connection let US examine
the condition of insane persons in In
diana. 1t will not do to sneer at
modern science. We know that the
real difficulty in the treatment of tine
insane arises from the fact that tn ~
do not obtain treatment until after
their mental idiosyncrasy has becom"
firmly fixed. We therefore, are not
doing our duty until we educate people
to understand that insanity is a di-
sease, and not a disgrace, that they
are doing their friends and relatives
a great wrong in concealing the di-
sease until it becomes chronic In it's
character and that they would be do
ing them a great kindness if upo1 the
first manifestation of mental unsound-
ness. they would place them under
treatment. Look at this problem with
it's startling array of facts. The new
hospital for the insane at Madison
which has a capacity Of 100 and
which cost LAOS, 716.15 has been open
less than two years. 1t is filled, as
are all four Of the other hospitals In
the state These five hospitals have
a total capacity Of 1926, while the rec
ords of the board Of state charities
show 5.942 insane patients in Indiana
If you were to make an appropriation
for a new hospital for the insane at
your present rate of taxation, it would
take more than your surplus funds to
build it. 1t would be four or five
years before the hospital could be COM
pleted and by that time there would
be enough insane in sight to fill it.
And so, you could go on indefinitely,
building what we have called hospitals
but what are in reality asylums.
Much time and thought have been
expended in the development of hos
pital plans and in the construction
of hospitals and it is 10 the glory of
this state that our facilities for taking
care Of our insane rank high. But we
have not thus far expended much time
or thought in providing equipment
or installing modern methods for the
care and cure of the insane In this.
we do not rise to the standard of some
other states. With great confidence
in the prudence, integrity and ability
of the board of charities, l suggest
that the study of this subject he re-
ferred to it with instructions to present
a definite plan for the treatmeu. and
cure Of the insane towards which we
can work for the next twenty or
thirty years.
Loan Sharks Condemned.
The self-respecting man who is will
Eg to MORTGAGE or deposit his nars,,