The Alaska daily empire., 1915-03-26

floors, che beds in Che different wards being and standing so close together 50 that insane patcntel tsomc Of them very feeble were compelled to climb over the footboards of the beds, aa best they could. in order to set into their respective beds; that the aani. tary conditions generally, were very bad. uncleaniy no regard being had for tho welfare Of the patients, in fact it has been charged that tho sane itary condition of said sanitarium ls not sanitary at all. absolutely nncleon, no pdoper and clean toilet facilities, no space or room for patients to en- ioy the fresh air in stormy wet or cold weather no space in and about the said sanitarium institution where the patients can obtain exercise, eN' cepting when worked In the said in. sdmton for its own profit
 eYom committee further reports the, ,t has been presented to them that. some patients are confined ln said sanitarium institution who are moi nor ever have been insane. but because under the earlier Alaska laws there was no fund or money provided. as well as no law by or under which che aged. infirm, and destitute could obtain support and maintenance ox- cept by private charity and under some pretext some persons were sent to the Sanitarium institution as Fine sane. merely for the purpose of pro viding cure. support and maintenance which practice cannot be too severely condemned.
 Your committee further says, chat it desires to impress upon the House tho view that the contract system for caring for the mentally needy and helpless is the most nhuman and iniquitous that can be devised, since the contractor has only his eye to thc profit he may reap or gain from and out of such contract, and the commercial greed outweighs hu' man love and christian charity.
 "The committee has obtained the reliable information that the sum paid by the United States government to the said Sanitarium Company. lnco of Portland, oregon, is SIPS for each Alaska inmate per day. a sum much in excess of the cost for good care and maintenance of the same kind of patients at Steilacoom, Washington, Seedro Wooley and Medical Lake, Washington; the cost of complete and good maintenance. care and medical attendance at said Seilacoom Is forty cents per day. at said seedro Wooley. ig fifty cents per day and at Medi- cal Lake is seventy sents per day each;
 Granting to Che said Sanitarium Co.,. Inc. the highest cost above given viz. seventy cents per each day the said sanitarium institution makes profit Of Iorty.eight cents on each pa- dont per day for maintenance on 190 patients. equaling profit of Sil0OO sor each day. a prof, out of aN pro- portion when derived from the lives and existence of these poor unfortu- mates vino are supposed Go be in an asylum tho definition of Asylum being % sanctuary or place of ref uge, protection and relief Of Che un. fortunate" Your committee states  hat this Sanitarium Co.,, Inc, does not come within the definition of Asylum"
 Your committee further states that it knows of some good localities or places in Alaska with hot springs. where the Alaska insane patients can be much better cared for than at said sanitarlum ot Portland. Ore. gon
 Your committee further presents that in all about eight lSl men or persons are employed ct said Saui. larium Co.'S institution. this includes doctors. nurses and druggists The harmless inmates or patients are re- amred to do the general work. such cs working in the Kitchen, also as