Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-02-02
CHARITIES BOARD
WINS ATTENTION
Recommendations on Study of
Harmful Products Cause Much
Comment on Hill
NEW CONSTRUCTION IDEAS
Plans For Building of State Insti-
tutions Should Be Altered
Without Delay

Members OF the Legislature are dis
cussing with considerable interest the
recommendation OF the State Board OF
Public Charities that the time has
come for the State to take some action
looking TO the curtailment of the drug
and liquor traffic, which is responsible
for many OF the inmates of the state
institutions.
These recommendations which are
the most pronounced ever made by the
board. are embraced in the following:
"Considerabl BILE adverse comment has
been made because our State did not
provide a separate institution for the
specific treatment of those habitually
addicted to the use of alcoholic drink
or intoxicating drugs. We are pleased
10 say that on July %, 1913, approval
was given an act making provision for
such an institution. y site has been
selected in Cumberland county and
commission, in conformity with the
act. is now preparing plans for this
much-needed institution.
while on this subject we are con-
strained to remark, whether il be di-
rectly or not within our province, that
legislation looking toward the pro-
hibition of the manufacture and sale
of harmful products within our Com
monwealth might be inquired into with
laudable results. And on the subject
of legislation generally, that which
is preventive in it's character is most
desirable and might be proiitably em-
ployed in this instance. In nearly
every class of institution within our
charge indisputable evidence is con-
stantly before us in the form of the
ravages of disease and delinquency,
due to the use of alcohol and drugs"
As to Construction
Concerning changes in existing law
the board says:
There is a most serious matter we
would like to call to your attention and
ask remedy at your hands. In view
OF our many years experience in this
work we want to enter a protest and
ask for certain changes in methods
that have heretofore prevailed. When
a new institution has been determined
upon il has been the custom to appoint
commission. with power to select a
site. employ an architect and prosecute
the work. Then, after the institution
is completed. or alleged to be COM
pleted, ii is turned over to a board of
trustees to manage. The Board of
Public Charities. which, under the law,
has supervision over the institution
after it is completed, has nothing what
ever to say during what might be
termed the formative period. The
result is that these commissions go
ahead, spend money-in fact we might
go so far as to say waste money-be-
cause the impractical use of funds is
nothing short of wasting them. The in
stitutions are turned over for occupancy
and operation and those to whom they
are turned over find them impossible
of practical use. in many cases. We
could name instances of such mall
administration, as il might be termed.
We earnestly suggest that hereafter.
when institutions coming within the
purview of the Board of Public Chari-
ties are TO be created, the legislative
enactment begin with the selection of
the trustees and that they. instead of
to select a site. employ an architect.
etc, and that their acts be subject to
the approval of the Board of Public
Charities.
Large sums have been thus spent
improperly in the past. Institutions
have been located where their work
could not be profitably conducted
Buildings were erected. in many in
stances. which were not suitable for
the work contemplated. In some in
stances the work of already existing
institutions was duplicated and there
fore great annoyance and confusion re-
suited, TO say nothing of the loss of
money. We must use strong language
and say that this policy in the past
has been most hurtful TO the charities
OF the state, causing much worry and
additional burden on our board in hav-
ing the conditions readjusted. We are
now suffering for lack of room for GER
tain classes. whereas had our knowl-
edge of conditions been consulted and
followed such Objectionable features
would not exist. at least to any appre-
Ciable extent