Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-10-29
BIG SAVING MADE
BY DIRECTORS OF
SOUTHERN ASYLUM
Biennial Report Of Black
foot Institution = Appro-
priation for an Admins
tration Building Is Asked.

The board Of directors of the Idaho
state insane asylum at Blackfoot has
filed it's biennial report with Governor
Alexander and copies of the report
have been distributed among state Of
ficials. This report shows a saving of
approximately $4,000 accomplished in
two years. Recommendation Is made
that the next legislature appropriate
$4,000 for the purpose of building a
superintendent administration build
ing and residence and for remodeiing
the old quarters suitable for wards.
Regarding the repeated recommen-
dations Of. boards of directors to relieve
the crowded conditions of the institu
ton, the report says:
Each succeeding legislature has
passed up the recommendations; so
now with a saving of approximately
$52, 900 accomplished in two years we
most emphatically recommend that an
appropriation of $4,000 be made by
the next session of the Idaho legisla-
ture for the purpose of building SUI
perintendent's administration building
and residence and for remodeling the
old quarters suitable for wards. 1t
would be criminal to continue to avoid
this responsibility and If the honorable
gentlemen who compose the next legis-
lative session are not impressed by
this recommendation we suggest
committee be appointed to make fur
Their Investigations of conditions.
PRAISE FOR SUPERINTENDENT.
I'VE especially recommend that the
governor of Idaho study the sugges-
tions of the medical superintendent
with regard to a change in the law,
whereby the maintenance of each in
mate will be charged to the county from
whence such are committed, and that
such recommendations as he may see
At be made to the legislature.
our quarterly meetings have been
pleasant, brief and, we believe. fruit
full. Each meeting las found things so
arranged that very little time was re-
quired to administer affairs. We have
each taken deep interest in the work
and feel. through the work, we have
been broadened by the insight into hu-
man sufferings and our interest has
grown in the work until our sympathies
have been enlarged towards the unfor-
tunates in our care, and we realize that
IL this is true in our own case, how
much more 1t must be with the medi-
cal superintendent and his staff who
are constantly associated WIN tie
wards of the state, and we find the
doctor and his assistants ever consid-
crate of the welfare and happiness of
the poor unfortunates. This is typified
in the comforts with which they are
surrounded and is reflected in the def
erence shown the superintendent as he
mingles with the patients.
THE stated results are the highest
compliments that could possibly be
paid the medical superintendent, and If
this board has been Instrumental in
assisting him to accomplish such sat
isfactory results, or II we have done
one thing to alleviate the suffering of
our unfortunate brothers and sisters
here confined, we are pleased to have
served you and the people of the state
of Idaho.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
appropriation for 1915-1916 was far IN
excess of our actual needs, yet we rec
ommend that an appropriation of $780,
900 be made for the maintenance of the
institution for the ensuing two years,
for while this may be in excess of the
sctual requirements. yet 1t should be
available to meet unusual conditions or
emergencies which are quite likely to
occur in a period Of two years. This
estimate is made after careful study
of the needs. and If in excess of the
needs 1t can be returned to the state
treasury, as our balance is to be re-
turned"