The Alaska daily empire., 1916-01-12
GOVERNOR URGES INSANE ASYLUM
 IN THE NORTH

In his annual report Governor Strong deals with the insane problem as follows:
 The insane persons of Alaska are cared for at Morningside San.tarium, under a contract entered into between the Sanitarium Co. Of Portland, Ore, and the Secretary Of the Interior The number of Alaska insane under treatment on June 30, 1915. was. 1S0, of which 165 were males and 24 fc- males. There were F patients re- ceived at Morningside during the quarter. 5 were discharged, 8 died. and 8 escaped.
 The Alaska Legislature at .ts 1915 session passed joint memorial cri- ticizing the methods of the Sanitarium Go. in the treatment of the Alaska insane patients. and memorial was adopted for presentation to the Con- gress asking. among other things, that a permanent asylum be estab- lished at some point on the Pacific Coast of Alaska to which the Alaska insane patients can be removed from the interior of Alaska for permanent care and custody. unless sooner dis charged. and to which institution the Alaska insane now .n the Morningside Sanitarlum can be removed Copies oC this memorial have been transmit ted to the Department of the Interior.
 "sIorningside Sanitarium is inspect ed frequently by Inspectors of the De- partment of the Interior and the gov ernor of Alaska. The latter visited this institution in November last and hls findings were made the subject of special report to the department. The number of patients confined in the sanitarium Is Increasing. and with the increase of population in the Ter rltory the number of insane will un- doubtedly become larger from year to year. therefore have to renew the recommendation embodied in my report for the last fiscal year where in 1t was stated that the t'me had ar. rived when some provision should be made for the care of the insane with in the Territory. It is to be expect ed that this recommendation will meet with the opposition of the pres ent contractors. the San.tarium Co., but 1t is submitted that such opposi. ton is based on commercial reasons and not upon humane considerations. The contract system of caring for the insane of any country is inherently bad, no matter with what fidelity the provisions of the contract are sought to be carried out. The contract sys tenn. from both humane and ethical standpolnts. Is unsound. It has been urged that the climate of Alaska is such as should. for humane reasons lif no other. be sufficient argument against caring for the insane of Alas ka within the Territory. This argu ment is a spacious one. It has nc basis in fact. for 1t will be admitted by the d.sinterested that climate alone will not effect a cure of men tai disease. The climate of Alaska however. is not productive of insanit, any more than the climate of Wash llngton and Oregon. and the confine ment of patients in Q well-conductet institution located in the Territory would be conducive to both the men tai and physical comfort of the In mates. Most of these patients know no other home than Alaska and tho friends they have are for the mos part in the Territory. and therefore it Is believed that greater interes would undoubtedly be shown In the. welfare were tho ycared for in Alas ka. There ore a number of towns ol
 he southern coast where the climat'
 is inviting the year round and wher
 there Is less rain. and at least a much sunshine. as at Portland Ore
 With the Alaska insane cared for il , he Territory. more direct supervis , 'on would be exercised by this offic , md other officials. both of the Fed