Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-10-31


ing of a new legisl; ture that will have
before it for consideration many i'm
portant problems least of which are
not the needed improvements for state
institutions, the recommendations that
have been made by Dr.. DOrr Poynter,
medical superintendent of the state
asylum at Blackfoot. to the board of
directors and in turn transmitted to
Governor Alexander in the biennial re-
port of the board, are of interest. DIR.
Poynter says
ION assuming charge of this institu-
ton Oh March, 1915, we were con-
fronted with some very preplcxins
conditions from financial standpoint.
There was approximately seventeen
thousand dollars Indebtedness against
the institution and with practically no
farm or garden products, and the
store rooms depleted, which made 1t
necessary for us to purchase. ad ad-
vanced prices, almost every thing in
the way of food and clothing that was
required for the maintenance instltu
ton.
with out appropriation for main
tenance practically the same as the
previous biennium, with the rapid in
crease of inmates, together with the
advanced price for the necessities OF
life, il was very discouraeing indeed.
with these conditions existing we
determined to meet them byeliminat.ng
luXuries, practicing economy. and pro-
ducine On the farm the greater part of
the required food, such as bread. meat,
fruit and vegetables, which, l am pleas
ed to advise you, has been accomplish
ed and our financial condition is most
encouraging, with balance to our
credit, at this time of. approximately
$j2,96419, instead Of having a defi-
cheney at the end of the year as anti
cipated we should have an estimated
credit of $4,000, providing we are as
successful in our undertakings regard
ing crops, etc, this season as we were
the last. We do not hesitate TO say the
efficiency in no department has been
lowered but rather the reverse, as
conditions in the various departments
and the following report will show
by eliminating superfluous employees
and re-arranging others. we have been
able to save. during our biennium, APP
proximately $4,000. This item alone
more than pays the superintendent
and supervisors salaries.
THE congested condition which ex-
listed at the time we assumed charge
has been slightly relieved by moving
the sewing room from Ward A to the
amusement hall, thereby giving us two
large dormitories for sleeping apart
ments for female patients. The con-
gestion in the male department will be
relieved by the new addition to the
cottage, also an addition to Ward T.,
which has been constructed by in
mates under the supervision of the
engineer.
CONDITION is coNGESTED.
The congested condition still re-
mains a most serious problem and
cannot be solved only by building an
addition, which was our intention had
1t not been for a freak ruling of the
attorney general. prohibiting us from
using the money which by judicious
management we have saved, for max
ing improvements. We are at a loss
to understand Just why this decision
was rendered at this time, as there has
been a precedent established at other
institutions of this state, where, no
doubt conditions were not so serious
as they are with us. / trust the COM
ing Legislature will see fit to e-appro-
pirate this money, which the admins
tration will turn back to the state,
for new addition, so we will not be
prohibited by a mere technicality of
law from using It to the best advant-
age of the unfortunate subjects en-
trusted to our care. 1t is imperative,
under existing conditions, that we APP
peal in the most effective way to the
next legislature for additional room to
care for, not only the present inmates,
but to prepare for the future.
with our modern and humane
methods of caring for and treating the
insane and efforts to prevent 1t, still in
sanity. as statistics show, is increasing
all over the world, especially in the
United States, and. in my opinion, the
increase In the United States is largely
due to the character of immigration
we receive from foreign countries, not
only directly but indirectly, as all
modern students of phychiatry believe
heredity is the one great cause of in
sanity. Our records show that an I'M
usually large percent of our inmates
are foreign born or of alien parentage,
which goes to show that our immigra-
ton laws are either inadequate or too
loosely construed, resulting in seri-
GUS menace to this country.
Next to heredity we believe syphilis
is the greatest cause OF insanity, both
directly and indirectly No doubt