The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-11-02
BIG SAVING MADE BY
ASYLUM DIRECTORS |

O40 ia v Inv NlkAO6 d
ASYLUM DIRECTORS
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 i'll
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 remodeliny
the old quarters suitable for wards.
Regarding the repeated recommends
tions 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
lperintendent' 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
gentlement who compose the next legis-
lative session are not impressed by
this recommendation we suggest COM
mittee be appointed to make further
investigations of conditions.
Raise for Superintendent.
"We especially recommend that the
governor of Idaho study the sugges-
tions of the medical superintendent
with regard to change in the law
7 whereby the maintenance Of each in
nate will be charged to the county from
whence such are committed, and that
such recommendations as he may sec
lit be made to the legislature.
'Our quarterly meetings have beer
pleasant, brief and, we believe, fruit
full. Each meeting has found things Sc
arranged that very little time was re
: CURED to administer affairs. We have
each taken a deep interest in the work
e and feel through the work, we have
/. been broadened by the insight into hu
! man sufferings and our interest ha:
grown in the work until our sympathie:
have been enlarged towards the unfor
: tunates in our care, and we realize tina
if this is true in our own case, how
much more it must be with the medi
cal superintendent and his staff wis
are constantly associated with th'
, wards of the state, and we find tn
o doctor and his assistants ever consid
J. crate of the welfare and happiness o
the poor unfortunates. This is typifie,
- in the comforts with which they ar
!. surrounded and is reflected in the DEF
IS ercnce shown the superintendent as h
i mingles with the patients.
"The stated results are the highes
@ compliments that could possibly b
paid the medical superintendent, and i
II this board has been instrumental /
:, assisting him to accomplish such sat
"a isfactory results, or if we have don
one thing to alleviate the suffering o
e. our unfortunate brothers and sister
II here confined, we are pleased to hav
ir served you and the people of the Stat
of Idaho.
Notwithstanding the fact that tn
G. appropriation for 19l5-19l6 was far
l., excess of our actual needs, yet We re'
Sc ommend that an appropriation of $50
H. 900 be made for the maintenance Of til
u, institution for the ensuing two year
L. -.
y, for while this may be in excess Of tt
it actual requirements, yet it should
ut available to meet unusual conditions
emergencies which are quite likely
Nv occur in a period of two years. TIL
al estimate is made after a careful stue
~ of the needs, and if in excess of ii
n needs it can be returned to the Sta
MS treasury. as our balance is to be retur
~ ed