The Alaska daily empire., 1916-12-20
THE CARE OF THE INSANE


 That the insane of Alaska should be cared for in Alaska and in an institution owned by either the Federal or Territorial government is matter that has been discussed from the affirm; tive side only during the past few years It is probable tha; the view that Alaska should it's buildings for this purpose and that the insane should be directly under the control of the Territory will be shared by large majority of the people of Alaska However this may be- it was only in 1914 that such reconmen dation was made to the Department Of the Interior, unGer whose supervision the insane of Alaska are placed the Department being authorized, by law. to make contracts from time time for their care and these have been let to the Sanitarium Company Of Portland. Oregon.
 Criticisms of the management Of Morninsside Sani tarium where the Alaska insane confined, have been quite frequent and Investigations lave been made and reforms have been actutcG. most of these having been effected in comparatively recent years But the point is that the people of Alaska have not expressed any degree Of unaHmity on this subject a though the contract system cf caring for the insane has received both con6emnator and commcndation. For instance 1909 Governor Hcgsatt. in lis annual report for that year said;
 ITO attempt to care for the insane Of
 Alaska within the Territory would in m
 opinion be bad policy. climatic conditions in Alaska are not favorable to the proper care of the insane. and they should be cared for in a milder climate"
 Governor Clark in 1910 expressed his opinion as follows:
 ~In my opinion this arrangement (,he contract with the Sanitarum Company, is much more satisfactory than the plan
 posed Of constructing asylum in Alaska fo- the care or the insane. and treatment iS much more likely to be successful in climate mild CT in winter than the Interior of Alaska and less cloudy and rainy than on the Alaska coast
 In his report for the fiscal year 1914 Governor Strong recommended that the income of Alaska should be cared for in the Territory. and this recommends ton repeated in his reports for 1915 and the present year. In 1914 he said
 The time has arrived when some proyis- ion should be made for the Of the insane are number of hot springs on the Alaska coast and in the interior which would be suitable in every way for sanitarium pur poses and where the necessary buildings tc house the insane could be erected at com paratively moderate cost If such institution were located in Alaska more direct superys ion 1t could be exercised The patients confined therein would be more generally visited by friends and relatives. thus contrt outing to the mental and perhaps the phys ieal comforts of the patients Speaking gen orally. the cost Of maintenance of the in- would be greater than that in- cured. and the of transportation of pa. tients would be materially lessened."
 In his report for 1915 Governor Strong said:
 T. therefore, have to renew the li recommendation embodied in my report for the last fiscal year. wherein it Is stated that the time has arrived when some provision IC should be made for the care Of insane in the Territory. The Contract system of |
 
 ently bad with what fidelity the S provisions of the contract sought to be t carried out The system. from both humane s and ethical standponts. Is It has a been urged that the climate of Alaska is such il should for humane reasons. if for other be sufficient argument for caring for the in- of Alaska within the Territory. This ar C gument is a spacious one" h
 In his report for the present year. the Gov ernor says:
 Tn previous annual reports the contract d system of caring for insane persons has re- II ceived attention. and the recommendation has Is been made that the insane of Alaska should Q, be cared for in Alaska. If this plan were adopted. it would call for the construction of suitable buildings considerable cost to the a, government But it is submitted that this m would not be excessive. while the con- Sl tract system of caring for these insane per VI sons inherently bad at all times and under tb all conditions would be abolished" fiji
 There is nothing that be said in favor or f the contract system of caring for insane persons such institution should be directly under Federal or Territorial control as is the case in every state of