The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1917-03-17

fundamentals, ! take II for granted
that all will agree with me that a
definite policy ought 70 be laid down.
Upon specific points there may be a
divergence OF opinion but upon the
general proposition. believe there is
none. II naturally follows. then, that
the agency through which this gen
eral policy is TO be determined is this
Joint Board but under its present
limited powers there Is no way, ex-
cept by a sort OF a gentlemen's agree
ment, which may be upset at any time,
that such course. may be determined
upon. Should we attempt TO lay down
any definite lines we are liable to be
bowled over at any time by any legis-
lative wind that may blow up. We
need the positive grant OF power in
order 10 make our determinations eff
fective.
The scope OF this hrst necessary
requisite may be divided into two lines
OF work. one the scientific or profess
sional. dealing with the questions al
fecting the effort at medical relief and
the other the business end or the work
OF providing housing. food and cloth
ing for the wards committed 10 our
care. For the solution OF the first
questions we must look TO our super
intendents and their stats and for the
solution OF the second we have the
pick OF the business element OF our
states population.
II has always appeared TO me that
there is much lost motion between the
professional and the lay element OF
this Joint Board. In our individual
board meetings we have brought up
TO US for consideration the sugges-
tons OF our superintendent upon the
subjects needing our attention. These
suggestions are made after careful can
vass OF the subject matter by the
superintendent and come before US in
such concrete form that they are
ready for disposal.
II seems to me that the Joint Board
should be a counterpart OF the indi-
vidual board in a collective sense.
The collective decisions of our super
intendents should be submitted to US
in a concrete form TO be passed upon
collectively We must depend upon
our superintendents for much, il not
all. OF the initiative in that branch OF
the work which we may denominate
the professional" Therefore our
superintendent should frequently as
semble for consultation and the re-
suits Of such consultations should,
when sufficient uniformity Of opinion
can be got TO warrant. be placed be-
fore the trustees for action.
Please do not understand me as be-
ing OF the opinion that such con-
ferences are not now held. What
| wish 10 be understood as saying is
that such conferences should be a
requirement, not an option, for il is
mainly through the conclusions ar
rived at by our superintendent that a
general policy, built upon the com
bined experience, will 80 impress the
trustees az to win their approval.
Then, there IL the purely business
end, and the one, ] may add, which
attracts the most attention from the
average citizen. It's the one that
touches his pocketbook; the one that
he understands best Generally speak
ing. our business policies have been
built about the maxim. Sufficient 70
the day is the evil thereof" We buy
our butter and our eggs, build our
buildings, SOW and reap our farm
crops with scarcely glance into the
future. There are too many present
problems to solve 70 bother with an
ticlpating any Our guardian angel
is the monthly per capita cost and
our heavenly reward "a me excess that
We may be able 70 squeeze out 10 in
vest in some necessary or embeilish-
ing Improvement.
In this connection ! want to say that
there is observable change in the
public mind towards state institutions
OF all classes. That frame Of mind
which has been conten, to allow our
penal and reformatory institutions 10
burden the state for their support is
passing away. There is not and never
has been any excuse for a penal in
stitution not paying its way excepting
the Indifference OF the public towards
the question OF making them self sup
porting Likewise there Is > irg to be
a change OF view IN relation 20 our
mentally sick and the cay II coming