Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-09
Survey of Feeble Minded
of the State of Maine

SOciO-ccOnOmlc propositions ever ao-
vanced in Maine. 1t is in line with
what has been done in many Of the 9TH
er states of the country and will show
the Pine Tree State to be fully as pro-
gressive as any of her sisters.
The survey will be under the direc-
ton of a non-partisan non-paid COM
mission who will be appointed by the
Governor within very few days. Au-
thority for the appointment of this
commission was granted in a joint res
olution passed by the last legislature.
1t was offered in the House by Repre-
sentative Aaron B. Cole Of Eliot and
adopted in both branches. 1t reads:
Whereas the State is mourning con-
siderable expense on account of its
care and treatment Of the feeble mind
ed, and
Whereas, the State is not in posses
sion of definite information as to the
needs of the future, and
Whereas, a study and survey Of the
conditions and needs would materially
assist a future Legislature in determln-
ing a policy to be pursued in the mat
ter,
Therefore. be it resolved, that the
Governor with the advice and consent
Of the Council, appoint three disinter-
ested persons to be known as Com
! mission for the study of the Feeble
Minded; the Commissioners shall re-
ceive no salary but their actual travel
ing expenses shall be paid out of any
funds in the treasury not otherwise APP
propriated. The Commission shall make
a thorough and complete study of the
RI the rIe3t-
, ment and needs Of the feeble minded
within the State. and report with rec
concentrations as to the future policy
Of the State"
The Introduction and passage Of this
resolution were the result Of much
correspondence Governor Milliken had
with the National Committee on Men
tai Hygiene, which is branch of the
Rockefeller Foundation. Over month
before his inauguration, Governor
Milliken was in correspondence with
DR.. Thomas w. Salmon. medical direct
| or of the National Committee Of Men
tai Hygiene and with DR.. Frankwood
z. Williams, associate medical director.
| regarding the survey. AS a result OF
the discussion Of this question by the
chief officers OF the committee and
Governor Milliken, the plans for this
survey have now been completed to
such an extent that they may be pub
licly announced for the first time.
While the resolution calls for COM
mission Of three members. it is more
than probable that there will be five or
seven The members Of the commission
would be chosen from various lines of
work such as member of the Legis-
lature. a member of the Executive
Council, a Superintendent from one OF
the State institutions or a physician
not in the employ Of the State but who
| is interested in medical and social
problems, an educator, lawyer, pref
/ erably & Judge, minister and a social
! worker.
While the feeble minded survey will
be urder the direction of this commits
sion, the actual work will be done by
an expert investigator who will be
furnished by the National Committee
on Mental Hygiene. 1t is not known
what the services Of this skilled work
or will cost The sum, however. is
big one and every cent Of it will be mel
bv the National Committee which has
conducted similar surveys in othel
states. This investigator will be or
the lob" for full year and every pos
sible fact in regard to the condition o.
the feeble minded in Maine will De Sc
cured. A tentative plan Of the surve!
would be as follows:
1. study of the laws Of the State
nertaining to the care Of those suffer
ing from mental diseases.
2. study Of the facilities in thu
20 tho Of INT
feeble minded; (a) public institutions
o. private institutions; (c) specla
classes in public schools, etc.
8. The gathering Of data from which
it would be possible to prepare a reliable
estimate of the number of the feeble
minded in the State by an examination
of: (a) inmates in institutions, State
hospitals for the insane, prisons, re-
formatories and other State institu-
tons: CD county and municipal insti-
tutions caring for the poor, misdemean-
ants and dependents; (c) the institu-
lions and societies caring for children;
! (d) private societies engaged in work
for the poor and unfortunate. associate
charities. Florence Crittenden homes,
ETC.: Co the examination Of children
| in the schools Of the State to establish
the amount of serious retardation and
to determine approximately, at least,
the number Of these children who are
definitely feeble-minded
4. Such other local problems as
seemed important and for which there
was time.
5. The analysis and correlation Of
the data gathered in the above-named
studies and the preparation Of a con-
structive program.
This is the plan as it has now tenta-
lively been drawn by the National
Committee on Mental Hygiene, but it
may be changed in some Of the minor
details when the expert investigator be-
gins work under the direction of the
commission. The commission will for
mulate report to present to Governor
Millil1en and in this will be embodied
the most thorough ways Of dealing with
the feeble minded in Maine.
New Corporations
'Bill" Carrigan. the former famous
Red Sox ball player, is one Of the in