Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-20
Charities and Corrections

pOrtanCC. :
Charities and Corrections
The annual report Of the State Board |
of Charities and Corrections speaks as !:
follows Of the Maine Institution for the
Blind and the Childrens Hospital. twA
Portland institutions:
Maine Institution for the Blind
The object of this institution as stat
ed in its charter and bylaws is to main
tain and operate school for the ir-
struction Of the adult blind and to pro-
vide home for them during such in
struotion. It has been in active opera
ton since 1909. II has trust funds
amounting to some $4,000. A part OF
the cost Of original building was
borne by gifts and requests. part by
State appropriation. The State has no
title to the property which today Is we'll
worth more than it has cost. Practi-
caily the entire net cost Of maintaining
the institution Is borne BY the State.
Up to the first OF July, 1917. the State
had no voice whatever in the manage
ment of the institution. The governing
body is now board of 10 directors, five
Of whom are elected by the corporation
in which the title OF the property ana
trust funds are invested and five are
appointed by the Governor Of the State
Since the State pays the bills. why
shouldn't it have entire control of the
property and of the management Of the
institution, under such conditions as
will properly conserve the trust funds?
"In view of the relatively small at
tendance in comparison with it's capaci-
" it may we'll be questioned whether
with the law providing aid to the needy
blind in effect there are i'll the State OF
Maine sufficient number Of persons
capable and DESTROYS Of receiving in
struction so that it can be furnished
them at a reasonable cost and whether
the school should not be conducted both
as vocational school and as an institu-
tional home combined.
Unless ii can be demonstrated that
sufficient support can be obtained from
private philanthropy 50 that the amount
! paid by the State need be no greater
proportionally than the payment >
, other charitable corporations for the
care Of certain dependent classes. the
board recommends that the institution
should be taken over by the state and
developed as experience indicates may
lie necessary. not only as vocational
school and home for those who have
become blind through the casualties Of
civil life. but also in connection with
any plans which the United states gov
ernment may make for the re-educatlon
OF the returned blind soldiers.
Chidren's Hospital
This institution is heavily in deot,
partly in construction. partly for deficits
in maintenance costs of previous years.
incurred in spite Of tie most careful
management 1t has property which
ought to be developed to increase its
capacity, but which cannot be develope
for lack o. funds. The work which it IS
doing. the care or the ameloration Of
defects Of crippled o: dcformed chit
dren, is OF incalculable economic value
to the entire State The problem of
the maintenance IS far different from
that Of a general hospital. Its patients
require treatment for months and even
wears Few families can stand the
financial strain of even Il very small
fraction Of it. Where other hospitals
derive from 81 to 90 per cent. OF their
maintenance income from the board and
care of paying patients, exclusive OF
those whose hoard and care is paid for
BY the State, and where for other hos
pitfalls the State pays on an average
of 30 per cent of the charity service !
rendered, this institution is able to OBJ
tain only about 10 per cent. Of its in
fvor iSr axc1fQlEp
those paid Cor by the State.
whereas for other hospitals the
state pays for only Is to % per cent.
Of the ordinary maintenance expenses
of the institution, it has to pay s. per
cent. of the cost of running this hos
pital or s. per cent. e ITS entire re-
ccipts for board and care. II is be-
liayod that this institution can be
taken over by the Sta,e under such con- !
ditions as to retain the services and T,
interest of those persons. including ply !;
s.cians, who are giving so freely 81 |;
their time and money.
1T is, therefore, recommended that !
the State. as soon as its financial pro- !
gram will permit, assume full RESPONSE i
bility for the administration and flnan-
cial support OF this hospital and that
an effort be made to support 1t so
adequately that any crippled or de-
formed child in the State. whatever its
station il life. may receive the bene-
fit Of the best that medical and surgi-
cal science can give. without imposing
undue hardships upon the parents. This
recommendation is a logical extension
Of the generally accepted duty Of the
state to pay for the care of the in
sane, the feeble minded. the blind, the
,uberculous and for dependent and
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