The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-12-19
discharged as sane. together with the
histories OF their cases.

Nampa. Section 1887 of the Idaho
compiled statutes is specific upon
this point, and provides that mo
case of idiocy or imbecility, or SIM
pie feebleness of mind, must be
maintained at the asylum" -
! Railroad Aged Parents
| Pointing to specific cases, not at
this time to be made public, for ad-
ministrative reasons, the commits
sioner showed that Idaho families
have succeeded in many cases in
sending to the state asylum, to be
crowded in with filthy and hysterical
lunatics, aged parents or other rela-
tives whose sole crime (if it can be
called a crime) has been some un-
of conduct. ut is too easy to COM
NIT a person to the state insane hos
pital," he said.
| Probate Judges Under Fire
| In this connection the commits
| sioner made serious charges against
Idaho probate judges, who, he said,
| have been guilty of neglect of duty
in failing to examine carefully into
the financial condition of prospective
inmates. As result many patients
have become burdens to the state
alone when, in compliance with the
law, their estates or their relatives
are required to pay for their keep at
the hospital. This condition has
resulted in depriving the hospital of
funds and making the conditions
there, already almost unbearable,
radically worse.
Dodge Honest Charges
A case was under adyisement at
the commissioners office Wednesday
in which the wife of wealthy
farmer was committed to the hospi-
tai. The probate judge who handled
the case had certified that there were
no funds for paying her keep. The
husband, however, while accompany
ing his wife and her nurse to the
Blackfoot institution, boastfully told
the nurse of possessing many hun
dreds of acres of land (the initial
payment on which was $4,000 as
well as large amount of livestock
and other property. Yet his wife
was certified as a state charge with
out funds of her own to pay for her
keep.
Another case is on file in which an
inmate had been drawing a $25 PEN
sion. After her commitment it be-
came necessary for the hospital sup
erintendent to sign certain vouchers
before the pension might be paid.
This he agreed to do with the under
standing that the money should
then, in accordance with state law,
be turned over to the institution for
the woman's keep. The woman's
guardian objected. AS result the
pension is not being paid, and is
suffered merely to accrue.
Law Specific ON This Point
Section 1890 of the Idaho COM
piled statutes is specific on this
point. 1t provides that ''the judge
must inquire into the ability of an
insane person committed by him to
the asylum to pay for his transporta-
ton to the asylum, and the expense
of the examination, and bear the
actual charges and expenses for the
time that such person may remain
in the asylum" The section goes
even further, authorizing the courts,
if necessary, to sell part or all of the
property of the patient to pay these
expenses.
No Place i'm Which to Die
Other startling revelations made
by Commissioner White show that in
the asylum there is literally no place
to die. Crowded for room, the in
stitution consists merely of a series
of wards or sleeping rooms and GER
tain other rooms, familiarly called
padded cells" in which the uncon-
trollable inmates are imprisoned.
Beyond this there is a so-called oper-
ating room, which was formerly
bathroom and is of the same gen.
eral size as the ordinary bathroom.
During the meeting of the board
of directors, three days session,
four patients died in this place. 1t
was impossible to remove any of
them from their beds in the wards.
The separate rooms were crowded
with uncontrallables; other space
was not to be had. Therefore they
passed away in the crowded wards,
surrounded by leering insane faces,
giggles of idiotic mirth, hysterical
outbursts from the innocent de-
mented patients about them, many
of whom gathered at the bedsides.
Asylum Destitute of Room
Even the recreation room, until
recently maintained for the more
ruly inmates, has been turned into
dormitory. The asylum is destitute
Of space.
Has the legislature not made pro-
vision for additions to the institu-
ton, Commissioner White was
asked?
IAN appropriation of $4,000 to
be used in the building of hospital
was passed." the official said. 'The
sum would not complete the founda-
ton for such building as we re-
quire."
/ Action will be taken at the forth
| cnmino snacia1 mating of the hOar d