Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-03-29
HOUSE PROBABLY WILL PASS
SENATE BILL ESTABLISHING
RETREAT FOR SICK.
CARRIES APPROPRIATION
FOR s,7s,ooo BUILDING
Would Provide Treatment For Those
Mentally III But Not Entirely Insane
tai Began Several Years Ago-Stats
. Emblem Bill Again Defeated.

Special to Times Republican
Des Moines, March eff the house
follows the action of the Iowa senate.
which Is most probable. the state of
Iowa will proceed to build and estab-
fish at Iowa City in connection with
the state university a psychopathic
hospital where persons suffering from
nervous mental trouble may go for
treatment without having the stigma
of insanity placed upon them.
The senate yesterday by unanimous
vote adopted the measure known as
the Holdoegel bill which provides for
the establishment OF such an institu-
ton. 1t II believed the house will like
wise adopt the measure.
The institution would be under the
direction OF the state board of e1uca-
ton. The bill carries with it an APP
preparation of $4,000 for the cree.
ton Of the building and if the bill
passes the house, work will probably
be started on the building within a
short time.
There has for several years been
an agitation for this sort of an insti-
tuition. 1t Is a well recognized fact
that In these days Of high nervous
tension many persons get into such a
nervous state that their minds do not
function properly. They need treat
ment but to place them in the hos
pital for the insane only accentuates
their sensitiveness and their trouble
The proposed institution is expected
to meet this need.
Purpose Of Bill Outlined.
w. b. Boyd, Of Cedar Rapids, chair
man of the finance committee of the
state board Of education. explained
the situation recently in the following
outline of the purpose of this bill:
"As matters now stand in this state
If persons are suffering from mental
trouble they must, If they receive
treatment, unless indeed they are able
to pay the large fees charged at pri-
vate retreats, go before the commits
sioners Of insanity and be formally
declared insane where the record
stands against them and their chill
dren and their chiidren's children for
ever.
There ought to be some place
where people in what might be called
the twilight zone could go and re-
ceive treatment and perhaps be cured
without the record being made against
them that now must be made. Many
other states have long had this pro-
vision. The proposed law follows very
closely the Michigan statute which has
been established for many years. the
director Of which is a former Iowa
man, DR.. r. NJ. Barrett and it has
abundantly justified it's existence
State Emblem Bill Loses.
A bill was introduced in the senate
preparation Of $4,000 to the state
board Of health to make sanitary and
health surveys in Iowa towns.
The bill to provide state emblem
for Iowa lost again in the senate Fri
day afternoon, Lieutenant Governor
Moore being compelled to rule it out
on point of order raised by Senator
Proudfoot, Of Warren county.
The measure passed the house after
having originally gone down to defeat
in the senate. The house amended 1t
considerably, however. and it came up
again for consideration Friday. Sen
ator Proudfoo. raised a point Of
order that the bill was practically the
same as that which the senate had
previously defeated. Lieutenant Gov
ernor Moore. after taking some time
to go over the bill, ruled that the point
was well taken but made an eXplana-
tion to the senate that in so doing he
was going against his own wishes, for
personally he was in favor of the bill.
He explained, however, that he was
supposed to have no opinion on the
measures np for consideration.
Lieutenant Governor Moore must
pass on a similar point of order raised
by Senator Frailey, of Lee county, on
public utilities bill introduced in the
senate Thursday. Senator Frailey
claims it is similar to the one with
drawn from consideration in the SEN
ate few days ago.
Road Bill in House Tuesday.
Consideration of the road bill and Of
the automobile bill, is due in the Iowa
legislature this, coming week. The
house has made the road bill a-special
order for 10 o'clock Tuesday, April
l and the senate will in all probability
make the measure special order
early in the week.
The automobile license bill probably
will be introduced in both branches
by Monday of next week if it does not
in fact come in late today. 1t is prac-
tically ready for introduction
Members OF the legislature are APP
parently anxious to go ahead with the
consideration of these two important
measures regardless Of the fact that
the Rathbun pardon probe will prob
ably take another week. 1t has taken
all session to draw the bills and In
solar as constructive legislation is
concerned they are among the most
important measures which have come