Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1920-01-23

ture provided for the employment Of
competent man as manager of the
farm, leaving the superintendent free
to devote his entire time to the care
Of the patients.
North IuahO Insane Asylum at Oro-
fino.-This institution was also over
crowded and provision was made that
when the necessary improvements were
completed at the home for the feeble
minded at Nampa those Of that type
would be removed. Nine thousand dol
lars was appropriated for the institu-
ton at OrOfino.
Idaho State Sanitarium at Nampa.-
This institution was found TO be over
crowded and an appropriation of SlOS.-
600 was found necessary to relieve this
institution and provide for the removal
of the feeble-minded in the asylums
at BlackfOOt and OrofinO.
Idaho Penitentiary.-As chairman of
a committee appointed to condense
the reports made by the investigating
committee, to be submitted to the leg
islature for their consideration, ! took
upon myself the personal investiga-
ton of the penitentiary. There |
found economy practiced with ven
geance. The floor of the Kitchen was
worn out and when water was split or
the floor scrubbed, the water dripped
through into the tailor shop beneath.
In the women's ward they had
room not over 12X12 feet. In this room
three women were confined. Here they
had their beds, did their cooking and
washing. There was no privacy what
ever. If a woman committed a crime
that called for Imprisonment, no mat
ter what her previous condition in
life might have been, she would have
been compelled to come in close assO-
citation with those whose habits were
repugnant
The deputy warden called my
attention to the condition of their
pasture fences. Posts were rOtted
off and wires lying on the
ground. He estimated it would require
Il carload of posts to rebuild it. This
prevailed at a state institu-
ton where there were 200 idle men.
Economy was the watchword, and this
is fair sample Of the economy prac-
ticed at most of our charitable and
penal institutions.
The legislature made an apprOpria-
ton of $4,000 for a women's ward
and other repairs. With convict labor
this amount will go a long way to-
ward needed improvements.
School for the Deaf and the Blind.
To keep pace with the growth of
his institution, it was found neces-
;ary to erect an additional school
laundry, and provide for
)ther improvements. An appropria
- Il
wants.
We will now consider special apprO-
)riatiOns and the reasons for making
hem.
Gem Irrigation p'>,r.ct.-The state
and under this project was looked
lpOn as a white elephant on our hands.
n past years the state had failed 10
make the district - water payments
iue on state lands. These lands were
belOn='lg to our charit-
lble institutions, and could not he dis
DOsed of at less than $40 per acre.
In 1917, the legislature. anxious to J.
,et rid of these lands and their water
harges. and being unable TO make a
lift outright TO the district of the land
n payment of the back water charges.
made an appropriation of $96.67O out
f the general fund as a gift to the
lem Irrigation district, TO be repaid
D the state as the purchase price of
hese lands, and 10 be apportiOned
D the endowment funds to which they
Our supreme court declared
ne act unconstitutional and payment
the $96670 was stopped.
The last legislature appropriated the
um of Sll9,4J6 to be used for the
urpose of paying the back water
hargeS. and crowded further that
hen these lands were sold the S119.-
SO be repaid into the general fund.
ur present land board ordered the
md commissioner TO offer these
nds for sale In compliance with
lis order these lands were appraised /
nd sold. A portion of these lands {
ere sold. bringing 1891 .743. The ;
1886 Will be returned TO the gen
al fund of the state. Instead Of the c
ate taking S96.670 out of the general
nd and giving it to the charitable /
nds and making a gift of over $500 a
res of land TO the Gem district, the
ate receives back the moneys adj a
need from the general fund and the Il
institutions of the state /
we $2S2, 2S7 added to their endow- \
ent funds instead of S96.670. In Il
her words. this administration in {
is transaction saved over 1891, 700 f
the people of Idaho. a
I again wish to call your attention f
the fact that the S96,670, which was Il
llected from the taxpayers by the II
It administration. was used for other
rposes. Il
Snake River improvements Il
sislature made an appropriation of
1000 10 assist the people of Jeffer- ~
a and Madison counties in control %
: the flood waters Of the Snake Il
err. which had been washing out %
dyes and threatened to destroy ~
'usands of acres of agricultural ~
IDS. At times this condition had u
IN aggravated by the Jackson lake
ervoir having to release waters at 81
ID tide. The legislature considered 10
the duty of the state to cooperate u
h these people. This appropria-
a pa SSpd fhp senate and tha bouSa DC