Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-30
REORGANIZATION is
Continued from page /

The Commission for the Feeble-Minded,
established in 1917, is constructing Home
for the Feeble-Minded at Stockley, IN
Sussex county. Owing to lack of funds, it
has been impossible for the commission
to do more than to have ready by July l,
accommodations for 50 feeble-minded
persons. Ii the feehe-minded in the aims
houses could be provided for in the Home
for the Feeble Minded, where they would
b. cared for at the expense OF the State, IT
would greatly relieve the financial burden
Of the counties, materially improve the
surroundings for those OF sound mind IN
the almshouses, and also place the feeble
minded where they could receive the
proper professional supervision, care and
training. However, this will require con-
siderable expense.
II is reported that at the present time
each of the three almshouses are caring
for INDECENT persons who are residents OF
one Of the other counties, SO that each
county is aiding in bearing the expense for
caring for the poor of one or more of the
other counties. The total cost to the people
OF the State for caring for the poor is con-
siderably increased by the present sys-
TEN of maintaining three separate aims
houses.
AT the present time county tax rates
are sufficiently high TO be something OF
burden to many individuals, whereas the
State treasury is in n better financial con-
dition than at any other time in its history.
For the last fiscal wear, for which figures
are obtainabc of the three almshouscs,
there was an annual expense to New
Castle county of $50, 5000; TO Kent
county, SS,7l677; TO Sussex county,
SS,910.39
Closely allied to the problem of the
almshouses and the fceble-minded is that
of the State Hospital for the Insane at
Farnhurst. At the present time there are
in that institution, 81 feeble-minded per-
sons, and a total population of about 500
patients. The hospital is sorely in need of
accommodations for a nurses home, space
for occupational therapy, infirmary, labor
atory and land for farming. In order 10
relieve the present congestion in the hos
pital and make provisions for the needs
of the institution it would cost the State
in the neighborhood Of 100000
PLAN SUBMITTED.
A plan is herewith submitted which IS
The result of opinions and suggestions by
such individuals and groups rs the Levy
Court of Sussex county, Trustees OF the
Poor of Sussex county, officials and midi
viduals Of Kent county, State officials.
officials and individuals of New Castle
county. and social welfare workers through
out the State Ii has sufficient appeal
both financially and from the humanita-
rian point of view, as to appeal to WIDE
variety of groups throughout the State
The State Board of Charities has endorsed
the plan and is offering its assistance to
further the project which is here outlined
Following is the skeleton of draft of the
I a. Il, f,,- IL col, &c h.
alInshousos Of the three counties the
establishment of n reorganization fund
the establishment of State relief home
and providing additional accommodations
for the Delaware State Hospital at Farm
hurst.
BE it enacted:
Section |. That the Levy Court and
the Trustees Of the Poor Of New Castle
county Kent county and Sussex county,
execute sale of the respective county
almshouscs ms follows:
The New Castle county almshouse to be
sold to the State Of Delaware for the use of
the Delaware State Hospital for the In
sane at Farnhurst.
The Kent county almshouse, or as
much as required, be sold TO the State of
Delaware, to be used as a State relief
home. Whatever part is not required by
the State, to be sold in the open market.
The Sussex county alnlshouse to be sold
IN the open market.
One half the proceeds Of the sale of each
almshouse to be transferred to the State
treasurer, to be used by the State to pro
vide accommodations for tho inmates of
the three almshouses under State care, rs
hereinafter provided.
Section 2. Forty per cent of the pro-
ceeds of the sale Of each Of the three aims