The Penn's Grove record., 1920-07-16
Ask Segregation
For Epileptics
Report For Skillman Village De
clares tuberculosis is Men,
ace to Patients

the patients at the State Village for
Epileptics at SkiIlman is emphasized
III the annual report of that institu-
ton which has been submitted to Com
missioner Burdette G. Lewis of the
Department of Institutions and Agen-
cies by DR.. David b. Weeks, superin-
tendent Of the colony.
The report stresses the necessity of
adopting adequate measures for the
segregation of tubercular patients, the
number Of cases having increased to
such an extent that further delay
would be regarded by DR.. Weeks and
the managers as unfortunate. The
managers renewed their recommended
ton for the erection of two buildings
where tubercular patientstmay be Civ
en- proper scare and medical treat
ment.
Lack of housing facilities for the
medical staff and employees and fail
ure tOs provide proper heating for
Smalley Hall, the center of all re-
ligious, social and educational activi-
ties of the village, are pointed out in
the report.
Remarking the difficulties ncoun
tered in securing and retaining 'both
professional and other help, the report
sets forth that atJthe present time the
village. cannot compete with non-insti-
t%utional organizations or institutional
organizations in ~neighboring states.
This is attributed to the fact that the
authorized pay for the medical staff
and attendants is much lower than is
obtainable elsewhere, while poor hous-
ing facilities further add to the diff
culties.
Bonus System Unsatisfactory.
1--WE confidently submit" continued
the report, that The bonus system
does not solve the wage problem. for
1t does not bring about a>permanent
and proper adjustment between serv-
ices rendered, and compensation, and,
even as a temporary expedient, 1t re-
suits in an unfair Discrimination
against old and loyal employees
There should be a thorough and sci
entifc readjustment, which would en-
able the. village to employ and retain
a medical staff and attendants of a
class suitable to its needs"
Both DR.. Weeks and the managers
call attention to insufficient supervi-
sion and frequent changes In the per-
sonnet Of attendants as standing Ia
the way of research work in the. care
of e%pileptics. The melical staff is
barely sufficient in number to oversee
the general health Of the patients.
The report shows that there were
$40 patients under treatment during
the year, making a total Of 1,603 siace
the Village opened. There were ITO
patients admitted during the year, and
OF sc deaths that occurred 80 were due
to epileptic seizures.
life report of the Treasurer shows
receipts of $358,0S7, including Sd1O,-
995 received from ceunties for he
maintenance Of their patients. Com
paTHfNe figures are given by DIR.
Weeks showing the great Increase In
the cost of maintenance as between
19Th and the present time. The farm
cfHfit Of the village for the fiscal
veal. based upon valuation placed by
the farm supervisor OF the Department
of Institutions and Agencies, aggre-
gated $51,05S.
Gas Consumers Make Plea.
Vigorous Opposition to the proposed
increase of 26s cents for 1000 cubic
feet by the New Jersey Cas- Company,
sefying South Jersey towns, was Of
feTed by municipalities at a. hearing
H. ~-~1;ao+iNp hpfnpn tnn plIhljo
Utility Commission. Steadily mount
ing costs of oil make additional reve-
nue. imperative, the company says IN
its application, insisting that unless.
the proposed increase is granted it
will be necessary to suspend opera
lions! Samuel Hagerman appeared in
behalf of Gloucester township, Cen
fer township and C1ementon, Camden
county, and S. w. Hurd expressed the
opposition of Vineland, Cumberland
county, to the proposed advance.
To the opponents of the proposed
increase Chairman Slocum, of the
Utility Board, said: IF you can tell
the board where this company can go
and buy oil cheaper you will confer
a great favor upon this board and the
neople of the state" Mr.. SlOcum said
that although the company is com
PEELED to pay more for coal used in the
manufacture of gas, it was not basing
its application on the "increased cost
of that commodity. He added that it
is a matter of life and death to the
company. when faced with the PROPOSE
tion of obtaining additional revenue or
going out of business.
The company charges Sligo for gas
with an additional charge Of % cents
n month for what is termed "a will
ingness to serve" Since June 10 last,
said Norman Grey, counsel for the
it has been necessary to pay
261. cents additional 1000 fer the
,roduction. The %company's contract
for 100000 gallons Of oil from the
standard Oil Company, at >the rate
of civ cents a gallon has expired, n