Smyrna times., 1922-04-19
Entered at the Post Office at Smyrna. Della
ware as Second Glass matter

eleLnOSyudry INSTITUTIONS De maintain
ed by the state and counties, and the
cost of maintainance be fixed charge
upon the treasury, says the Milford
Chronicle. "This can not be question
ed; but, for many years the State of
Delaware has been accustomed to con-
duct and commit to such institutions
without records of inmates placed
therein, without any system which en-
ables the officials-not to mention the
citizens-to get definite information
to justify, or critise the methods ap-
piled to providing for the unfortun-
ates who have been given home and
treatment. The State Board of Char
tiles was created to look after this
problem-but after several years and
expenditure of liberal appropriations,
that particular body has not developed
any definite, or made progress in
effecting any beneficial work so far as
the public is informed, to the unfor-
tunates, for whose maintenance the
State is contributing. For many years
Delaware has appropriated thousands
of dollars each year to aid or train
children of feeble minds. These have
been sent to Pennsylvania, New Jersey
and Washington, D. c., and maintain
ed there all these years at the expense
of the State. Investigations have
been started through the interest of.
the Governor and others, to see who
are the children" being maintained,
and also to learn if the parents of
these patients are financially able to
pay for their maintenance. 1t would
be very simple thing for the State
of Delaware, through its officials, TO
provide blank forms for either month
ly, quarterly or yearly reports to be
made by the institutions where these
patients are maintained for the State.
These reports should show the name
of the patient, the parents, the ad-
dress, when admitted, their age at ad-
mittance, their present condition and
what progress has been made in treat
ment. The inspector who visits these
institutions as representative of the
State Board of Charities should be
compelled to make similar reports un-
der oath or affirmation, that they had
made such visit and personally inspec-
ted each of the cases setting forth rec
concentrations for the benefit of the
patient and safeguarding the interest;
of the State. We have information
which recently came to US that severa
of the children" at one of these insti
tutions in Pennsylvania, have beer
there for about twenty years; an,
are men of mature years now. Wh,
should this be permitted, when ther
are so many children who could b,
benefited by proper training TIL
thousands of dollars appropriated 10
this particular charity, have been ex
hausted, and the Governor shoul,
make a very thorough investigation
as to the actual situation involved il
this entire matter. 1t is certain-tha
there is no comprehensive system o
reports made or required in this par
ticular branch of charities. 1t wa
the purpose of the legislature whe
the State Board of Charities wa
created, that the entire system shoul
be reorganized and made to functio
along practical lines; but, like man
other things, it has failed to NEE
expectations in this particular in
stance. For the sake of the unfortu
mates as we'll as the safeguarding Q
the State, Governor Denney shoul
and must see that practical syste,
of reports shall be made and give
publicity--for only in general publ,
ity will the service be maintained {
it's best"