The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1955-01-21
Impressive
institutional Interest

We are eager to quote few sentences IRON
Governor Lausehes Inaugural Address OF January
il, 1855.
zone of the most crucial problems facing ONO
il that of her desperately overcr0wded, understaft-
ed mental correctional and juvenile institutions.
| recommend ito the legislature that the problem
be submitted TO the voters of Ohio for decision
In order 10 get This vital program under way as soon
AZ nossibIp | recommend that S2500000000 be ap-
propriated from the anticipated surplus and a
sfi5 600 10000 bond issue be submitted TO the vol
ers for approval at the November 1865 election.
Certainly every citizen Of Ohio will applaud the
Governors words and will pray and work ior an
early solution Of the States welfare needs.
For several years now the voters OF ONO have
been subjected TO shocking sensational exposes Of
The ptiable conditions existing IN our protective
institutions both mental and penal Usually, these
exposes are made just prior to elections oy cahd
dates for political office who, we preSuppoSe, are
honestly trying to awaken the voters OF the state
10 one Of our most crying needs and major prop
lens Unfortunately once elections over, the
voters are again permitted to close their eyes and
forget the sad plight Of their feowmen unti the
next political campaign
With the opening of the 10lst Session OF the
General assembly of Ohio, however, there Is great
hone that this will no longer be the case; there IS
great hope that at long last something positive
something intelligent something permanent and
even something nonparsisan VIII be accomplished
for the unfortunate victims OF mental illness as
we'll as for those who paying the price OF their
personal vices The foundation of this hope Is based
on the recent action of Or. John d. Porterfleld
Director of the State Department of Mental Hygiene
and Correction when he requested OF the Leglsla-
ture that 29lz million dollars be appropriated TO
cover these "mos immediate needs OF the state.
Representing the present Administration, Or. Por-
iereld has revealed that this request based on pro-
lonped investigations and studies Is only about one
fifth az the DEPARTMENTS estimated needs, t0talllng
I40-million dollars necessary to cover longfange
permanent program. Further encouragement lof
this great hope is also found IN the fact that-wlh
In the first week of this Legislative SesSlon-he-
nuhlican members of both the Senate and the House
OF Representatives have introduced Bills seeking
snnropriaons not only to aid particular state
mental Institutions but even one Senate JOINT heso
luton has been offered by Senator William Ded
dens Rep. Hamilton Coz proposing to amend the
Constitution To permit a Sl50o00,000 bond issue TO
finance the construction Of these needed insftu
tnns For this positive progressive thinking on the
part OF the administration and their political op
ponenls i'm the Legislature, every clearthnklng ana
riehtminded citizen of this State should be deeply
grateful.
our hopes are not optimistic and unreastle
as 10 believe however that this noble ambition will
be realized without opposition and even bitter
attacks from those who though sincere do mol luily
understand the scope and nTicaees ot the issue
Because OF this, it is imperative that all citizens
this problem of better care and aid to their un'
fortunate brethren be united IN their efforts 1t IS
imperative that in their zeal to alleviate the press
ing and urgent needs of a particular institution,
they do not e0pardiZe a sound and lasting pro
gram for all other state Institutions is is imperative
that for political on partisan prestige they do not
attempt Ia sabotage an honest effort behind a
smoke screen of an individual emergency, smoke
screen which EMPLOYS the old legislative ruse of
introducing several Bills to kin a good one
Indeed the problem is complex. Thirty-siX thou
sand adult patients are overcrowding our larger
mental institutions AT the same time, some small
81 institutions are not filled. This condition,
although apparently unnecessary is nevertheless
most understandable when the nature Of the care
and conditions of the patient are known. lnsutu'
tions for prolonged care of mental patients are
not only ovefcrowded but have waiting lists. The
smaller institutions have vacancies for various
reasons ranging from The fact that only short
time care is needed to the fact that they are
located in areas where the populaee still regards
mental illness disgrace and mental institutions
rs being fer worse than penal servitude Tie ten
thousand adult inmates oVercrOWding our state
penal institutions arc often in conditions which
render rehabilitation and the return to society as
good ctizes almost hopeless Then, too because
of present conditions, preventative work In the
Juvenile Division OF Correction is Illustration itself.
Juveniles Of every bracket guilty OF every
tyre Of crime and moral perversion are crowded
together until they are released with the hone
that they have learned thel lesson Under the
present conditions. they often learn the wrong
lessons too well More diversilication in caring
for the various tynes of juvenile delinquents will
certainly be a BRIGHTER step in the right direction,
And so TO Governor Iausche and the members
of the Administration and Legislature, who have
taken this first great step in The right direction,
We. the citizens nf Ohio. arc deeply grateful And.
In The long tedious months ahead while many
controversial issues viii be debated pressureS
brought 70 bear and selfish interests manifested,
ali viii pray that they nerseyere in their ideals
and desires 70 provide permanent aid 10 our fellow
citizens. This great need must not be begged down
IN the mire of selfish partisan politics