DANVILLE INTELLIGENCER VOLUME 78. MUCH ILLNESS- _ NOTJP CRIP There is a great deal 01 sickness in town at present —more than has oc curred for a long time past. It is all due, no doubt, to the open winter with its unhealthful weather. While it is true that there are probably few ser ious cases it is nevertheless a fact that one-half of our population is indispos ed. The most of these persons are able to be about but a large number are un fit for work aud are confined to their liotues. A traveling man yesterday stated that it is almost impossible to do much business in Dauvilleuow ow ing to the large number of merchants that are ill. Borough superintendent Qordy states that attendance at the schools is much reduced through ill ness. By common consent the prevailing illness is said to be grip, which may or may not be true. A physician re marks that in the majority of cases it is difficult to differentiate between a bad cold aud case of grip at certain stages of the latter. However, when a man takes a chill and has pains and an all-gone feeling he somehow takes the matter in his own hands and diagnoses the attack to suit himself and pronounces it grip, evidently feeling a morbid delight in getting rid of it in that way. Of course, in many instances in is noth ing more serious thau a bad cold, just as the father and the grandfather of the mau had in the days before la grippe began its ravages iu this coun try. It is a question, however, wheth er most men are or can be disillusion ized and whether in the eud they are not permitted to hug the delusion that they have the grip while the wise physician—assuming that one has been employed—give* such treatment as he deems best. Boil the Water. The warning of Dr. Dixon relat ing to the purity of the water supply in the Susquehanna below Scrautou is importaut enough to be heeded every where. A warning of the same kind should be issued wherever sewage is emptied into running streams from which one or more towns draw their supply of water. Nearly, if not quite, all the running streams iu the State are contaminated by impurities which reckless aud improvident man turns into them, and the wonder is that epidemics of disease are not more numerous and more destructive of hu man life. * Wherever there are epidemics of ty phoid fever the carelessuess iu regard to the water supply aud the disregard of health aud life are most pronounc ed. Although men are warned to take every precaution to preyent tho spread of disease they pay little attention. Although warned that matter taken from the sick room should be disin fected before it is disposed of, this is seldom doue. Like the victim of tub erculosis who discharges iufected spu tum all about him, to the jeopardy of the health and lives of others,the per sons who attend typhoid patients, un less they are professional nurses, sel dom • 4 take tho trouble" to obey a command to disiufect anything. In deed few precautions are taken by persous who arc well, but are liable to infection, to save themselves from an attack of the disease. Hence Dr. Dixon, not confining his labors to the eradication of typhoid in Scrauton, and fearing that there is "an unusual amount of typhoid fever infection iu the Susquehanna river by reason of the epidemic of the disease now prevalent in the city of Scran ton," warns all corporations or mun icipalities supplying water to consum ers "not to furnish this supply to your consumers unless it be first adequately filtered, otherwise you are to notify the public to boil the water for a period of thirty minutes before the same is used for drinking or culinary purposes." There is little or no dan ger that the water supply here is in fected with typhoid germs from Scrau ton; nevertheless it would be well to boil all water that iB used for do mestic purposes. Iu fact, wheu in doubt boil the water. A Surprise Party. A surprise party was given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Jenk ins, Church street, on Saturday even ing iu honqr of their daughter, Edith's ninth birthday. The evening was spent with music and games. Refresh ments were served. Those present were: Misses Blanche Colemau, Margaret Kinn, Margaret Bennett, Ethel Bodiue, Mae Miller, Martha Moodie, Beruice Gaskins, Bertha Qaruett, Laura Sticklin, Ruth Lizzie Miller, Jenqio Up son, Edith Jenkins, Blanche Jenkins, Emma Jenkins, Aunie Jenkins. Mast ers Earl Youug, Arthur Dietrich, George Ricketts, Edward Kinu, Wil liam McKinney, Earl Am merman, Ralph Huntington, Lewis Lenliart, Thomas Davis, William Wertmar. James Upson. Must Use the Right Paper. It is said that the best way to pre serve apples in Vr intef is to wrap them newspapers so as to exclude the air. The exception is made, however, that the newspaper must he one on which the subscription has been paid, else the dampness resulting from what is "dew" may result in spoiling the fruit. TO FILL IIP 1 OLD CANAL The trustees of the hospital for the insane have made arrangements with the D. L. & W. Railroad company for lilling up and improving the land em braced in the old canal where it in tersects the hospital property. In accomplishing this work they propose to apply for au appropriation from the State. In abating the nuis ance there it is deemed advisable to act rul of the old canal in the bor ough. To that eud tho borough coun cil was asked to interest itself in the proposition and appoint a committee to act in the matter. Mr. Jacobs, at the regular meeting Friday, moved that a committee of three be appointed to meet with the resident trustees of the hospital for the insane to formulate a plan for pip ing and filling up the old canal ; also again to meet with the trustees and a committee of the State legislature,and eudeavor to impress upon tho latter the necessity for an appropriation to assist in abolishing the nnisauce. The motion carried. Messrs. Vastine, Sweisfort and Ja cobs wero appointed as a committee of three by the chairman to meet the trustees aud the legislative committee which latter is expected to pav the hospital a visit next week. The ordinance to prevent the throw ing around of medicine samples eto., passed council on the third and final reading. On motion of Mr. Russell tho street commissioner was instructed to notify Foust Bros, to remove the accumula tion of ashes, stones, etc., on Ferry street, which obstructs the drain; oth erwise the work will be done by the borough at Foust Bros.' expense. On motion of Mr. Dietz it was ord ered that bids be invited for printing 300 copies of the new borough ordin ance. Spring street was reported to coun cil as in a very bad couditiou. On motion the committee ou streots aud bridges was requested to visit tho spot aud determine wiiat improvements can be made. Ou inotiou of Mr. Vastine tho com mittee ou streets aud bridges was ord ered to investigate as to the couditiou of Ferry street at Robert G. Miller's residence. On motion of Mr. Diotz it was or dered that the report of the fire chief be accepted aud tho section of hose in the hands of the superintendent of the water works be returned to the Friend ship fire company. On motion it was ordered that fifty feet of hose be purchased for the Friendship fire company to be used in sprinkling. Borough Electrician Newton Smith presented his report for operating tho light plaut during the mouth past. Eighty-seveu tons of coal at $2.50 per tou were consumed amounting to $217.50. The plant was in operation 397 hours, 15 minutes. The total cost of operation for the mouth was $331). • 09. The following members wero pres ent: Gibson, Boyor, Dietz, Vastine, Sweisfort, Russell, Eiseuhart, Jacobs, Woodside and Angle. Cantata of holy City. The sacred oratorio, "The Holy City," which has been under prepara tion in this city duiing the past six mouths, will be presented in the Mah oning Presbyterian church on the 24th and 25th of the present mouth. It will be the most elaborate, the most com plete and altogether the grandest musical production that lias over beeu given in Danville. The soloists are Mrs. Scarlet, Miss Margaret Ammerman, Mrs. Luella Werkheiser-Divel. Irvin Vanuan, Wal ter Russell and H. C. Haskell,of Wets Brook, Me The chorus consists of forty of Dan ville's best voices and most accom plished singers,as follows: Sopranos—Miss Newbaker.Miss Am merman, Miss A ten, Miss Vastine, Miss Klase, Miss Lyou,Miss Jamescn, Miss Reese, Miss Bennetts, Mrs. So ber, .and Mrs. McClure. Altos—Mrs. Divel, Mrs. Scarlet, Miss Reese, Miss Lyon, Miss Lowrie and Miss Fry. Teuors—H. C. Haskell, R. M. Ja cobs, William Rishel, George Lunger, Clyde Davis, John B. McCoy, Howard liliuger, Frank Consart. Bases—W. R. Miller, Walter Rus sell, Irviu Vaunan, Frauk Browu, Jesse Shannon, Joseph R. Pafcton, j Charles Lyou, C. C. Ritter.NV. L. Mc- I Clare, Johu Hcuuiug. j Rehearsals are of almost nightly oc ; curreuce and those fortunate enough I to bo present as spectators oq oue or more occasions express themselves as delighted with the high order of the I music and predict the fullest measure of success for the oratorio. Aids Coal Diggers. j The Susquehauua, while it has not reached a dangerous height at any time this winter, has been usually ! high for long periods. This has boeu of untold profit to the rivef cual men, who ate looking forward to reaping a rich harvest next -summer. Some of i the big beds.uear this city became very 1 nearly exhausted last summer, when | the river was low, but the high water has been bringing down large quan tities and the coal men who have been over the river say there is now a big, . fresh supply on hand. -FLKDOKD BUT TO TBUTH, TO ÜBXBXY AND LAW—HO WVOB 8 WATS Da AKB M WMAM —AM. A**.' DANVILLE. MONTOUR COUNTY. PA.. Fill DAY, JANUARY >7, 1907. SPECIAL COURT YESTERDAY The court. lioaso bell rang yesterday morning. Judge Evans atid Associate L. W. Welliver were 011 hand. Attor neys and witnesses were present and everything had been arranged for a habeas corpus proceeding, which at the last moment was unexpectedly called off. The proceedings had been instituted to secure the release of James M. Mc- Kenney, Jr., from the hospital for the insane at this place. The petitioner set forth that he is unlawfully restrained of his liberty aud that such restraint to tho best of his knowledge and be lief is not by virtue of any commit ment or detaiuer for any criminal or supposed criminal matter. He, there fore, prayed for a writ of haboas corpus agreeably to the act of assembly di rected to Dr. Hugh B. Meredith, sup erintendent of the said hospital. All the parties wore in court or within easy reach including, not only the petitioner aud Dr. Meredith, but the mother aud other relatives of the former. James M. McKonuey is a handsome, finely built young fellow belonging to a prominent family of Pittsburg. Ho was well dressed and as he appeared iu court bore none of the traces of dementia. What story lay back of his commitment did not de velop, as the hearing did not proceed. Hou. Graut Herring,counsel for the petitioner, stated that an agreement had been reached between his client aud the relatives of the latter, in which his release was agreed to provided he would yield to a certain wish of his relatives. This was fully brought out in the following order of court,which was immediately made by Judge Evans: "Aud now January 7,1907,this mat ter came ou to be heard and after con sideration thereof and the production of the said James M. McKeuuey, Jr., -in person before the court and the said James M. McKeuuey stipulating that he will voluntarily goto aud re main at the farm of William Muldoou near White Plains, New York, for a period of two mouths from this date, it is orderel that said James McKeuuey bo forthwith discharged from the custody of the State hospital for the iusane at Danville, Pa. By the Court, CHARLES C. EVANS, P. J. Charles P. Orr, of Pittsburg, and Hon. John G. Harmau, of Blooms burg, represented the relatives of the , petitioner,at whose instance the latter was committer! to the hospital. The occasion yesterday was the first that Graut Herring and John G. Har mau, with his Honor Judge Evans,the three contestants in the bitter fight for the judgeship last fall, met to gether at the local bar siuce the elec tion. It was indeed a pleasure to see these talented geutlomen with no con flicting interests and all differences buried working together harmonious ly as during the many years of the past. highly Colored Descriptions. The highly colored reports of the visit of the lunacy commission to the hospital for the insane here Tuesday, which appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer and the North American yes terday,caused a good deal of criticism. Whatever the defects of the big building may be it is a well-known fact that it is not the illy-appointed prison house and the death trap that it is described as being in the above named papers. It overcrowding is re lieved, it is believed that the buildings with slight improvements cau be re tained in use. Buildings constructed within thirty years or so should not be so antiquated as to be valueless. The reports in the Philadelphia newspapers are scarcelv accurate in any particular. One of them emphas izes the fact that there are no fire es capes on the building at all, while ev ery persou who has ever visited the hospital has knowledge to the contrary Representatives of the city papers i present with the commission did hot 1 seem to want news that related to any of tlve bettor features of the institu tion, but whenever they scented auv thing like a scandal their pencils be came very busy. This paper in its re port endeavored to present such facts as would really enlighten its readers as to some of the real problems that face the commission. It did not dwell upon the deaths that have occurred among the patients while in the hands of attendauts for the reason that they wore all suffici ently aired in these columns when they took place and all the facts were made use of, which under the circumstances it was possible to obtain. THE COST. The presence of the typhoid fever epidemic in Scrauton has brought the board of charities of that city faco to faco with a great emergency. The board is compelled to expend on be half of the poor who are victims of the disease ab.out SSOO a day. Iv has asked the citizeus to contribute i\\\ emerg ency fund of SIO,OOO. but the respoiise thus far has only amouuted to about f1,900, Will Retain Passes. By a vote of 8 to 4, the members of the Shatuokin borough council last week defeated a resolution presented by oue of the members calling upon chem to surrender their street railway passes. 001 001 IESTORED TO II Charles Sutton aud Miss Ada Krum the runaway couple, who were appre hended at Athens, this State, with John Grier Voris, arrived in this city Monday. The girl has been restor ed to her parents and Sutton alias Wray, is languishing in the county prißon with two charges hanging over his head. The couple arrived on the 4:31 Penn sylvania train and were hustled di rectly to the offioe of Justice Dalton where the deserted wife and the moth er of tho latter as well as of the runa way girl had been in waiting since twelve o'clock. The meeting of the mother ami the daughter who had been given up as lost contained an element of deep pathos. Tho woman yielding to her motherly instincts, although deeply hurt, showed a disposition to take her daughter back aud to forgive all. The girl, however, had much to explain. She confessed that she did not know what had prompted the cmrseshe had taken. "I just got it iuto my head to go away," she said, "aud I did not want togo alone." The little journey abroad, howover, will probably last her a life time. Sutton and the girl made their way on foot the entire dis tanco from Danville to Athens, esti mated to be 148 miles. They left Dan ville on November 5, arriving at Athens about Thanksgiving day. Some where betweeu Berwick and West Nauticoke they spent two weeks with a farmer, where both Suttou aud the girl were employed husking corn. They confessed that they had oudured many hardships, but that there was only one night when they had no shelter. This occurred where a forest fire was raging and the country folks were all out. Tho burning timber af forded warmth and among the fire fighters Suttou and the girl found plenty of company. The following from the "Athens Evening News"of Saturday, throws a little light on a new phase of the af fair : "Charles Suttou was taken into custody by Chief Mulligan aud Couu ty Detective McGoveru today noon at the local plant of tne American Bridge conipauy where he has been employed for the last five weeks. According to his story he and the 17-year-old girl, his sister-in-law, left Danville last November aud walked to Atliens, working at various farms for a fow days at a time along the way. They reached Athens about December 1 aud he secured work at the bridge plant. Ho and his sister-in-law having been liviug as mau and wife,hoarding with a family residing in oue of the old tannery houses west of the Che mung river. Tho girl is in a delicate condition but Suttou maintains tliathe is not the responsible party." Sutton was committed to the lock up Saturday afteruoon, the girl being detained at one of the hotels. At her owu request late Sunday night she was taken to the lockup aud was placed in a cell next to Suttou. The girl is only seventeen years of age and is prepossessing in appear auce. It is a sad case of infatuation and, mere child that she is, she be comes an object of deep sympathy. Sutton, who was working and earn ing fair wages, had purchased soiue up-to date clothing for her so that notwithstanding her hard lines she was by no means unpresentable. To the charge of desertion and non support preferred by his wife, Jennie Sutton, he pleaded guilty, but under took to justify his conduct by making verbal counter charges against his wife. To the other charge embodied in in formation lodged by Mrs. Mary A. Krum, accusing him of being respon sible for her daughter, Ada Krumu's condition, he pleaded HOC guilty and in this he was borue out by the sworn testimony of the young girl herself. The girl's testimony, however, had little force in view of evideuce giveu iu by officer Voris, which was to the effect that she had told the couuty de tective at Athens that Sutton was guilty. This and other testimony to practically the same effect the girl at the hearing before Justice Daltou acknowledged was true. Iu view of all the facts Sutton was held for court on both charges, bail iu the first case be ing fixed at S3OO aud iu the last case at #SOO. He made little or no effort to secure a bondsman and was committed to jail. | The mother, the deserted wife and the restored daughter, after the hear ing, all returned to the home in the couutry. Typhoid at Pittsburg. 1 Pittsburg is iu the midst of one of ' the worst typhoid fever epidemics in the city's history. Poison-laden water is the cause of the disease there, as iu Scrant/U,and Dr. J. F. Edwards, sup erintendent of the bureau of health, declares that oftly hope of relit 112 lies in inducing the citizens to boil the water. With such examples a* these ou every hand, those who doubt the efficacy of this precaution and re fuse to practice it are guilty of crim inal recklessness. Cave Skeleton. The gviug way of the earth at the upper eud of the Lutheran cemetery at Bioomsburg Mouday afteruoou exposed a coffin aud some of the bones iu one of the graves. TYPHOID HAS GRASPED BERWICK Dreaded typhoid fever has laid its strong grasp upon Berwick ami the densely populated district surround ing. The matter has been kept rather quiet, but came to light last evening wjieu the Berwick board of health met to adopt means to remedy the situa tion. It developed that there are 24 cases in Berwick proper, 8 iu West Berwick aud 5 in the surrounding country. This list does not include a number of typhoid fever patients who are con valescent. Typhoid fever is particularly to be dreaded in Berwick, where so largo a portion ol the population is made up of ignorant foreigners, with whom re strictions or precautions can have but little effect. At the meeting last night of the Berwick board of health the situation was thoroughly discussed. People were asked to take extreme precaution iu aiding the authorities to stamp out the disease. Citizens were asked to boil all water used for drinking or culinary purposes, and phyicians were asked to report at ouco to the board of health all new infectious. Preparing Bill. As might have been gleaped from tho report of couucil proceedings, Sat urday morning, a new move has been made by our citizens in their endeav ors to get rid of the abandoned canal. As a result of the action taken by council a petition was presented to the board of Jiosptial trustees signed by George B. Jacobs, Amos Vastine and llr. .Tuo. Sweisfort, the special committee of couucilmeu appointed by Chairman Gibson, which in turn was laid before the lunacy commission when it met at the hospital for the in sane, Tuesday. The petition reads as follows: "To the Trustees of the State hos pital for the lusaue at Danville : You are hereby respectfully request ed to kindly call the atteutiou of the lunacy commission during its coming official visit to the said hospital to the condition of the abandoned Pennsyl vania caual from the Western line of the hospital property to aud through the borough of Danville with a view to their recommending to the State loMiulutnrn h St.atn appropriation for the purp >se of partially defraying the proper ami necessary cost of pipiug and filliug up the bed of the said por tion of said canal and of tho abate ment of the uuisauce occasioned by the pollution of certain waters fiowiug through and from the said hospital property iuto the sa : d canal." Ohairmau Walton read the petition before the commission and without entering upon a discussion of the merits of the propositiousaid it would receive due atteutiou aud ordered that it be niaile a matter of record. Coincident with the presentation of this petition a bill Is being drafted asking tho State legislature to make au appropriation equal to one-third the cost of piping and filling up the caual from the western cud of the hospital grounds in aud through the borough. The remaining two-thirds of the cost, it is thought, can bo provid ed for by the D. L. & W. railroad compauv aud tho borough of Diuvillo —by one of these or each paying equal parts. The hospital for the iusauo with the consent of the D. L. & W. railroad company will fill up the caual, at the hospital, which will divert the stream of polluted water flowing into the old canal at the western end of the hospit al grounds down through the borough. It,is because of this water, the divert ing of which the State is responsible for that the legislature will be asked to make an appropriation. Died at Bioomsburg George Louterette, of Bloomsburtr, formerly of Mausdale, where he filled the position of head miller with the Hauey-Frazier Milling company, died at his home in Bloomsburg last even ing of pneumonia. Mr. Louterette, who was a cornetist of ability, was widely known aud very popular among a wide circle of friends in this section. Before Christmas he had an attack of grip. Between Christ mas aud New Year's, before he had ! fully recovered, he played for a dance at Bloomsburg. lie suffered a relapse and contracted pneumonia, which re sulted fatally. The deceased was fifty years of age aud is survived by a wife. His par ents, who reside at Valoys.New York, also survive. The remains will bo tak en to Montour Falls, New York, for burial. DR. DIXON. The Harrisburg Patriot extends the compliments of the season to Dr. Dix on, head of the Stato's health depart ment. in the following fashion: "The work that Dr. Dixon is doing tostamp out disease wherever it appears aud to 'educate tHe people to tli,e necessity of sauitary sauitary supervision and to the nitration of all water is ot incalcul able value. He should be upheld and supported by public seutimeut and supplied with whatever fyuda are necessary to carry ou great work iu which ho is engaged " THE MC S, The Sorauton Republicau remarks that "the McC's are iu the ascendancy iu Pennsylvania just now. McCrea is the greatest living railroad man aud McClain is the most important mem ber of the legislature. Well,there have been a number of famous Mc's in his tory. " FOOT KCIO ESCAPED PBOEI It seldom occurs that a policeman is called upon to give such a striking ex j hibition of his spriuting qualities as was witnessed vosterdav morning I when Officer Voris pursued an escaped ! offender down the Northumberland I road. George Mock was arrested Tuesday evening charged with "disorderly con duct aud with disturbing the peace of the neighborhood. " George had been imbibing and was putin the lockup uutil he should bo iu a suitable con dition for a hearing. At 9 o'clock yestordav morning he was to have had a hearing betore jus tice Dalton. He was being conducted to the 'Squire's aud had reached James Martin's store when ho made a dash for liberty. He crossed Mill street, closely followed by Chief Miucemoy er. who in stepping upou tho sidewalk, iu frout of J. H. Cole's store caught his foot in the curb and fell striking his knees ou the pavement. He was badly bruised and momentarily disabl ed. The chief quickly recovered and dashed off iu pursuit, although uuder handicap of his bruised kueo he was uuable to quite keep up with the pris ouer. He stuck to the chase, however, uutil the finish and was at no time far iu the rear. Had Mock boon rnuuiug for his life he would not liavo made better time. He dashed along the streets and allevs of the third ward aud had reached a point ou West Center street near the Mahoning creek bridge when ho was sighted by Officer Voris, who was com ing down East Center street, having joined in the pursuit. Notwithstanding his heavy avoir dupois lie made a good record as he dashed down West Center s* r cct. Mock took a short cut across to Northumber land street. Officer Voris by cutting across the foundry yard gained a little time, but when he emerged on North umberland street Mock was alreadv be low the trestling and was making the gravel fly as he ran with freedom in full view. It was at this point that the sight was worth seeing. The lusty officer, divestiug himself of his heavy coat as he ran, tiling it into the hands of a bystander and showed that whon it came to sprinting no was rattier more than a match for the lighter man that he was iu pursuit of. A minute later Mock was out of town headed for the dug road. It flu ally became evident that the officer was gaining slightly and thus the race continued until the man pursued be came to climb the dug road. At this point the two men were only some ten yards apart, when the officer called upon Mock to surrender, which he did without further hesitaucy. The prisoner was brought back to town and arraigned before the justice. Fiuo and costs amounted to $lO, which he found a way to pay aud was releas- Youthful Bandits. Led astray by reading trashy half dime novels, three Berwick lads, Percy Kliuepeters, aged 12 years, his broth er William Klinepeters, 14 years, and Thomas Horau, 13 years, saved up a considerable sum of money and after purchasing revolvers, a bowie knife and a large quantity of cartridges, to gether with a supply of the favorite literature, they embarked on a freight train Monday to exploit the South, as they told some of their companions, and said they would never return home. The lads were all attending the pub- j lie schools of that town, and their es cape was not learned by their parents until they failed to return home for supper Monday evening. Inquiring among their former companions they revealed the scheme. The coterie of youths whose minds had become in flamed from reading the novels (con tained several others besides the above three. For some time preparations had been uuder way for the event. Mouey had been saved up aud fire arms pro cured. When the time for leaving home arrived, however, all but Horau and the Kliuepeters backed out. These three, bidding the others a last fare well, aud saying they would never re turn home until they Had won fame and fortune, embarked on a D. L 112& W. freight train. They said they would first goto Newport,R. I..where Horau had friends, aud from there go South. However, they did not have a good kuowledgo of directions. The railroad detectives at Northum berland and Suubury were notified to look for the lads, but the bunch had passed that poiut earlier iu the after noon and their whereabouts is still un known. Tito two Kliuepeters each carried revolvers aud Horau a large bowie knife. They also carried uOO rounds of cartridges each,aud took a large buudle of half-dime novels. They purchased new shoes before starting, aud were thought to have about $36 in cash when they left Berwick. Wire Had Fallen. Several of the arc lights on Mill street were out for awhile last even ing. The cause lay iu the fact that a wire at the coruer of Pine aud Lower Mulberry streets had fallen. As soon as the accident could b9 repaired the lights were turned on. light plaut is ably managed aud it \9 very seldom that a mishap, even of the minor sort, occurs. IM COM 11IPU The lunacy commission visited the hospital for the insane at this place Tuesday and conducted a thorough investigation, not only as relates to overcrowding aud the condition of the buildings, but also as to management, the pay and treatment of employes aud as to whether or noi the State is not beiug defrauded by tho adm I ting of patients into the hospital as indig- iusauo who have estates or rela tives who are responsible for their maintenance. Some deplorable facts were unearthed and it is quite evident that radical recommendations will be I made along at least several of the lines | of inquiry. Of the lunacy commissiou the fol lowiug geutlemeu were present: Hon. Henry F. Walton,chairman. Hon. Ed ward F. Beidelmau of Dauphin; Sen ators Milton Iliedelbaugh of Lancaster, and James F. Woodward of Allegheny City. Of the board of hospital trustees the following were present: I. X. Grier, Esq., H. M. Schoch, Hon. James Foster, of Danville; Dr. B. H. Detwiler, of Williamsport; Howard Lyon of, Ilughesville, aud G. R. Van Aleu, of Northumberland. Dr. H. L. Ort.li, superintendent of the iiospital for the iusaue at Harrisburg, was also j preseut. Newspaper men were on baud as follows: Fred A. Long, Thomas F. Logan aud Ben K. Raleigh, represent ing respectively the Philadelphia "North American,"the "Inquirer," and the "Evening Bulletin." A rep resentative of the Intelligencer was also present. John R. K. Scott, Esq., of Philadelphia.accompanied the com mission as attorney. Hairis Lighty, of Philadelphia was stenographer. In addition to the above the county com-1 missiouers and tho loeal board of poor; directors were present by request. The commission did not arrive at the hospital until nearly 11 o'clock and as soon as practicable got down to work. Every inquiry was conducted in the most searching manner. There was no mincing of words, nor was there auv special consideration shown for the standing or position of the per son questioned. The commission had no fault to find with the management, nor with the capability of the board of trustees. The flagrant defect of the hosuital. aside from the lack of room, that impressed the commission was the antiquated type of building It will interest the people of Dan ville to know that tho big institution here, which, viewed from the outside, is tho object of much local pride, was Tuosday pronounced the worst, the most obsolete and objectionable ot all tho hospital buildings in the State. Chairman Walton in au interview with tho intelligencer representa tive. after the investigation, express ed his disapproval in these words: "The building is wholy unfit for the purpose and I would recommend that tho whole structure be torn down,and replaced by new buildings construct ed according to modern ideas. I would recommend that tho building be torn down wing by wing and the new structure completod in sections, to take ovor the patients gradually " He regretted t hat the temporary buildings for which an appropriation was made by the last legislature had uot been erected. These structures, he said, embodied modern ideas and would have improved conditions very much. At noon the lunacy commission, board of trustees and all others pres ent had dinner at the institution. Dr. Meredith, the superintendent, was the only witness examined during the \ morning session. The bulk of the work | wa's done in the afternoon. Dr. Moredith made a very good im- 1 pression on the commission, revealing' that he was laboring conscientiously with considerable odds against him to care for and benefit tho insane charges committed to his care. In answer to questions, Dr. Meredith stated that he is 54 years of age, that ho is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, class of '77. He lias been connected with the institution for twenty-eight yoars and has boon su]>orinteudont for eighteen years. His salary at present is S4OOO annually, having been raised from |3OOO about a year ago. The capacity of the institution, Dr. Meredith said, is equal to 500 male patients and 350 females. At present tl ere are 683 men and tilii women at the instituation. As a result of the overcrowding the patients sleep in the corridors and other unsuitable places. The chairman explained that it had come to the oars of the commission that large numbers of patients are committed to thft hospitals of the State as indigent insane when they have estates or relatives who are responsi ble for their keeping. it was the in tent of tho law, lie aaid, that no porsou is to bo oomuiitted iu this way except actual paupers. As the result of the loose and illegal way in which iu saue are committed to the hospitals the State is annually defrauded out of largo sums of money. luasmuch as tho commission is detormined to got at the bottom of the matter the request is made that persons throughout tiie State come forward or communicate with the chairman who know of pati ents committed as indigent who have estates or relatives responsible for their support. Dr Meredith admitted that there are a number of patients iu the in stitution here classed as indigent, for NUMIIER 15 whom support should be paid. It ia hard to get at the facts. Seventeen cases, he said, are now under Investi gation. liou. R. S. Ammermau, attorney (or the board of trustees, explained what I method was usually employed to da fraud the State. Corrupt politics, he said, is mostly at the bottom of it. which iu every community gives cer tain men a "pull" with local aothor i ities. It is nothing short of a conspir acy to defraud the State. An order of relief is issued to an insane person who has an estate or relatives who are liable and he is committed as a charge from the poor district, which paya the pittance of $1.75 for his maintenanoe at the hospital—a sum which is re funded to the poor di-itriot by rela ; tives who expect to profit. P. M. Kerns of the local poor board was called before the commission. He said that the Danville and Mahoning poor districts lias 37 charges at the j hospital and that it is able to colleot ' from only two or three. ' C. W. Cook, county commissioner, said that Montour county has five I charges at the hospital and that it haa boeu unable to collect anything In | either case. It wis the sense of the commisaion that things are radically wrong In this respect and that the error ahonld bo corrected by legislation. Some prac tical recommendations in this matter will no doubt be made. It was sug gested that instead ot committing patients to the hospital on the testi mony of two physicians the matter should be taken before court to deter mine what the patient's >eal circumst- I ances in life are. ! Howard B. Schultz, steward of the ! hospital, was called to explain to the satisfaction of the commission hla j methods of purchasing snpnlies for the ! institution, and whether he eucourag | (Hi competition by inviting bidß at the | proper intervals, etc. The commission investigated the matter of help or attendants very close ly. Paul Clapp, head male nnrse, waa I called before the commission. Hia j salary, lie said is $37 per month. In re j ply to a question he admitted there I was considerable complaint among the ; nurses on the score of wages. Miss Schoolly, head nurse in the j female wards, was also called. She j said $37 was the highest paid under j the new schedule, s2:t formerly being the highest. Beginners now leceive ! £lB per month. She admitted that there j was much complaint on the score of | remuneration and that the nurses would enjoy their food better if they mould lie inn nrpnrate apartment. Lat lor iu making a tour of the buildings I the commission was much impressed i with the hard conditions that the j nurses, especially the female nurses, are up against in their daily life. There will undoubtedlly be some rec ommendations made by the commis sion that will make the situation of nurse at the hospital more desirable. Recommends liig Appropriations. HARRISBURG, Jan. 9. The board of State charities, in ita report recommending appropriations to the various institutions throughout the State that come under its super vision, is very liberal with the State insane hospitals. New buildings to relieve the crowd ed conditions have been recommeuded for Danville, Norristown, Harrisburg, and Warren, aud the legislature will not dare to turu down what has for years been a necessity at these institu tions. The report will he presented to the legislature at its meeting next week. It says that the board has heard ©x haustively each individual institution, its needs aud its necessity to apply for State aid, aud the ability and willing ness of those not under State control to be in part self sustaining. The leg islature is requested to vote first for the appropriations to State institu tions, aud for the entire amounts re commended by the board and that the appropriations to all other institu tions, or semi-State aud private in stitutions penal,correctional and char itable, have been provided for. Attention is called to the overcrow ed condition of the hospitals for the insane, aud emphasis is given the im perative need of additional buildinga aud additioual facilities for the care of the patients. An early consideration of appropria tions for the completion of the Al lentowu aud Spring City hospitals ia urgently recommended aud a statute tasked for providing one method of commitment and to make clear the power to discharge patieuts. The de claration is made that there are 1,000 patieuts in the insane hospitals who | might be taken out if there was any one to look after them. For the years 1905-06, $2,000,000 waa appropriated for the care and treat ment ot the iusaue, aud the board for the years 1907-8 recommends an ap propriation of $2,300,000. The Penusylvana State insane hos pital at Harrisburg asked for $301,000, of which the board recommends $286,• 500, including SIOO,OOO for building for couvalescent women; $55,000 for build ing for recent aoute cases, and $50,000 for an assembly building aud amuse ment hall. Other institutions have been reoom meuded for the following appropria tions for 1907-08: Eastern penitentiary, $178,013: home for training denf children, $44,000; soldiers' aud sailors' home.Erie, $123,- 500; Morgauza reform school, $164,- 000; Huntingdon reformatory, $230,- 4Stl; Mont Alto sanitarium for con sumptives, $20,000; Norristown insane hospital, $320,000; Warren insane hos pital, $230,500; Danville hospital, $404,- 000; Weruorsville ciironic insane hoa pital,s3s,soo; Polk institution for fee ble minded. $814,000; Western peuit autiarv, $24U,000
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