CHAPTER VI

STATE INSTITUTIONS*

Soldiers' Home. The Twenty-first General Assembly provided for the establishment of a soldiers' home, and a committee, appointed by the governor, located it at Marshalltown, Marshall county. The object of this institution is to provide a home and subsistence for all honorably discharged soldiers, sailors and marines who have served in the army or navy of the United States, and who are disabled by disease, wounds or in any other way. Applicants must have served in an Iowa regiment, or been residents of the state of Iowa for three years previous to the time of making application for admission.

Soldiers' Orphans' Home. To Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer belongs the credit of securing a home for the soldiers' orphans of Iowa. In October, 1863, a convention was called to meet at Muscatine for the purpose of devising some means for the support and education of these children. An association was formed, a building at Lawrence, Van Buren county, was leased, and opened in July, 1864. The home was sustained by voluntary contributions until 1866, when the state assumed control of it and changed the location to Davenport. Destitute

*Since the educational system of the state is a unit, it was thought best to place all educational matter in the chapter on the school system (Chapter VII, Part I). Therefore the state educational institutions are discussed in that chapter.

children, not soldiers' orphans, may be admitted to this school in a manner prescribed by law.

Hospitals for the Insane. The first hospital for the insane, in Iowa, was authorized by the General Assembly in 1855, but it was not ready for use until six years later. It is located at Mt. Pleasant, Henry county. The second, was located at Independence, Buchanan county, in 1868, the third, at Clarinda, Page county, in 1884, and the fourth at Cherokee, Cherokee county, in 1902. A state hospital and colony for epileptics was established near Woodward, in Boone and Dallas counties, in 1917. The expenses of the insane are paid from the receipts of a tax levied for this purpose, by the supervisors of the respective counties.

In each county, there is a board of commissioners of insanity consisting of the clerk of the district court, and two others, who are appointed by the judge of the district court, one of whom must be a practicing lawyer, and the other a practicing physician. All applications for the admission of insane persons to the hospitals must be made to these commissioners. After the person supposed to be insane is examined in the manner prescribed by law, the commissioners decide whether or not he shall be sent to the hospital.

State Hospital for Inebriates. In 1904, the legislature passed a law which declares, "The industrial home for the adult blind at Knoxville shall hereafter be called the State Hospital for Inebriates, and shall be used for the detention, care, and treatment of all male dipsomaniacs, inebriates, and persons addicted to the excessive use of morphine, cocaine or other narcotic drugs." The management is in the hands of the state board of control.

Tuberculosis Sanitarium. The state makes every possible effort to safeguard public health. One of its latest achievements for this purpose is the establishment of a

tuberculosis sanitarium at Oakdale, near Iowa City. Here consumptives or tuberculosis patients live in a colony and are given the outdoor treatment under the direction of skilful specialists.

Iowa Training Schools. The first school of this kind in Iowa was established in Lee county, in March, 1868, and in October of the same year, the first inmate was received. In 1873, the school was removed to Eldora, Hardin county, and some time after, 1880, a law was passed removing the girls to a separate school at Mitchellville, Polk county.

These schools are intended for the reformation of such boys and girls under eighteen years of age as may be committed to them. Any person under eighteen years of age, who is found to be guilty of any crime except murder, may be sent to these schools upon the order of the judge of the court in which he was convicted.

Instruction is given in ethics, and in such of the common school branches as the board of control prescribes. Each pupil is required to perform a certain amount of labor, which is varied according to his age, strength and special ability. With the consent of the parents or guardians, pupils may be bound out to service until the time of their majority.

Penitentiary. The first steps towards establishing a penitentiary were taken by the territorial legislature in 1839. This institution is located at Fort Madison, and within it are confined those criminals whose offenses are punishable by imprisonment in a state penitentiary.

Reformatory. A second penitentiary, which is conducted on the plan of a reformatory, is located at Anamosa. This institution was opened in 1873. It has a ward for insane convicts, and another for women convicts. It is also used by the United States government for Federal

prisoners. The discipline of the reformatory is strict, but kind. The convicts are taught trades, and no effort is spared to lead them to become self-respecting and useful citizens when the term for which they were sentenced has expired.

The Thirty-sixth General Assembly (1915) made provision for the employment of convicts in each penitentiary outside of the prison walls, in the belief that this method will be more conducive to their reformation.

Government. Each institution is under the control of a warden, who is subject to the governor of the state. The wardens are elected by joint ballot of the General Assembly, and hold their offices two years. They are responsible for the government and discipline of the inmates of the prisons, and the receipts and disbursements of all moneys belonging to the institutions. The warden of each penitentiary is obliged to give bonds to the amount of $50,000, for the faithful performance of his duties. He is obliged to report, once a month, a complete statement of all official acts performed by him, since his last report, with a full account of the receipts and expenditures of the prison under his control. The other officers are the deputy warden, the chaplain, the physician and the guards.

Good Time Law. Every prisoner sentenced to either of the penitentiaries for a term of years, or less, who does not violate the rules of discipline, is entitled to a reduction of his term of service. The new good time law went into effect July 4, 1890, by the terms of which prisoners are entitled to a reduction of one month for good behavior during the first year of sentence, two months for the second year, three for the third, four for the fourth, five for the fifth, and six months for each subsequent year of sentence. A proportional reduction is made for fractional parts of a year's sentence, and any prisoner who does not

violate the discipline of the prison during his term of service is entitled to a restoration of his rights of citizenship. This restoration is granted by the governor, upon the certificate of the warden, that the person released did not violate any of the rules of the prison during his term of service.

Indeterminate Sentences. A great advance has been made in recent years in dealing with criminals. Reformation is considered of more importance than mere punishment for crime. Iowa judges are now permitted to impose indeterminate sentences upon persons convicted of infamous crimes, the term of service depending upon the behavior of the convict.

QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

What higher educational institutions are supported by the State of Iowa? What is the specific object of each? Where is each located? Find out the name of the president of each.

2. Why does the state, rather than each local community, provide schools for defective children? How many súch institutions are there in Iowa? Which are for physically defective children? Mentally defective children? Morally defective? Should the object of the industrial schools be to punish or to reform?

3. Where is the Soldiers' Orphans' Home located? Tell something of its history. Do you think the charity of the state should be limited to the orphans of soldiers, or do you think the state ought to make a similar provision for all orphans?

4. What qualifications are necessary to become an inmate of the Soldiers' Home? Where is it located? Is establishing a home for old soldiers to the exclusion of