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NEBRASKA BLUE BOOK, 1926

231

WOMEN'S REFORMATORY
YORK

Salary

Superintendent--Alma J. Chapman, M. D.

$1,800

     The legislature of 1919 authorized the establishment of a reformatory for women. The object of the reformatory is to "furnish suit-able home, proper care, education, and training in the industrial arts, to enable women convicted of crimes to fit themselves for useful lives." The crimes for which any woman can be committed to the reformatory are petit larceny, vagrancy, habitual drunkenness, or being a prostitute. Those who are insane, or are mentally or physically incapable of being benefitted (sic) by the discipline of the reformatory are committed to other institutions.

      Girls are instructed in cooking, plain and fancy needlework, gardening, poultry raising and dairy work.

      The institution was opened on May 8, 1920. It has a farm of 119 acres valued at $36,000, with buildings valued at $60,776. The number of officers and employees is ten and the average number of inmates for the year was thirty-four. During the last year $21,162.31 were spent for improvements and repairs, and a new building.

NEBRASKA INDUSTRIAL HOME MILFORD

Salary

Superintendent--M. Evelyn Meyer

$1,800

Matron--Cora A. Townsend.

Physician--William Sandusky, M. D.

     The legislature of 1887 established this home for the purpose of affording "shelter and protection," and also to "provide employment and means of self support to penitent women and girls, with a view to aid in the suppression of prostitution." Applications for admission are made to the superintendent and no information is given out as to the name or identity of the inmate. Any child born at the home may be relinquished by its mother for adoption.

      Domestic science in its various branches, is the subject of chief interest. Sewing, canning and cooking keep the girls busy and fit them for future usefulness.

      The institution owns forty acres of land valued at $7,600, with buildings valued at $60,500. There are ten officers and employees. The average number of inmates last year was 96, with a per capita expenditure of $278.40. Improvements and repairs costing $6,114.60 have been made this year.

MEN'S REFORMATORY LINCOLN

Salary

Superintendent--A. W. Miller

$2,500

Assistant Superintendent--H. P. Scheideler.

Steward--C. C. Boslaw.



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     The legislature of 1921 authorized the establishment of a reformatory for boys and men "not less than sixteen nor more than thirty years of age at the time of conviction of a felony for the first time," Such offenders may be sentenced to the reformatory instead of to the penitentiary, when, in the judgment of the court, the person is capable of reformation and such sentence is compatible with the general welfare.

     This institution was located at Lincoln and opened October 1, 1921. It owns 167 acres of land valued at $57,900, with buildings valued at $179,000. There are thirty-two officers and employees, and an average number of 241 inmates. The per capita cost of maintenance last year was $391.44.

SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOMES

BURKETT (Grand Island)

Salary

Commandant--J. W. Waite

1,740

Adjutant--O. D. Bolster.

Physician--Willis J. Raynor, M. D.

Matron--Hannah E. Buck.

Bookkeeper--George N. Bishop.

MILFORD

Salary

Commandant--J. O. Moore

$1,380

Adjutant--Thos. Swearingen.

Physician--H. J. Wertman, M. D.

Matron--Mrs. S. H. Raley.

     The Nebraska soldiers' and sailors' home at Burkett, near Grand Island, was established by legislative act approved March 4, 1887. The home was opened to applicants July 1, 1888. The federal government contributed an amount equal to $100 per capita on the average daily attendance of men. The citizens of Grand Island donated 640 acres of land as a site for the institution. This institution being overcrowded, a branch home was located at Milford in 1895. A site of thirty-five acres was leased at an annual rental of $800. This site contained a brick and stone building three stories in height. The site was purchased by the state in 1899, the sum of $13,500 being appropriated for that purpose. These homes are designed to care for such veterans of the several wars and the United States military service, and the wives, widows or mothers of such veterans, as are eligible to admission.

     The home at Burkett owns 640 acres of land valued at $112,500, with buildings valued at $356,000. There are seventy-five officers and employees. The average number of inmates last year was 317, with a per capita expenditure of $351.48. During the last year $18,002.83 were spent for repairs.

     The Milford institution owns forty-one acres of land valued at $11,000, with buildings valued at $206,970. There were thirty-five officers and employees, and an average number of 127 inmates last

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NEBRASKA BLUE BOOK, 1926

233

 

year, at a cost per capita of $398.28. During the past year $6,491.71 have been spent for repairs and improvements

ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL

LINCOLN

Salary

Superintendent--J. H. Matthai, M. D.

$2,500

Chief Surgeon--H. W. Orr, M. D.

Matron--Carrie M. Harrison.

     The legislature of 1905 provided for a "hospital for crippled, ruptured and deformed children and those suffering from diseases from ,which they are likely to become deformed," to be located at Lincoln on the grounds of the home for the friendless. This latter institution having had its functions transferred to the board of control, its buildings and grounds are now used by the orthopedic hospital.

     Applicants for admission must have been examined by a physician whose statement of the case must be presented with the -application. The cost of such examination and the conveying of the patient to Lincoln, when not borne by relatives and friends must be borne by the county. Indigent persons are given the preference. The hospital is also a school, regular instruction for children being provided. A training school for nurses under the supervision of the superintendent and nurses in charge is maintained. Entrance -requirements for the training school are the same as those of any recognized hospital.

     The institution owns land valued at $28,600, with buildings valued at $116,955. There are forty-nine officers and employees. Last year there was an average number of 108 inmates, at a per capita expense of $681.48. Repairs to buildings during the last year amounted in value to $6,500. The buildings vacated by the Home for dependent children are now used by the Orthopedic hospital.

HOME FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN

LINCOLN

Salary

Superintendent and State Agent--Lena M. Driever

$1,500

Secretary--Josephine Perrak.

Physician--E. W. Hancock, M. D.

     In 1876 charitable women organized home for the friendless societies in various parts of the state, having for their object the maintenance of a home in Lincoln, for friendless women and children. In 1881 the home for the friendless became a semi-public institution, an act of legislature providing for its government by the home for the friendless society under the supervision of the board of public lands and buildings. By an act approved April 13, 1897, the home for the friendless was placed under the immediate control of the state, and an advisory board of women provided for.

     It became apparent that the policy of collecting children and old ladies in a home, without adequate provision for placing the children

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in private homes by adoption or otherwise should be abandoned. In 1909 the legislature created the state public school for dependent children and located it at the home for the friendless, where, on July 2, 1,909, 38 boys and 18 girls were taken charge of by the new board. By opinion of the attorney general, given April 16, 1914, the board of control of state institutions assumed the direction of this institution.. It has been renamed by the board "Nebraska home for dependent children."

     This institution is to receive those "children under sixteen years of age and of sound mind who have been committed to it by any juvenile court, district court, or county court, acting under the juvenile court. law," as children who are dependent for support, neglected or ill-treated. The law requires the officers of this board to place the children in homes. The buildings formerly occupied by the home for the friendless have been transferred to the orthopedic hospital. A new building. was completed and occupied in 1917 and the "boarding out" plan was then abandoned.

     The legislature of 1925 appropriated $75,000 for land and buildings for a new site for the home. A large residence in University Place, and land adjacent to it have been purchased. The children will now have room for garden and pets.

     During the twenty-four months ending July 1, 1925, in all, 475 children were cared for by the home. Of these, 91 returned from trial homes, 238 were placed in trial homes, 34 were returned to parents or friends, 51 were adopted, 19 died, 17 attained majority, and 13 were transferred to other institutions. At the end of the period 99 children were present in the home.

     The per capita cost of maintenance last Year was $374.52.

HOSPITAL FOR TUBERCULOUS (sic)

KEARNEY

Salary

Superintendent--J. A. Burford, M. D.

$2,400

Assistant to Superintendent--Harry Smith.

Steward--S. H. Bolejack.

     The legislature of 1911 established this hospital, which was opened for patients January 22, 1912. Applicants for admission must be examined by qualified physicians, and all expense of such examination and transportation to the hospital, if not borne by the patient or the relatives or friends, must be borne by the county.

     There has been a steady increase in the number of inmates since the hospital was opened. Too many of the applications are from cases that have advanced so far as to be inadmissable (sic).

     The institution has thirty-seven acres of land valued at $29,600, and buildings valued at $188,967. There are forty-eight officers and employees, with an average number of 96 inmates. The per capita expenditure for last year was $809.40. During the last year $18,959.15 have been spent on improvements and repairs.

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NEBRASKA BLUE BOOK, 1926

235

CONDENSED LIST OF STATE DEPARTMENTS, INSTITUTIONS,

BOARDS, SOCIETIES, COMMISSIONS AND SURVEYS

     The original organization of the state's business, in the constitution of 1875, provided for three main divisions of the state government, legislative, executive and judicial, with seven executive departments. In the fifty-one years since the adoption of this constitution additions have been made to this list until there are now forty or more distinct objects of appropriation and expenditure which may be roughly classified as follows:

Constitutional departments. 14:

Legislature. Governor. Auditor.
Treasurer.
Secretary of State.
Attorney General.
Commissioner of Public Lands and Buildings.
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Supreme Court.
District Courts.
State Railway Commission.
Board of Control.
Board of Pardons and Parole.
Tax Commissioner.

Statutory departments and bureaus, 8:

Department of Finance.
Department of Agriculture.
Department of Labor.
Department of Trade and Commerce.
Department of Public Welfare.
Department of Public Works.
Adjutant General.
State Library (under Supreme Court).

Institutions, 27:

The following are under State Board of Control, 17:
Hastings State Hospital, Hastings.
Lincoln State Hospital, Lincoln.
Norfolk State Hospital, Norfolk.
School for the Blind, Nebraska City.
School for the Deaf, Omaha.
Institution for Feeble Minded, Beatrice.
Ins Girls' Training School, Geneva.
Industrial School for Boys, Kearney.
Women's Industrial Home, Milford.
Orthopedic Hospital, Lincoln.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Grand Island.
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Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Milford.
State Penitentiary, Lincoln.
Hospital for Tuberculous (sic), Kearney.
Home for Dependent Children, Lincoln.
Women's Reformatory, York.
Reformatory for Men, Lincoln.

The following are under State Board of Education, 4:

State Teachers' College, Peru.
State Teachers' College, Kearney.
State Teachers' College, Wayne.
State Teachers' College, Chadron.

The following are under University Board of Regents, 5:

University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and Medical College, Omaha.
Agricultural School, Curtis.
Experiment Station, North Platte.
Experiment Station, Valentine.
Experiment Station, Scottsbluff.

The following is under State Board of Agriculture, 1:

State Fair Grounds, Lincoln.
Boards and Commissions, 7:
Board of Educational Lands and Funds: Library Commission.
Board of Vocational Education.
Park Board.
Bank Guarantee Fund Commission.
Racing Commission.
Athletic Commission.

Temporary Boards and Commissions, 2:

Capitol Commission.
Supreme Court Commission.

Societies and Associations, 9:

Each of the following organizations is a voluntary association of private citizens, receiving appropriations from the state:
State Board of Agriculture.
State Horticultural Society.
State Poultry Association.
Improved Live Stock Breeders' Association.
Nebraska Crop Growers' Association.
State Dairymen's Association.
Potato Improvers' Association.
State Historical Society.
Grand Army of the Republic.

Surveys and Special Work, 3:

Each of the following is under the University Board of Regents:
Conservation and Survey Division.
Agricultural Extension.
Legislative Reference Bureau.
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NEBRASKA BLUE BOOK, 1926

237

DISCONTINUED AND TEMPORARY OFFICES AND BOARDS *

Board of Commissioners of immigration, 1866-1876. District Attorney, 1867-1887.

Board of Public Lands and Buildings, 1875-1913.

Board of Purchase and Supplies, 1877-1913.

Voting Machine Commission, 1905-1921.

Inspector of Construction and Repair of Public Buildings, 1911-1915.

Rural Life Commission, 1911-1913.

Board of Mediation and Investigation, 1913-1919.

Minimum Wage Commission, 1913-1919.

Conservation and Public Welfare Commission, 1913-1919.

Forestation Commission, 1913.

School Law Revision Commission, 1913-1915.

Revenue and Taxation Commission, 1913-1915.

Joint Committee on Reform in Legislative Procedure, 1913-1915.

Water Power Commission, 19131915.

Gettysburg Reunion Commission, 1913-1915.

Vicksburg Reunion Commission, 1917-1919.

Joint Senate and House Committee to Investigate Capital National

Bank Failure, 1917-1919.

State Council of Defense, 1917-1919.

United Spanish War Veterans, 1917-1919.

Nebraska-Iowa Boundary Commission, 1917-1921.

Children's Code Commission, 1919-1921.

Commission to Revise the Statutes, 1921-1923.

MISCELLANEOUS STATE APPROPRIATIONS, 1869-1925

State aid to counties on account of litigation, 1877-1909

$ 30,307.66

Fugitives from justice, 1873-1921

484,491.31

Legal advertising, 1915-1919

1,300.00

Attorneys' fees for defending state suits, 1875-1899

70,294.05

Aid to grasshopper, drouth and tornado sufferers, 1875-1915

601,207.52

Insurance of state buildings, 1869-1870

88,302.00

Lightning rods on state buildings, 1871-1876

1,692.50

Bounties on wolves, wildcats, coyotes and sugar beets, 1873-1913

302,719.48

Extermination of prairie dogs, 1919-1921

2,000.00

Aid to various expositions, 1877-1919

207,309.00

Monuments, 1881-1909

23,350.00

Paving and- internal improvements, 1915-1921

37,500.00

Claim for glandered horses, 1915

300.00

Indemnity for accidents suffered in service of the state, 1887-1923

98,557.45

Reimbursements, 1919

311.48


     *Detailed information concerning these offices and boards may be found in earlier editions of the Blue Book.

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