on Standardization has to offer in regard to it. It is as good as we can do at the present time although we are willing to concede that it is not perfect and will have to be perfected from time to time from the experience of members in its operation, but the committee feels that it has done as well as it can under the circumstances and I move the adoption of the report.

Dr. Hutchings' motion was duly seconded.

The CHAIRMAN: The motion is made and seconded that the report of the committee be adopted; are there any remarks?

Dr. MABON : Mr. Chairman-I think the committee has worked well, but I take it that this report does not carry weight or the obligation of the Commission to accept it in all its details. In getting up a list of furniture and furnishings for the new nurses' home, I found if we followed that report, even with the money set aside by the Legislature but not yet approved by the Governor, we would not have money to furnish the building. I think, therefore, the matter should be very carefully considered by the Commission.

The CHAIRMAN: Are there any other remarks to be made on this motion?

Dr. Hutchings' motion was duly adopted by the Confer

ence.

Is the Committee on Forms and Methods of Accounting prepared to report?

Dr. MABON; The committee can report that a list of all the forms which have been adopted by the committee has been sent to each hospital superintendent. Mr. Mosher, the secretary of the committee, expects soon to have copies made of all these forms to be submitted to the hospital superintendents. I may say that the number of forms has been reduced very materially from over 1200 to between 500 and 600 at the present time. The committee would therefore report progress and ask to be continued.

The CHAIRMAN: Are there any other committees to report to-day?

Dr. WAGNER: While not a committee report, I would

like to ask if it would be in order to call attention to the fact that at an examination held some months ago for principal of training school in hospitals for the insane only four candidates appeared. These four passed the examination. One of them is now in Europe, two of them have been appointed, leaving but a single one on the list whereas there are at least two hospitals without superintendents or principals of training schools. I was talking with the Civil Service Commission this morning and the chief examiner expressed the opinion that the conditions are too severe, that they are unable to get candidates without some modification of the conditions that determine elegibility to take the examination. I believe now any nurse who desires to take this examination must be a graduate of a high school or have equivalent education, must be 28 years of age, a registered nurse and be a graduate either of a State hospital training school, with nine months' experience in a general hospital, or a graduate of a general hospital with nine months experience in a State hospital, and must have had experience of an executive character in the operation of a training school. Now all that seems to be rather difficult to find in one individual. Chief Examiner Saxton expresses the opinion that the hospitals ought to modify the requirements somewhat, and if it is proper to discuss it at the present time in view of the urgent necessity that stares us in the face for more candidates I should like to bring the subject up.

Commissioner MAY: I think that is a very good question to discuss. However, we have nothing to do with the qualifications except to insist that they should require experience in a State hospital and the nine months period of work in a general hospital. All the rest of that was arranged by the Civil Service Commission; these requirements were theirs. We certainly, I think, ought to insist on the candidates having experience in State hospitals for the insane.

Dr. HOWARD: The candidates who pass this examination need never have been in a State hospital. Experience at a sanitarium caring for uncommitted cases sufficed.

The requirement has to be worded differently than now and say "having had State hospital training."

Dr. MABON: Does it mention State hospital? I think it should be "nine months experience in the care and treatment of the insane."

Dr. HOWARD: The experience required was not in the care of committed insane, but could be had in an institution caring for nervous diseases.

Dr. WAGNER: I can read the exact requirements which are substantially as stated by me. (Reads) Mr. Saxton seems to be willing that some modification be made on these requirements and stated that it was on account of the opposition of the State Hospital Commission that they were rigidly living up to them at the present time.

Dr. PILGRIM: I think there are only three things we ought to insist upon. The preliminary requirements should be waived. We ought to insist upon a good common school education and experience of at least nine months in a State hospital for the insane and experience in a general hospital. I think the preliminary requirements of a high school education is what shuts most of them out; what we should insist upon is a general common school education only.

Commissioner MAY: I move that the matter be referred to the Committee on Training Schools.

Dr. MABON: The matter should be referred to the conference. It is one of the most important questions before it. I think there should be some modification.

and I don't agree.

Dr. Pilgrim

Dr. HUTCHINGS: I think it would be very unfortunate to adopt any requirements which do not coincide with the views of the State Board of Regents. One of the things which should be insisted upon is that the candidates should be registered nurses in this State. I should be unwilling to agree to any proposition which admitted others than registered nurses; it would lower the standard of our schools and the moral effect of it would be bad.

Commissioner MAY: Could not that committee make some suggestion to the conference before we adjourn this afternoon?

Dr. PILGRIM: Would not the qualification I suggested be required of a registered nurse?

Dr. HUTCHINGS: A registered nurse requires only one year in high school.

Dr. PILGRIM: Very few girls going through high school are willing to begin as attendants. One year of high school and a common school education, I think, should be sufficient.

Dr. MABON : I move the matter be referred to the Committee on Training Schools with a request that they report this afternoon.

Commissioner MAY: I will accept that.

Dr. Mabon's motion was duly seconded.

The CHAIRMAN: The motion before the conference is that this subject be referred to the Committee on Training Schools with a request that they make recommendations and report this afternoon. Are there any further remarks? Dr. MABON's motion was duly adopted by the conference. If there are no further committees to report we will take up the second number on the program,-recent legislation relating to the State hospital service.

Commissioner MAY: Perhaps one of the most important bills which passed the Legislature at this session and became a law is that which amends Section 50 of the Insanity Law in relation to the wages of employees of the State hospitals. This section, as you know, fixes the rate of wages. The amendment is as follows: "The provisions of this section with respect to the rate of wages to be paid employees in all positions named in the foregoing schedules shall supersede the provisions of any other general or special law."

You are probably all familiar with the reason for the passage of that amendment. The question was raised that mechanics and certain other parties classed as mechanics should be entitled to the prevailing rate of wages in the section where they were employed. It would mean a very large increase in expenditures of the hospitals if they were obliged to pay that prevailing rate of wages. One question coming up from the metropolitan district was submitted to

the Attorney-General's office and he ruled that it would be necessary to pay the prevailing rate of wages, leaving it however as an administrative question for the Commission to decide whether or not board, lodging, laundry, medical attendance, etc., should be considered as of sufficient value to make up the difference. As one attorney was pressing the case with the Commission it was deemed better to settle the question as far as possible, by having Section 50 amended, and the Attorney General's office prepared the amendment. The bill was introduced and passed. On page 2 there is another small change in the law. The old law read: "When employees are allowed to board and lodge away from the hospital a uniform rate of not less than sixteen dollars per month shall be allowed in addition to the regular monthly wages, and this amount shall be apportioned at the rate of four dollars per month for each meal and four dollars per month for lodging." The amendment adds these words: On account of lack of accommodations in the institution." The bill as amended now

reads:

"When employees are allowed to board and lodge away from the hospital on account of lack of accommodations in the institution a uniform rate of not less than sixteen dollars per month shall be allowed in addition to the regular monthly wages, and this amount shall be apportioned at the rate of four dollars per month for each meal and four dollars per month for lodging."

Dr. WAGNER: That leaves it discretionary with the hospital management, on approval of the Commission, to determine the reason why they are allowed to remain away, so that if persons are allowed to room and live away from the hospital, notwithstanding the fact that there are accommodations in the hospitals, it is not obligatory or mandatory that they should receive this compensation.

The CHAIRMAN: Our understanding is just as you have stated it; that we are not obliged to allow commutation in cases where they are permitted to live outside the hospital, at their own request, although there may be accommodations in the hospital for them.