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the department to deal with the insane, it seems best not to depart from the established practice of over fifty years.

EMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS.

Your request that department heads co-operate in relieving the unemployment situation of last fall was complied with by the employment for ten weeks of forty veterans of the World War. The men were employed in grading about the main hospital at Long Island and in the construction of a new roadway.

NARCOTIC DRUGS.

The use of drugs among the inmates at the House of Correction has been a serious problem for years, because of the ease with which drugs may be smuggled into the institution through friends of inmates and other conduits, of which there are many.

A new policy of dealing with prisoners found in possession of drugs was inaugurated one year ago. Instead of solitary confinement in punishment cells, prisoners are prosecuted in the court for possession of drugs. In one instance a sentence of two years was imposed, to take effect from and after a sentence then being served, and in another instance a sentence of one year was imposed. This manner of dealing with inmates possessing drugs, coupled with the usual precautionary measures against smuggling, has resulted in the freedom of the institution from drugs.

A great many of the men received at the island are committed for violation of the Narcotic Drug Act. Many others, committed for various offenses, are drug users. For some time it has been apparent to public officials that drug users were increasing in number, and that drug peddlers, through their agents, were securing new patrons and adding to the number of victims of this dread habit.

In December a conference of public officials was suggested and arrangements made for a meeting to discuss the drug problem in all its phases. In January the state and city officials met in my office with the Federal Narcotic Agent in charge, and the co-operation of all agencies was pledged: First, to a suppression of the illicit drug traffic; secondly, to the securing of legislation necessary to deal severely with the drug peddler, and to make drug peddling a felony; and, thirdly, to

provide in one of the institutions suitable wards for the medical treatment of drug habitués over a long period.

On January 30, notice was received from the Commissioner of Correction that as a result of the conference held for the purpose of abating the use of drugs the State Farm at Bridgewater would receive drug addicts, either on sentence from the court or as voluntary patients, and their care would be supervised by Doctor Carlisle, medical director of that institution, than whom no one in the Commonwealth is better able to deal with drug

cases.

The consensus of opinion of public officials of the Commonwealth is that medical treatment and not punishment is what drug addicts should receive at the hands of the state. It is further agreed that voluntary commitment, without the power on the part of the institution to detain until a cure is effected, is not desirable, and that commitment under sentence or as a condition of probation is best, the time of an addict's release to be determined by the attending physician.

A committee was appointed consisting of the Commissioner of Institutions, Commissioner of Correction and Commissioner of Public Health to draft a bill to be introduced in the Legislature embodying provisions for a stricter enforcement of narcotic drugs laws and proper treatment of the drug habitués.

I feel that I should not close without a word of appreciation for the co-operation which your Honor has given the department, for your kindly interest, your visits to the institutions and the department headquarters, and your loyal support in all department undertakings. Also to the City Council, which has shown deep interest in the welfare of the city's poor and delinquent, is due the thanks of the department. May I say that without the co-operation of the Fire Department, the Public Works Department, the Park Department, and particularly the Building Department, the tremendous amount of work undertaken to improve the physical equipment of the island institutions could not have been accomplished. Inspectors Wilson and Clayton of the Building Department and Mr. Spaulding and Engineer Thanisch of the Public Works Department have labored tirelessly in the interest of the city, and to them must be credited the fire protection system, the new wharves and the low cost of operation of the steamers.

Through frequent visits to the island institutions I have become acquainted with the employees and inmates, and doubt if a better morale could exist than now exists at Deer and Long Islands. The loyalty of my many co-workers has made the task of controlling the Institutions Department most pleasant.

I assure you that to have been allied with you during your splendid administration is an honor which I shall ever treasure.

Respectfully submitted,

THOMAS C. O'BRIEN, Commissioner of Institutions.

INSTITUTIONS DEPARTMENT.

THOMAS C. O'BRIEN, Commissioner.

MARGARET FOLEY, Deputy Commissioner.

JOHN J. RYAN, Superintendent, Boston Almshouse and Hospital, Long Island.

GEORGE M. HARLOW, Master, House of Correction, Deer Island.

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STATISTICAL TABLES.

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