, 1873-05-22
THE INSANE IN ILLINOIS,

The Now York World calls attention to what
it intimates may turn out to bo evidence of
Ring " in tho public charities Of tho State Of
Illinois,, Tho Superintendent of tho Census,
Gen. Walker, In his introduction to tho tablos Of
tho returns OF the insane, idiotlc, and other un7
fortunate olassos, claims for them completo-
ness and accuracy which, perhaps do not per-.
tain to other portions Of tho work. Aftor refer
ring to some criticisms in tho case Of the rcturna
for Maaaachuaetts ho calls attention to what ho.
terms tho wholly inexplicable" caae Of Illinois.
He etatos that he has boon furnished by tho.
Secretary Of tho Btato Board Of Chari-'
tioH Of Illinois with lists Of tho in-
sano and Idiotio Of this Stato in 1870.
Ho had compared this list OF inaano with that
returned by tho CenRus Marehals, and IN utter
want OF correspondence exists. The list Of in
sane furnished by tho Board Of Charities con-
taincd {, ,978 namest Of which AIr. Walkor says SO
might DO deducted because OF duplication,
death, recovery Of reason, and leaving the State.
Six others are marked idiotio. 80 probably rocoy-
ored, and a. we're OF doubtful insanity. Do
ductng all these tho Board List called for 250 in
sano porsonH, whose names and residences wcro
given. The Census Marahals had returned only:
1,82l names, leaving 520 to be accounted for.
But comparison Of tho namos on tho two rolls
showed that only 721 names wero found on both
lists; tho State list contained 1,655 namoa Of
insane persons not Oh tho conHuB liat, while tho
consus List contains tho names Of 800 not on tho
State list. HID the names on tho census
liat agreed with tho State 80 far
as their number extended, 1t would hayo
admitted tho explanation TINT tho census- takers
had not found the missing persons, but they
found 900 inBano persons who wore not down on
the stato liat, and only 7a1 TINT were named on
that list. Upon thls Mr. Walker says;
In tho view Of such 1nonstrous discrepancies, It
would bo reasonable to aaaume. that inasmuch as tho
returns Of tho mado by officials visit
Ing each house aud family by turn, while tho list OF
tho State Board Of Charities would appear to havo bcen
mado up by claas Of officials, and oyon by dis
tnct claas OF persons the Board must have been i-
posed upon, either through negligence design
tho part OF its correspondents. -
This presumption, he says, waa confirmed by
further Investigations. Ho aolocted 800 names
Of Persons recorded on tho State List as insane,
belonging to 1873 towns having population Of
llalt million, and thoao lists ho aont to the
takors with instructions to ascertain thoir
oxistonco or not. Dlligont search discovered 45
Of tho 800, and he adds:
And In considerable proportion Of cases no family
OF tho sa1,e surname was found within tho town to
which tho State )ist assigned tie peraou for whoso
uane aearch WIS made.
Taking tho two roturns.-that nlado by the
Census Marshals and that made by tho stato
Board Of Charitios,-and We lavo tho following
singular rosulta'
Whole number named by Btato Hoard. ...,...,. 2870
Whole number natnod by census. ..,..,....,.. 1G1l
Difference between lists sts.,,,,..,.......,,,, 355
Number OF nhnsea OH Btate lat, ,.-.......,... 2370
Additional ua1noa conauB List, st,.....,,........ 600
Actual Insane by both lists. ats..................y ya7e
Deficiency c0nRuA 1865
Actual number nnmed both lists. 7ad
The flat contradiction OF tleBo two reports,
each purporttng to give tho name aud residence
Of each insane person, Is calculated to destroy
all confidence In both reports, or to create al
impression that tho public Rro paying for tho
support OF 4 large number Of persons az insane
who were insane for no other purpose.
Alr. Walker cloaos his review Of those con-
Aicting atatomouts by aBsertiug that, WHOM,
III contrast to facts Ike the abovo, 1t iH statod
that the ccnsus aa an agency, whethor State or