New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-21
COMMISSIONERS OF LUNACY.
To The EdltOr Of The Tribune.

To The EdttOr OF The Tribune.
SIR: Very few who have studied the stat
ues Of this State relating to the custody and charge OF
lunatics and especially the methods by which alleged
lunatcs are arrested and restrained Of their liberty I'M
der the forms this city Will wonder that Mr.
Prince persists In bringing this subject again before
tho LEGISLATURE Notwithstanding his want Of success
last year.
II was said last year by eminent physician who was
quite familiar by daily experience with the practice in
these c1sesto r legal friend, In private conversation
that it was safe say that "a commitment to unac
asylum could he believed. DO easily obtained for any
citizen Of the city," alung 10 the very loose manner In
which these warrants issued by the justices In the
lesser courts.
Public attention TO the garng defects in present
system has been brought to notice through the press
notably THE TRIBUNE; and Mr.. Princes movement lisa
step in the right direction The pending bill provides
for Commissioners OF Lunacy to be appointed by the
Governor upon the recommendation Of the Boards OF
Supervisors in the several counties In the State. ana
provides for 50 in this city and county.
About the proprey and necessity OF having educated
and competent medical experts to fill the place OF such
Commissioners to pass upon questions of the Iunacy OF
citizens there can be bur little question, but 1t is
difficult to conjecture more unfit, unsafe and per-
fectly incompetent tribunal for their selection than
the Board of Supervisors OF the County especially such
county as the City and County OF New-York. II the
whole list OF committees and boards of the city were
called this should be the selected for such purpose
as the appointments should be of course made with
reference alone to the learning ability aud standing OF
the medical EXPERT and under circumstances from
political considerations.
Under such bill that reported by Mr. Prince,
should IL the Board OF Supervisors the advisory
power appointments, have tenfold greater scandals
than those occasioned by the recent action of the
Commissioners OF Charities and Correction in
regard to Visiting Physicians TO our public hos
pitfalls and institutions. If the Governor should
appoint, it might safely be intruSted TO such
an Executive as Gen. Dix. and matter how poor
successor might chosen his action never could DO as
bad as that of Board of Supervisors 1t Is understood
that Mr. Prince has acknow lodged the force Of this but
Is governed by the action OF the country members in the
last Legislature upon this subject The objection TO the
appointing power being In Board OF Supervisors has
less force in the rural counties than in the metropolis
since in those districts there relatively fewer app
cants, and there the applicants would be well known,
and the cases understood by every member of the board
but even country the County Judge Of the county
would be by ali odds the best officer in whom to place
this power Of appointment He would of necessity and
by OF his position. well understand the ability aud
selection of local officer 70 name commissions that
So FAR as this city Is concerned while there is no such
officer here % County Judge the CnefJustlce OF the
Common Pleas is Ia many other analogous cases ompow
cred to act IN the place and stead OF County judge
and would safe place it here Ia such hands the
Hon. Charles z. DAILY the present ChieJustco OF that
court While concurring In the wisdom and policy OF
some such law that proposed by MI Prince, cti
zens regard 1t otherwise than great mifor
H. with such needed reform, should receive It
handicapped with So absurd an appointing power-so
far as ls CITY Of 'ewYorb s copeerned-as the Board
Of Supervisors 1t understood that the Medco-Lesal
tOn of its President referred the subject OF MT Princes
bill to committee it Is u be hoped that the agitation
OF the subject may result In the passage OF Wise ana
carefully prepared law. CITIZEN.
Ne,e- York. Feb 49, 1874