New-York tribune., 1880-03-01
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE,
A STATE LUNACY COMMISSION

A STATE LUNACY COMMISSION
LETTER FROM WILLIAM C. CHURCH-THE BILL now
BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE STRONGLY FAVORED
BY PROMINENT CTTIzENs-ExPREssIONs OF AP-
PRovAL FROM THE REV. DIR. BELLOWS AND DIR.
WILLARD PARKER.
To the EJitor Of The Trfbans.
SIR: The bill to enlarge the State Board OF
Charities by adding two physicians aud one lawyer 70
that body and transfer 10 t the authority vested
IN a single Commissioner in Lupscy has been layoraby
reported by the Assembly Committee State Chari-
table Institutions OF which Mr Bradley, of Westcheser,
IS chairman. The committee appointed at the Cooper
Union meeting who originated this measure, are IN re.
cept OF many letters most cordially approving It. The
Rev. Dr Il W. Bellows writes as follows:
NEw-YoRK, Fob. IL. 1850.
Mr WM c. CHURCH, Chairman O1 Committee 0a organ.
izdti0H ~ u LUH0ey Commission. .
DEAR SIR: Ian, very much Impressed with Us modera-
radicals, obstinate conservatives; but TO those
think that true satesmanshlp lies IN doing HGat is
practicable aud not IN talking about what s impossible.
however desirable, Il viii commend itself as pruies5
and satisfactory Leaving all questions disputed be-
tween e fr dis al the foes OF fhs bill It NAV be said
10 be ndispuied among friends of humanity. who
neither part ZaIs, nor supcriutendcntS, HOr
pace-lolders--that insanity and insane asyuIns
alire far more J. spectou. study aud attention,
lar publicity 10 all that touches their management.
thln they now receive IL tEf stale or county. ihe
public - profoundly interested N beng treasured by
persons whose testimony placed beyond suspicion,
that fhis helpless ana wrelc!cd class, the insane ais
neglected, abused aud made worse instead OF better,
by our public institutions. They need and demand 60
know hat person.: OF the hgh"st character abc enough
of them TO guar0uee SOUND Judgment, are ncessanty
busy, looking INTO Tie State, studying tho complaints,
and p,oectug me ghts ~ th0se VINO are eflcd
IN pUbc esylnns. IL is IN the nature 0f things that
abjs, from pressure Of call from ndusation OF sensl-
DJv, IRON force OF routine ftJm pride Of authority.
imIttd experience. from the Inertia OF custom,
should creep INTO asylum5 for the insane. Eternal
vigilance !tom representatives. OF the PUBIC ahAesy.
Wno interest except tbaj OF humanity, can alone
keep either prisons or asylums iiom degenerating or
rom DccDhhg siere0Dped ID thete preJ9dlces OF man
aerlEan- Let us nayc C0mnIssiOn IA bunacy such as
this D prov bes. and it Will 10 leas prepare the way
lOr something nearer tne le. we must OOk IoIMhIu W
The Stale Charity AM Board Know 10 De composer OK
persons enilteG public confidence were me = Com
nsslOu IN Luuacy composed OF persons az disnter-
csed. Integ gent and exp 'rienced. It would be 40 un-
spekabe blessing ara the b you have prepared seems
TO secure this end II the Legislature Will pass II. which
earnestly nope may oe tue result OF your application
am, very truly yours, H. W. bbibo"s'
strong letters ndorsng the bill have also been To-
ceycd from Mr. G. W Curtis, General Francis c. Bar
low Dr. John G. Shaw superintendent of Kings County
Asylum various members OF the state Board OF Chari
ties ana others. one of the highest representatives Of
the medical profession, DR.. Wiart Parker, writes tee
following letter:
NEw-YoEK Feb. 90 1850.
WM c. CHURCH. esq Chairman Of Commihe, e'c.
IY DEAk SIR: an strongly in favor Of your bill for
Tie aupOntmcnt OF a Board of mnlssiOncrs m Lun-
ocy tnanatIpg from the meeting OF citizens held &c
Cooper Institute on the evening of December - is
cousdcrltc and aIs at 20 violent change does 10
exhibit any p;r OF ccusOriousuess The plan ot max
ing Commission IN Lunacy mOdined Organization OF
~ - C1n,Irissiou OF state Charities TO
What a siut commission has accomplished IN Eng
linG ana in some OF states fully wnrrR~s
the Legislature IN providing Tor the nspecuon
and control Of the insane in tie Stste OF
NeU-York Indeed, the attention OF the pubic has
been more aud more awakened iOf several years 10 the
care and man cement Of the insane. As class, none IN
fbe community demand mere Glly our sympathy hey
piess in nHd and BODY ana II may ne1pectedy
f,l The lot % any OF Us 10 become auddcnly
member ~ this class The pubic N IL present dis
TURNED ana unseted state VII. nu rest unless our Legs
l. fur- docs hing 70 uspre confidence. AL cnec-
ltvc Commission demanded. am glad that some OF
INSTITUTIONS are ready To coOOefaie III ths mater,
and invite Inspection. some provision must De inads
IN order bat -e present general disqlet ne aiaNe9
Very truly yours, WILLARD PARKER.
There is very considerable interest IN the Dhi. ~
involves le question which has been much agtated OF
latc-tna of the proper treatment or the insane. Ex
cuding from the unstics az large. there are
1900 n>ne the Sate that the question OF tAeif
mana xemcut directly concerns Lot less than 10000
people. Very truly yours, WM C. CHURCH
Ns.r- YArr. Fan IS $50.