, 1880-12-12

| after trial, Judgment, and execution.
| Some of the members talk considerably
| about increasing the number of wards III
Chicago. The number of wards In the city
| Is fixed By a general law, applicable to all
the cities in the State, and to change it IN the
case Of one city will necessitate change for
all other cities. The number OF wards hardly
need be changed unless it be to make places
| for more Aldermen. The division OF the
wards. however, needs change, 80 as to
euualize the population Of the several Alder
manic districts. An increase Of the number
OF Aldermen may ba wisely postponed until
| the city has new Council Chamber in the
new City-Hall. a division of the wards
must. however. precede the division Of the
city into legislative districts.
Strange as tt may seem, one member de-
1iberately proposed to reestablish the old
systen Of Board of Fire and Police C0mmis-.
siouers. Can it be that human memory Is SO
short that the past experience OF the city in
this particular has been forgotten2 Never
was system so long, earnestly, patiently,
and forhearingly tried by suffering commu-
nifty as was this Board system Of Fire and
Police Commissioners. The thing at last
broke down from its own iniQuity SO hope
Iesty that no man had the hartihood to ask
its continuance day longer than was needed
to 60 through tue legal form of abolfshing It.
Let us hope that no man will propose Its
restoration.
4 new mamhar proposes to reform the 6y6-
ten Of legaf, proceeding by which insane per-
SONS are now committed to asylums. The
plan is to create a Board of three physicians.
who shall try the question Of insanity, this
Medical Court to take the place Of the County
Court and jury. Il. the first PLACE, no per
SOIL can or ought to be deprived of his 1ibor-
ty, except after the fullest public exa1nina-
ton, trial, and Judgment Of court Of law.
The history OF the present law Of this Stats
OH tie subject shows that it was not adopted
too soon, and that it was not adopted until It
became q necessity TO protect the weak and
deten eless. The present law is essentially
just and should not be abandoned. 1nvesti-
cations show that professional experts al
ways pronounce persons accused of insani~
ty to be insane, and that there have
been many persons uuIustly imprisoned
IL insane-asylums upon medical certificates
Is too well established to admit Of any doubt.
1Aul6 d41A fkfsdlH AdtC tEIStllo ACSkSA LAC 4UOoc
way Of managing tnsane-asylums by having
themselves committed to them as Insane, be-
Ing there examined and pronounced incur
ably insane, and being treated as insane
(often brutality, and then, escaping, have ex-
posed the charlataury and ignorance of the
men who manage private insane-asylums.
and upon whose mere certificates sane per-
sons are often buried alive. The abuses are
too frequent, and the wrongs and outrages
too violent. and the temptations and op-
portunftfes too great, for the law to
allow any person to be Imprisoned
In an insanaasylum, except after the
most public and the fullest Investigation
by court and jury. The present law of this
State was established only after protracted
struggle on the part of the medical pro-
fession, and especially Of those claiming to
be experts In mental diseases. and it. i5 to be
hoped that thehaaw, which has since become
a model Tor other States, will not be dis
turhed, nor deprived of its great saving
rinciples,-publicfty, and a fair and i'm
partial hearing by persons who are not even
partially insane on the insanity question.
There are several other measures Of local
as well as general legislation likely to be
brought before The Legislature, and members
should avail themselves OF the present OPP
portunfty to consult their constituents re-
garding them. "