New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-08
THE BLOOMINGDALE ASYLUM
MR.. BIXBYs FINAL ARGUMENT.
BRIEFS HANDED IN ON BOTH sIDEs-THE SENATE
COMMITTEE TO MEET AGAIN IN ALBANY.

BRIEFS HANDED IN ON BOTH sIDEs-THE SENATE
COMMITTEE TO MEET AGAIN IN ALBANY.
The final session Of the State Senate Committee on
Taxation as far the Boomingdale Lunauc Asylum.
is concerned, held yesterday at the Chamoer Vi
Commerce Senator Ralnes, the chairman was accom-
pauled by Senators Vedder LaDgbein and Foley, the
only absentee being Senator Henry H. Low VINO Is
sick Ex-senator Bixby and Dwight olmstead appeared
for the Morningsde Park Association, while the inst
tuition was represented by John L. Cad"aiiader' as
counsel. and Cornelius n. Bliss, Merritt lrilnoe'
Jackson S. Schulz Superintendent NICHOLS ana h'iiach
Van Rensselaer,.
Ex-senator Bixby opened the case on behalf Of the
Park Association by saying that streets which were
the nronertv of the citizens wrongfully Kept
closed 10 the dctriment Of property In the neighDor
hood OF the asylum. The twenty-sx governors
ayers he said, L" with presumption absolutely suo
lime shat no public interest and no public sentiment
at this time demand the removal OF the asylum
Yet, despite all this, the ponderous governors say
that in the sweet by bye they will fold their tents
and s,eal elent,v away but wish It distinctly under
stood that with them nothing can be done hastily.
He then continued 10 show how the Bloomlnedale
Charity as he called IT, was conducted, py stauhs
that the only glory due to the II sttution was earned
by the medical staff Of the New-fork Hospital, ana
mot by the good done at Bloomngdale as the patients
there paid on average s14 per week for their main
tenance which could not be called charity In any
sense Of the word He compared tho cost OF the city
asylum where during the last year 603 patients "ero
attended TO for the cost the 213 In blooming
dale.
After much pointed criticism on the financial
mana cement of the ass lum Mr. Bixby went Into tho
question OF the internal economy OF he institution
and sad: 81 wish to state thai We have invited
no inquiry into the affairs Of the household The
institution under the control of an eminent doctor
and It's household administration is unquest'onaoy
of high order. / have doubt but that the
boarders are fed the best beets, onions and
cabbages that can be produced on the Westchester
County farm, which they put down in the schedule
of property exhibited 10 this committee a. S3o,!Vo,
bus w9Gh h s p1 S SSeoS and building had been
Improperly charged Ia the account lor maihieha"'o
The ex-senator in his peroraton said that tho
press and public he demanded t6c reoVa O o ' ire
asylum or s ieai Ih9 as we as 81 Pouy
In audng to the In Inspection u the wSsn on sss
high building and showed you their possessions and
the great attrsctveDess of the surroundings, ~
must have recalled to your mind historical event
witch for age has beer held up to the word a. an
and sublime virtue on the other refer to the
Biblical narrative of the Saviour of the world beng
tempted by the Devil Al these things will |
give to thee If thou wilt al down w ana n ~ors I1e
how It was iha the pes, aud poodle 50 DIN naa
REQUIRED to the subject and urged that the committee
Insist upon the removal of the asylum $3.50
by stating that tho character OF the lhSttulion nan
not changed from that OF charity, as lad down IN
the charter OF the NewYork Hospital, to one OF
Profitable enterprise. During long and earnest
speech he answered some hot cross fire by his
Opponents aud endeay orel to show thai the Morn
ingsidc Park Association was not composed OF any
one outside of MesSrs BiXby and Dwight Olmstead
In support of this he read letter from Morris II:
Jesup, stating that h" had not authorized the use OK
his name in this inquiry. and that from what he
understood of the he In favor of the asylum
remain where It was undlsturtcd In any way.
In conclusion Mr.. Cadwalader asked the committee
to study the briefs and te timony on both sides and
make report the case. not confronting them
selves with decision OF not proven" on either side
Dwight Olmstcad then replied, a: King who were
the real land spectators the Park Association, VINO
paid Increased taxes their land increased In value,
or the asylum, WHEEL paid no taxes while Its land
Increased in a like ratio The committee look tho
briefs on both Sides and Will meet in Albany to give
O dnrIs