The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-15

dungeons or Jails, ana many that could be cured
were thus 10 become hopelessly insane"
In this act was a gross violation of duty which
the members or the Legislature had sworn to
perform 1t Was denounced at that time In the
annual report of the hospital The refusal Of
the appropriations for these institutions was
done for party purposes: ard yet, in 1862, the
same thing was repeated by another Democratic
Legislature. 1t was Governor Morton's action at
that time that saved the institutions.
The Doctor then reviewed the defects that APP
pear In the law relating 20 the care OF the
wards of the State. II set forth his views, which
have been expressed In a public address before
the National Conference Of Charities and Cor
rections in Washington. June s, 1885. and
of this he called attention to the fact
that the Democratic and Prohibtionist
State platforms did not mention tie benevolent
institutions but the Republican platform did
The Democrats promised no reform, IS they
were, by the Endorsement they gave IL, satisfied
with the present management of the institutions.
lie, In this connection, urged the election or q
General Assembly that would not only secure
the reforms needed but provide Tor constitu-
tioual amendment which would forever romove
the States charities from partisan control. ''Not
only, said he, should laws pertaining TO the
direct management OF these institutions be
changed, but all those pertaining TO the commit
ment Of persons adjudged insane should be
modelled. AS the statutes now stand they abso-
luteiy invite, through large fees. the sherifs,
clerks. justices aud doctors alike to a constant
hunt for victims to be acted upon in holding
useless insanity in0uests An examination Of
county records In this line has suggested
that a ring of this kind could be found at home
AT any rate, our laws loose
TO be dangerous to human liberty.
While the law remains unchanged every man
should take a bond Of fate against his physi-
clan, not knowing but that to morrow some en-
envy some heir covetous of his generous es-
tate may summon the doctor 10 cousign him TO
mad house. The Lettres De Casket, which
4 L. -. TIA
Bastile, unheard, were not more cruel The al
legation that you are insane-mado by any one
lis quite sufficient TO put couple OF justices
on the scent. Two doctors next follow, and
sometimes witness Is found; but the whole
thing can be done in a few hours without your
knowledge and you may be behind the bars,
where il is harder to get a hearing than II You
were sent to the county Jail or peniteotary. No
murderer, horse-thief or vile bawd taat walks
the streets could be thus dealt with. After arrest
they would he able 10 consult with attorneys and
with friends, which those accused OF insanity
cannot do. AS a test of the looseness or the law,
and how it can be worked, centien. an In the
north part OF the State made the allegation that
his friend. ID. -, had become insane, and
urged that proceedings be quickly taken
without arousing his suspicion TO send him TO
the hospital AS he was obliged to have an ex-
aiming physician sign the paper he calls on
Dr. -, with request Of his signature, tell
ing him that it was a case of undoubted insanity,
and quick work was required. The doctor. see
ing prospect of feesfor two days ts6l coming
for . minutes real service, put bis name down.
and was more tnan astonished few hours after
TO find the sheriff had warrant TO take him to
the hospital forrnwith-and he could not COM
plain SO long as he had examined himself and
declared himself insane While this a cruel
joke, how serious thing 1t Is IN reality when
some prelu5iced person sends some innocent
fellow being 10 the hospital for the insane when
it may take weeks before the error is discovered
No law should ever permit a person 10 be ad-
Judged insane without the person having full
opportunity to call counsel and have q hearing
before O court or jury.
The doctor then took mp in detail the frauds
that are practiced and the eXtortionate fees
charged through these loose laws As
ample he cited the of Mrs. Reichel, the
woman whose insanity took the form OF charita-
BILE giving in ipdiscreet distribution OF her
money. She was IL the Insane Hospital,
but DR.. Fletcher sent her away because he cav
no reason for OBTAINING her. In 1857 he rejected
the second application for her admission. as he
regarded her as a mild chronic who would be
better of at home. RecsDty Mrs. Reichel was
sent to the hospital as az ineurable, when there
had been no change for the worse IN her
condition. This Welded fees amounting
70 sos. divided among the doctors, justices
of the peace. sheriff and clerk. He took mp the
various items Of this bill OF fees, and first at
tackled the account for clothing, which the clerk
provided Notwithstanding Mrs Rechel was
abundantly able 20 pay for il herself. He gave
other cases where several commitments to rhs
hospital OF the same person cost, In one in
stance, IS high as S29i. 40 An abuse in these
charges was mileage which often made half the
bill OF costs In every case the clerk would sup
ply clothing at the expense OF tne taxpayer,
whether the patients friends were able pur-
chase il or not. He urged, also. a change in the
laws that would make the condition OF female
patients better in their transmission to and re-
ception az the hospital.
This brought the Doctor TO consider the ques-
ton Of direct management, concerning which he
said: prior to 1879 there were few changes in
the statutes regarding Management OF the be-
novolent institutions. The general manage
ment was by trustees, but all Of the special de-
tails were IL the hands OF the superintendent.
The superintendent was as much the head or
his institution any father could be the head
of his family. He employed and discharged;
caused the steward TO purchase such food and
clothing as was desirable and best for the pa
tienss No employe knew OF any other power
than his superior officer. There was no business
or other relation between employees and trus-
tees. The Legislature Of 1889, being Demo
cratic, changed the original law OF manage
ment so that the trustees became the purehas-
ing agents Of the various institutions. and were
given power TO TX the number and wages OF
employees. The superintendent might nomi-
nate employees, but the board could
reject. And in all things says the
statute, he shall be governed by the board
This law literally makes the superintendent, a.
one trustee has frequently remarked, nothing
but figure head" All business management
was virtually held by the trustees-and their
book and store keeper-for the steward OF the old
law done away. Not only this novel
aud uuhsardo of law passed, but another in the
shape OF the Brown bill of 49, whereby the trust
ees were not only made sole custodians Of the
institution ard sole business managers. but
placed where no power save an act OF the General
Assembly could remove them-as has been
Gently evinced by the failure OF q Democratic
Governor and Republican Attorney general to
GUST them for direct violation of the statutes
made and provided for their conduct. One Of
the first sections of the law regarding the ap-
pontment Of superintendents Gays they shall be
qualified by education and experience in the
matters over which they are TO preside. With
such protection the new trustees Immediately
proceeded 10 make a clean sweep. and to DO SO
had 20 seek some excuse to bring
about the resignation or dismissal o.
DIR. McIut;re, who had served twentyseven
DIR. Evarts. with sixteen years creditable serv
and having been the architect of our new hos
Wm. Churcnman. blind man, who had taught
the blind for fifty years, who had organized our
own institution and planned our present build
ing He even crawled on This hands and knees
around the walls at night, as the superstructure
was being erected, to know if each stone and
brick were in place. These men must all go.
There was not q party man in Indiana who
could take their places under the law, for none
were to be had with the education and expert
ence demanded by the statute. THE plan
pitched upon was to annoy the incum 5ents into
resignation, and this was pursued In q
manner so mercless that the Rev. McIntire