New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-01
srArE ORR on TIE TMsANE.

At the recent hearing ut Albany on the bill
providing for the transfer Of insane pauper
from the county TO the State asylums the OPP
position made little or no Roadway. hir. Davis,
member of the Erie County Board Of Super
yisors, who was the principal speaker against
the measure, argued that county care is cheap
or than State care. The answer is, that such
an assertion is merely an unwarrantable as
sumption. No statistics can be drawn upon to
subaantiate Mr.. DayiSs statement. The coun-
ties do not keep their accounts in such a man
ner that the cost Of maintaining the insane can
be determined with anything like accuracy. In
the last annual report OF the State Board OF
Charities we find this paragraph in relation to
the point at issue: "The county asylum Is
merely an integral part Of the poor-house and
Of the pauper economy and administration.
There being no data showing the actual cost OF
county care, there can be no comparison OF such
cost With that of State care of the insane"
Dir. Davis, finding that it cost the State
SIS 80 per capita week last year to take care
of the acute insane In the Buffalo State Asy-
ium, feels justified in holding that it would
cost the State as high figure as that to care
for the chronic insane Of the counties. Such
proposition Is self-refuAng. The cost Of
maintaining the chronic insane is one thing,
and the cost OF maintaining the acute insane is
another and n very different thing. The State
Board Of Charities report that the counties, as
q rule, retain their able-bodied patients, who
labor on the farm or in the house, and trans
fer their most violent cases and their most
filthy cases to State care. The productive
labor of the industrial insane is thus lost, while
the expense Of the dangerous and troublesome
insane Is charged to the State care. The gem
eral cost of maintenance is thus increased per
capita for the entire population Of the State
asyiunnss 1t Is evident from these conddera-
tons that 10 Is folly 20 claim that county cost
| Ii cheaper than State cost, air. Davis reasons
without data.
BnB the economical ought not to be regarded
| as the most important feature Of the question.
| II it can be shown that the State is In posi-
ton to do better for tho insane than the coun-
ties can. then this bill ought TO be passed. even
| II II calls for the expenditure Of more money
than II takes to maintain the existing system.
And laying aside tho question OF dollars and
cents, there is nothing to be said against the
| bin. The State BoaSd Of Charities mention 3
| number Of cogent reasons why such measure
OuXht W coAhtuhtfu Ahe kehofaa euppVte AHe0S
reasons have already been presented In TIE
TRIBUNE. They have commended themselves
TO al the great medical organizations OF the
State, and. unless we are greatly mistaken, to
every intelligent philanthropist who hes stud
led The Question Of the treatmens Of the insane.
Outside Of New York the pubic sentiment in
| favor Of State care Is practically unanimous.
The replies 70 the letters OF inquiry sent ont by
| the State Charities Aid Society establish this
fact.
There e no politics In this benefcent meas
ue, and no atteinpt Is made to oppose II on
high. unselash ground. Itfaiied last year, but