Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-23
CARE OF THE INSANE.
The Bill for a $500, 900 Hospital for Chronic
Cases Approved by Pattison = Seven
Other Measures Vetoed by Him-The In
digent Insane Bill Killed.


Other Measures Vetoed by Him-The In
digent Insane Bill Killed.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIspArcu.1
HARRIsBURG, June Ex-Governor Pattison
was not until recently favorably impressed
with the bill appropriating $500 600 for the
selection of a site for and the erection of q
hospital for the accommodation of the
chronic insane, because he was not con-
vinced that there was necessity for the in
stitution. In order to thoroughly inform
himself as to the need for it, he addressed
communications to the authorities of the
various State lunatic asylums, and from
them the uniform reply came that the insti-
tutions over which they had control were
crowded with inmates. In view of this in
formation, and the fact that the bill appro-
priating $4,000 for the payment of counties
and cities for the care of INDECENT insane in
their almshouses did not commend itself to
him, he concluded to approve the chronic
insane act, and life was breathed into 1t
to-day.
The INDECENT Insane Bill Vetoed.
The INDECENT insane bill was subjected to
veto for the following reasons:
. "The policy which it contemplates is
directly in conflict with that which has been
established by the Commonwealth in the de-
velopment of the subject of the treatment of
its insane. Gradually, during the past few
years, the insane INDECENT inmates of county
almshouses have been removed therefrom
into State hospitals, for reasons that have
recommended themselves to the approval
of the most intelligent and. experienced stu
dents of the proper treatment of this unfor-
tunate class. Humane and disinterested in
vestigation of the condition of the insane in
county almshOuSes, has abundantly proved
that the system of treatment in State inst1-
tutions is vastly preferable to that of local
care. As a result, there are now but l6 coun-
ties in the State where the chronic insane
are maintained in the local almshouses, and
it is undeniable that the average standard of
care in this is far below that which is mani
tested in the treatment of the inmates of
State institutions.
Solicitude For the Insane.
"Three-fourths of the number of insane per-
sons for whom this bill provides are in four
counties of the State. 1 am thoroughly con-
vinced that the bill recently framed by the
Board of Public Charities and the Commit
tee on Lunacy for State asylum for the
chronic insane, which has also been enacted
by the Legislature at it's last session.. pro-
yides much better system of treatment
than that contemplated in the bill under
review. That act, to which have given my
approval, makes the present act wholly un-
necessary. The experience, not only of our
own Commonwealth, but of others in which
the most advanced methods of treating the
have been tested, has confirmed the wisdom
of the plan of maintaining the incurable in
sane in the larger State institutions instead
of in the county almshouses, and am not
willing tOapprove measure which involves
backward STEP"
Where the Money Would Go.
II the Governor had signed the INDECENT
insane bill, Philadelphia would have been
its principal beneficiary, as it is accommo-
dot oI,n nf Ia ;,,; in,
stitutions. As the bill allowed 81 25 a week
for the care of the INDECENT insane, that city
would have received about $156, 600 of the ap-
preparation of $4,000. A large bulk of the
remainder of the amount would have gone
into the Allegheny County Treasury, and
the rest of the State would have obtained
very little of the appropriation. The Gov
ernor does not give this as one of the rea-
SONS for the disapproval of the bill, but the
fact is worth mentioning in connection with
its fate. The bills acted on to-day repre-
sent 81 0sO,S $50, Of which amounts $34l, $50 we're
disapproyed.
The Governor to-day selected the follow
ing named as commissioners to select site
for chronic insane hospital and secure its
erection: Wharton Barker and Henry M.
Dechert, of Philadelphia; ex-Congressman
John B. Storm, of Monroe county; eX-Repre-
sentative John M. Reynolds, of Bedford, and
DR.. John Curwin, of Warren.
Seven More Bills Vetoed.
Seven more vetoes left the Governors
hands to-day. The appropriation of s64, 1000
for the State Hospital for injured persons of
the anthracite coal regions is approved, but
the items for repairs to the wash and waiting
rooms, for flooring and plastering the cellar,
etc., amounting in all to $500, are vetoed.
An appropriation of $40 900 for the erection
of a hospital at Rochester, Beaver county, is
disapproved, because the proposed site is not
central.
The item of s75, coo for the improvements and
furnishing of a building for the Gynecian
Hospital, of Philadelphia, is vetoed because
it was not approved by the Board of Chari-
ties. The Governor has approved the other
two items of $40, 900 for this Institution.
Appropriations Knocked Out.
An item of $4,000 is withheld from the ap-
preparation of Women's Homeopathic Asso-
citation of Pennsylvania, for the completion
of certain buildings, because the Board of
Charities did not recommend it. Two items
of $25, 900 and $3.50 respectively, for the Lack
awanna Hospital at Scranton, are vetoed be-
cause the recommendations of the Board Of
Charities were disregarded. An item of
900 for the completion of the hospital
buildings of the Medico- Chirurgical Hospital
at Philadelphia is disapproved because it is
not State institution, nor under State con-
troll.
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