The evening world., 1892-02-19
LAWS FOR LUNAT|CS' BENEFIT.
Legislative Measures That Meet
Official Opposition.
Senator Nc Mahon's Bills for the
Protection of Insane Patients.

The two bills Introduced In the Legislature
last week Ly senator Mcmahon, at the In
stance OF the Lunacy Law Reform League.
which have been printed In full in THE EVEN
ING WORLD, are causing much discussion. cs-
pecially among those interested in the care
and treatment Of the insane. both In public
and private institutions.
The bill which provides means by which
all insane patients confined In asylums or
hospitals may communicate at certain inter-
walls with ficnds outside without having
their correspondence pass through the hands
OF the asylum authorities Is very wide In It's
scope, and applies equally to all institutions
in the state, either public or private, where
there are insane patients.
The measure provides that irsane persons
n confinement shall be permitted. at least
nee In every three months, to write to some
erson, who shall be designated at the time
OF the admission OF the patient to such an In
stitutiOn, and that such core cspondcnce shall
be subjected to no censorship whatever. A
penalty Is provided for the punishment OF
any superintendent. attendant, doctor or any
other person connected with an institution
for the insane who shall neglect or refuse to
comply with such regulations as may be es-
ablished 10 this end
The second bill applies only to such iustitu-
tlons as are supported entirely or partially
by the state, and AIMS TO protect the inmates
against cruelty or harsh treatment by the
asylum authorities by placing such institu-
ions entirely under the control OF Boards OF
Trustees, who are required to visit the asy-'
ums at least once week and carefully in
. ha mr.. pl porfipnllr N.
tion to the manner in which the inmates are
cared for and treated.
Advocates Of these reforms expect to meet
vigorous opposition, and 1t Is evident that
steps are being taken TO fight both the bills
when they come up for "A hearing in the legis-
lative committees.
President Il. II. Porter, OF the Board OF
Charities and Correction In this city, SAID to
an EVENING WORLD reporter:
"An the institutions under our charge are
conducted in such public manner that no
abuse OF the patients is possible. They are
visited by hundreds OF people every week,
and do not believe 1t is possible for patient
to be confined In any OF our aSyluns who Is
not really insane.
while / am strongly In favor OF any meas
ures to ameliorate the condition or the un-
fortunates In insane asylums. thing 1t IL
very bad plan to allow them to be continually
writing letters to persons outside, and stir
ring them up to make efforts for their release.
"It would demoralize the discipline Of the
| asylums, interfere with the treatment or the
patients and afford opportunities FOR making
| escapes.
lii the case OF the second bill we have no
interest in the matter, because none OF the
institutions under our care receive any aid
from the state.
81 think the change proposed OF placing
some of the Institutions outside OF New York
entirely under the charge OF Boaris II Trus-
tees, would Interfere seriously with the work
OF the stat, Board OF Commissioners OF the
Insane, VINO now exercise supervision over
all the state and county asylums.
81 have no doubt that under the old county
poorhOuSe system insane patients were badly
treat ed and kept IN miserable quarters. but
the existing law has aimed TO do away with
such abuses.
II think It would do no harm II asylurns
were visited every day iu the year, aud the
closer the supervision by the proper authors
ties the better It would be. This recommen-
datlon heartily favor, but when II comes to
interfering with the work OF the state Board
thiuk 1t would be great mistake, and such
proposition Is sure to meet with tremendous
opposition.
:" 1t seems to Inc that the two bills now e.
fore the Legislature have been very hastily
and carelessly drawn. and do not think they
| should pass In their present FORM"
commissioners simmons ana Sheehy In
dorsed the views OF Commissioner Porter in
general, and the former related several in
stances in which harm had been done by
allowing insane patients to correspond too
freely with friends outside.
"If is evident" said Mr.. simmons, "that
these proposed laws are not intended TO up-
ply to us In New York, hut to the old country
pOorhouse insane wards, or perhaps some
private institutions over which the public
uur rhOlities have little control.
"The county asylums are all gradually
being brought under State control and super
vision, and when accommodations have been
provided ior all the patients in state asylums
we shall probably hear no more OF the abuse
OF The system"
Edward King. President of the Union Trust
company, and one OF the Trustees OF Bloom-
ingdale Asylum, said he had paid very little
attention 10 the proposed changes In the law.
"Ours Is a private Institution and receives
no aid from the state, so 1t would not come
under the provisions OF the second OF The pro-
posed laws.
~ Its medical stan is amply SUFFICIENT and
its patients receive every attention and con.
cate with their friends under certain re-
strlctions, and no hardship IS suffered on this
account. In fact, II would he difficult TO i'm
prove on Bloomingdale's system OF discipline
and treatment