New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-25
TOn NAVY SCANDALS.
men.

Tho Commissioners of Charities OF hingS
c-..,,. h.vo hoon conducting an investigation
in rho Insane Asylum ut flatbuSh respecting
tho death of Mrs. Adair, an aged patient. \
Coronrr's iuiy having charged the ai''hofl''e'
of tho institution with culpable negligence III
u,;s case il was necessary TO vindicatc inc
,n.rocement bv allowing the doctors and muses.
D., to.t;fv that the patient broke her own rIb'
hv follino ont of bed, and that it was easy for
hon ;, do tbi, rs the bones Of old people are
...no,,,o,, brittle There was greater difficulty
in ovnlaining how it came about that death was
officially attributed to senlie exhaustion, anu
tbat q post mortem examination was heeueu Ill
ordar 10 disclose the fractured ribs but we
doubt not that the Commissioners VIII take
charitable view of this discrepancy when the!
onrounce their conclusions. The management
90 the county institutions at Il. Johnand ana
Evatbusb is constantly under official inveS'iSa-
tion from one cause or another, D'lt the SCAR
dals continue without abatement or REFORM
Nh useful purpose is ever accomplished by 'hese
balfhealtsd skin-deep, peIfunctory ihNeS''sa-
tons .,:
Without reference T. the merits OF the Adalr
oo.o Il NAV he stated with confidence that Inc
m
~ for insane patients and paupefs mas p.e"
tainted with jobbey, politics and scandal lor
many wears. II. Johnland has been from inc
outset cesspool OF extravaganza ihcoh'pe'o'"'
and fraud Nearly every experiment lha"c
,hore under the guSe Of scientific SANITATION
and improved method has been cosby la''u'c'
Healing systems have net heated the puh'o
ings: drain pipes have no. draIned; al" "''.
" every appliance from the storage reservoir
r. the stand pipe. has been mScac'li'ed
failure. When Mayor Body recently de'cli"e"
the St Johnland purchase a' "a gieai'''c p,""-
der, he EXPRESSED a conservative opinion. Inc
opening of the institutions there ms ho' NV"
the effect Of relieving the oveWro"ded "a'us
ot Flatbush. where the pressure Oi sN''"'N VI
patients is greater than ever before. NOT has
any nractical reform been accomplished III re-
turu for the cxtiavagant outlay for the lahd'
Irildn,os and cost of maintenance. Both cluN-
,ors of institutions are under the rlnkc>t kind
Of potica control. Taxpayers are uhilecFN-
sally bmdened in providing for the require
ments Of the in,ane and pauper classes ana
the Commissioners are constantly employed III
covering ND and disnicc;ing scandals.
i there no remedy for the abuses of political
management and waScful eXtravaglnceF we
think there is one. and only one. These III
.titu,ions ought TO be turned over 20 The state
KINGS County. while maintaining at heavy c">'
IFS own institutions for insane persons ana
manners. ravs about Sl5000O year To the
State treasury for ;he same general purpose.
r,fty-six ont Of sixty counties have lI"gA''n
the ca,e, of these ch,>cS If public paiicn'' !"
the State Kings j. one of the four whi-h are
taxed for the state charges and III addition
have their separate establishments. ndcf
state management Il. Johnland and Flaibu'h
would cJ>t the taxpayers fraction oi "ha' i
now expended: and there would be more hu-
name FRI aiment of the inmates ana fewer sean
dial, like the Adlr case Politicians WIN
" nulls" for obtaining fat contracts VIII >ullP
bv the change, but the interests "i taxpayers
and the public pensioners will profit by IT, In
view Of the constant recurrence oi scahhai'
Of one kind or another in the county ln''tu-
tons. it is reform impcIariycly demanded by
pblc morals.