New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-13
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CITY'S SUFFERING WARDS.
URGENT NEED OF BETTER ACCOMMODAs
TIONs FOR THE INSANE
LETTER FROM THE STATE COMMISSION n
LUNAcY TO MAYOR sTRoNG-sUGGEsTIoN
THAT THE BOARD OF HEALTH MIGHT
TAKE ACTION - POSSIBLE AP


TAKE ACTION POSSIBLE AP
PEAL TO THE COURTS.
Albany. July 12-The State Commission II
Lunacy has sent the following letter to Mayor
Strong who Is now in Richfeld Springs. with
view to betterng the condition Of the dependent
insane in New-York City:
Albany. July 10, 1885,
To the Hon. William L. Strong Mayor OF the city
Dear d RS Sir: am directed by the State Commission
" under % the present county system Of Of caring
for the insane in the county OF New-fork; tner
Sqnaion eqoseh at fVl mes any by public
fact far the Commission Is aware the hss
times beep open TO grave ce1sure THIS state OK
% h hhes S no
many causes but 1t is chiefly due to inherent defects
surns IN the I sysem as few years the Condition these
pendens has improved but 1t must also be said that
has not yet reached the point where deserved. and
criticism Should not S be APP applied t.
really made their condition is yet dep.orabiy de-
From the tine the State Commission in Iunacy
created. in 1882 the care Of the insane In the
c Of has ia 3 tho to ! STATE subject sse @ Of dp
passed and the counties Of New-York, Kings and
Mas the belief and hope Of the Commission that the
county of New-York. as well as the other Two
Suns S Od s ays o hs the
In 1891 impelled by of the responsibility
government GOVERN % which is especially charged with the
duty OF correcting abuses Of tne insane fne com;
New-York. a copy Of which is herewith submitted.
As as 'ns nrincns de}scts M be admnspaton Of he
affairs Of the insane In New-York County arose
proprate S funds sufcient for their proper msnte-
and not from any lack OF proper supervision.
RADICAL EVIL.
Allied to and closely connected with this funda-
mental fault the radical wrong OF commingllng
and confoundIng under one general governing au-
thorty the inmates of prisons, penitentiaries work.
houses almshouses hospitals and asylums, whereby
the proper distinction that should always be made
between the insane. who are victims OF misfortune
and disease and the paupers or criminals is often
and injustice the Commission through It's report.
fs assn the os ss Subjects Of Re
benevolence correctional care be instituted IL
Is recent legislation directed TO that end has
been had and unquestlonaby important benefits will
result therefrom, but unfortunately does not take
ter t'e'' ''''''''' 'N''''e'N '''''
In consequence OF this communication. Mayor
upon the question OF how the insane should be
county or State care Notwithstanding the fact that
the State Care act was then in operation and that
rnder Il a tax TO be imposed upon the whole
State for maintenance OF the insane OF fftyeght
counties other than New.York and Kings while at
the same time by transferring their insane to the
State those counties could receive the benent OF
the general tax and avoid double taxation; this
committee unanimously reported In favor OF con-
tinune the Objectionable system OF county care IN
volving. as such concusion necessarily aid n1 me
OF New-York
result Ss Of this 1t he ssx1s4H sa5s gesn
authorized the issue OF additional bonds for the purs
sSe Gh e
sane asyIums. and also for the purehssass sa OF acd.
oney TSnsl became mmedsey svsabe By the
OF bonds. At the close OF sSi-ln fac at tnis aste:
intended by the act Of 1891 are not yet fully avail:
able and in some respects the state OF ana'rs T"
worse than before
RESULTS OF AN INVESTIGATION.
In the summer Of 1894 the instance OF the
Mayor Of New-York. moved thereto by urgent ap-
peals growing out Of charges which had been made
in the public press. the Commission. with view
to determining how far the charges were supstan-
tiated by evidence and to what extent remedies tor
a SubIic investigation which extended over several
weeks and aimed 70 be comprehensive and com.
eie doubtess n s scope been sd before you but for
OF bringing it more speSneddy 20 you viii
obseTve this report in its ndngs OF both fact and
conclusion establishes certain charges OF naian lau-
plies furnished for insane patients. 20 me moae y,
furnishing such supplies to the Ss p cloth
Ing bedding furniture. etc. and more tnsn az oD pe
paint, the almost total lack OF comiortap,e sur.
roundings. proceeding from nsIieent ,,no1v
IONS sons 'e the fact that 70 properly house pres
ent inmates. buildings with an aggregate capac"S
~ . ;lo 10 Geo beds are needed. -
In a general sense the facts disclosed on this IN,
qury were known to the commission, ana i,aS !, naS
hssn laboring and hoping for a CORRECTION tnrousn
ordinary and peaceful agencies OF the evils Il had
Itself found in these institutions II had aso ooSe
forward 10 an eventually complete remedy tnrouen
the transfer of the county's Insane to the SIate
and in the report S Of this remedy avo
eating it on grounds of both economy and hu-
manity.
NO APPROPRIATION MADE.
AT its session late In the year 1894. when making
I'D the budget for the coming year, the boaru ol
Estimate and Apportionment seems to have been
impressed with not only the desirabllity but also
the certainty of this transfer for II declined TO ap
nronriate any money for the erection OF addtonaI
buildings with which relieve this dreadful crowa,
NEEDED meg ordinary and extraordinary repairs upon
the distinct ground that me care no OF the ns sse and
hence the county ought not to be askeu 70 NIKE MIX
any further expenditure upon puldihss' ""e'"e'
The legislation of 1895 is so recently familiar .nas nay
it need not be here reSieG condition Of the counys
denendent insane as they are found to-day Failure
ane fare Of the Board Of Estimate and APP
portionmen in 1894 to make necessary appfopriaa- pa
tion than before and naturally invites the gravest
apprehensons for the tutire Inc conn,.io w .nas ,
the most serious deberation as TO the ways and
means which may be adopted to secure the relier
Without presuming to specify in detail the require
ments of the case the Commission feels mpelied 70
sav that proylson she uld oe made 81 once Tor
buildings TO accommodate at least LOO patients'
thereby relieving the heaviest pressure OF the over
crow5inp which now stands as a constant menace
70 the health and lives Of these unfortunates There
sbord also be appropriated reasonable sum, TO
m n,ade lmmedately available for necessary re-
pairs ts the buildings their equipment etc, as wei
20 Tor Raising the standard OF care In the matter
20 fonj sunniies etc. OF course. this suggestion Is
attended only to tide over the present emergency.
and is not expected to meet the fuil requirements
OF the case.
POSSIBLE SOURCE OF RELIEF.
Al the recent conference, held by the Commits
s,on with Your Honor June p last. you stated
,ha, the matter was receiving serious consideration
from yourself and from the Counsel to the Corpo-
ration and ttat YOU hoped some proposition. look
Inc toward Immediate relief independent OF legis-
,,,,,a ac,,on might be submitted In the course Of
- a...a yyhile no definite result has yet come