New-York tribune., 1902-01-27
AMENDED BILL ATTACKED.
PROFESSOR CANFIELD SAYS IT DOES
NOT MEET THE OBJECTIONS TO THE
GOVERNORS HOSPITAL PLAN

Professor George F. Garfield, president Of the
State Charities AID Association. yesterday gave out
statement regarding the amended bill relating to
State hospitals for the insane. He says:
The amendments to the bill relating to the State
Of The opponents Of the original bin The amended
Oh, destroys @ precisely to the same extent as me
the insane. as established by the constitution and
those who were best informed and most interested
IN the subject That system comprises two Prinei-
1Cnaey Commission. with financial control and
themselves by local boards of managers subject 70
the financial control Of the Lunacy Commission;
strikes fp fafai blow @ at both these S It
tnsnasement and Y Control and to vest these powers
IN The Lunacy Commission Neither OF these pro-
charged primarily, with the duty Of visiting and in
powers of internal administration; in fact, such
visit and inspect that internal administration. The
result therefore Of vesting n the cSmmissin nj such
stltutional protection afforded by an independent
E'shahF gnG ihspeesng n4aE: from, the ,oo.,
boards their powers Of management, for the follow
F1rst-The present board of managers as it was,
we think plainly shown at the hearing in Albany,
are doing their work most satisfactorily. and IL is
any work which can be equally well done by private
second-The charge that the management OF the
hospitals is not economical has been thoroughly
5s[u,ea .hat II mas neen practically abandoned by
ally understood that If the management of the hos
Would rest wholly With the Lunaoy S commission IN
whom the financial control is vested. and not with
the local boards OF managers, whose powers are
limited TO internal administration. The fact is that
the per capita allowance for maintenance being now
consdered by many experts too low
against the boards It is not Claimed that the in
and treatment or that the superintehdents ape
Sontee py these boards OF managers are not as a
2erts Indeed the present administration lon Of our
subject 70 criticism for mismana cement. is mosi
credlabie to the state and it is an extraordinary
which are already being satisfactorily performed
Fourth-FIospitals for the insane like all State
charitable institutions. involving the care Of pecu
ag Of onsy OF & 6Ohe the tne o
large number of persons are peculiarly exposed to
patronage For this reason; II for no other. the
: protection against the contingency of partisan
s0n By "a PSssDIef future Lnnacy Commission
a & ooa 0ar S ts for the
hep peepe
esdsa Which duatfes woud Be neceesary 80 %
lacking under a system of management by distant
central board, which is already overburdened with
contemplated BY the amended bill not charged with
fS5 eou not 0PT po5 Tfh ahe he
place Of the present boards Of managers
the wise and sound system is the nne now estab-
iished Under this we have both he activity and
influence or private individuals giving their time
and services without compensation or expense to
the State; and the other hand We have a ger
eral central authority with the constitutional duty
Of visiting and inspecting and full financial control.
We also believe that these two bodies act
wholesome influence and check upon another,
ali or which would be lost by merging the powers
Of both IN the Iunacy Commission and that this
system has yielded satisfactory results and
be stil further developed and improved by due
sn the appointment OF members TO the Lunacy Com
mission and the local boards, and, IL need be- by
promptly removing any that may be unworthy or
tncon1nerenf.