The sun., 1902-01-28
The Insanity Bill.


versive Of the intent. il not also OF the
very language, Of the State Constitu-
tion.
For the protection OF the insane, as well
as to safeguard other related interests
Of the State, the Constitution in section
2 OF Article VIII. requires the Legisiat-
ure 10 provide for "a State Commission
in Linacy which shall visit and inspect
all the institutions. either public or
private. used for the care and treatment
of the insane The words visit and
inspect when used in this connection.
have worldwide acceptation. They
contemplate, primarily. the examina-
ton with judicial eye Of every aspect
Of the work OF the institutions affected.
for the purpose OF discovering and cor
recting evils. and the institution OF
reforms in the management OF such in
stitutions, in order that their work may
be brought to high plane Of efficiency.
An impartial, independent body with
out real administrative powers, and
neither seeking nor bestowing favors, Is
intended by the Constitution.
HOW ITOlu tilcec purposes ehS
State Commission in Lunacy has already
gone. let the statute books Of the State
and the payrolls Of the State hospitals
for the insane make answer And now
the Brackett-Rogers bill seeks TO give
70 the commission the management
and control Of the hospitals, thereby
imposing upon it duties absolutely in
h. ~ i'm
partial inspection. The Legislature
might with equal propriety and safety
provide that the owners OF n private
insane hospital should also perform
the functions OF visitation and inspection
over their own institution. The alb
surdity of such a proposition would at
once be apparent, but the principle
at stake il to all intents and purposes
precisely the same as that involved
in the Brackett-Rogers bill, giving
the management and control Of the
State insane hospitals into the hands
Of the commission which the Constitu-
ton declares shall visit and inspect
In the State Charities law, giving effect
to the mandate Of the Constitution which
DIONlutS loi Nl-lNttliOh aiin bisptthoh VI
charitable institutions by the State
Board Of Charities, this principle is dis
tinctly recognized and respected by the
requirement that no Commissioner
shall qualify or enter upon the duties
OF his office, or remain therein, while
he is a trustee. manager. director or
other administrative officer OF an in
stitution subject to the visitation and
inspection OF such board
IL In true that the State Constitution
also provides that the Legislature may
confer upon the State Commission in
Lunacy additional powers not incon-
sistent with other provisions Of the
Constitution; but surely no one will
attempt To argue that this gives author
ity for the bestowal Of powers absolutely
at variance with the specific mandate
of the Constitution. which declares
what shall he the particular duties Of
the commission.
The Brackett-R Rogers bill seeks 10
confer upon local visitors. but crudely
provided for In the proposed act the
precise duties which the Constitution
says sIall be exercised by the state
Commission ~ Lunacy To the extent
Ne have indicated, Il must be apparent
thai the ball PROPOSES 10 nullify the pro
visions of the State Constitution, IN
WLlcl is embodied wisdom based on the
study - many years. II h revolution
ai, and should not be tolerated
Beyond tho the bill PROPOSES o. do
ylolsnus a. that spirit ~ Intelligent
philanthropy whlch 10 New York and
rlssSi.ore s the oulsfoSth Of more
than = century of painful sIpenohos
and toilsoins pfugfo.s Il means 90
dspnys tho publ.s oi the b.Roht II the
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su,sn among them sonls ~ ths fore.
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uauass and opnifol, ~i,h marked albany
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