New-York tribune., 1902-01-24
TO AMEND LUNACY BILL.
HEARING HAS SHOWN NEED FOR
CHANGES-SERvICE PERIODS
INCREASED.
INCREASED
fBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. J


worth, Speaker Nixon, Senator Bracket and
Asseublynan Rogers in relation 10 the bill in
troduced concerning the boards OF managers OF
the State hospitals for the insane. The evidence
given at the hearing yesterday to the methods
OF administration OF the hospitals was consid-
cred Of value. and therefore the members OF rhe
legislature decided TO make several important
amendments to the bill These amendments
were accepted by the Assembly Judiciary Com
rnittee this afternoon and It was decided to re-
port the bill in its amended form favorably to-
morrow.
Assenblyrnan Rogers who introduced the BIN
in the Assembly. chairman Of the Judiciary
Committee. made public q statement indicating
the changes made in the bill. From this state
nent IL appears that the amendments provide
substantially for board of visitation Of five
members for each hospital substitute for
the present boards Of managers The period Of
service of the members of the visitation boards
is increased from one year 10 five TO obtain ex-
perienced men. The actual expenses Of the visi-
tstion boards. instead Of compensation Of $40
e day, are to be paid. Two reports are to be
made by the visitation boards their inspec-
tions, to the Governor and the other to the
State Commission in Lunacy. The appointment
of superintendent Of the hospitals is trans
ferred TO the State Commission in Lunacy or in
the first bill presented. The contracts for the
their stewards. subject to the approval of the
State Commission in Lunacy.
Some criticism was directed yesterday against
me provision that there should be only
perintendent for all the branches OF the Manhat-
tan State Hospital. Those Wards Island
are put under one superintendent. and those on
Long Island under the management OF another.
ASSEMBLYMAN ROGERS'S STATEMENT.
Assemblyman Rogers's statement regarding
the changes made IN the bill is given below:
The criticisms OF the bill at the hearing OF
yesterday, when carefully analyZed, seem TO
have been directed chiefly to the humanitarian
x6e Of the question, and to have been made at
various defects Of detail It was conceded by
nearly every person who spoke against the bill
that the changes made about ten years ago, CIV
ing TO the State Commission IN Lunacy a CEN
traiized control Of the estimates and purchases
for State hospitals, as we'll as the applications
OF the Civil Service rules TO the employees ana
officers Of said hospitals. were all moves in the
right direction, although they were opposed at
the time when they were first advocated by the
then existing boards of managers. just the
present changes are now opposed by the same
influences
A careful study of the subject of State hos
pital management. viewing the system as a
whole, confirms the belief that centralized con-
troll with proper checks and safeguards, is the
best, most efficient and most economical It
IS apparent that for some years past the best
work of the best members of the various boards
OF management has been along the lines Of fire.
quent visitation, careful inspection and thought
full recommendations. With a desire to preserve
those features and TO meet the criticism OF the
present BILL the con- rnittee recommends an
amendment which provides substantially that
there shall be e board of visitation in place Of
the board Of managers which now exists.
These boards consist OF five members each.
Feeling the force Of the criticism that one year
was too short term for such boards the
amendment proposed by the committee provides
that the members of the newly appointed boards
shall hold office for one two, three, four and
reGDGCriV1lV fhArRaftRr
appointed shall hold Office for five years.
TO MAKE DUPLICATE REPORTS.
The ten dollar per day compensation, having
been found Objectionable IS also eliminated. and
penses, the as boards of managers are now
paid. Instead Of requiring visitations only three
times year. an amendment provides that visi-
tations shall be at least monthly.
Some Of the critics yesterday thought the rec
ords OF these boards. If made to the Governor
would not receive prompt attention. we pro-
vide that the record shall be made in duplicate
10 the Governor and to the State Commission
in Lunacy. These changes virtually give TO the
boards Of visitation the same general powers
which boards of managers now have except the
appointment OF superintendent. This is trans
Serred from the boards Of managers to the State
Commission in Lunacy. The duty Of making
the contracts for the supply Of an institution
which is at present a perfunctory one, is taken
from sDch boards and invested, subject 70 the
approval of the commission, in the stewards
who are the natural providing agents.
IN answer to the criticisms that the three
parts OF tne Menhattan STATE Hospital ana the
second part Of the Long Island State Hospital
could not be placed under the control of one
superintendent, each provided for in the
amendments, The two parts Of the Manhattan
State Hospital located Wards Island are
placed under one superintendent. The other
parts Of the second hospital mentioned are under
q separate superintendent as at present
The other principal change constitutes the
striking out Of the proposed system Of
finances by which ali disbursements were 10 be
made through the Controllers Office. and restor-
3ng existing provisions, whereby the funds for
each hospital are placed upon an allowance of
their advanced estimates under the control of
the superintendent. acting treasurer.
This will preserve the present system Of
prompt payment Of wages to employees, and will
also enable the State TO obtain the advantage
OF any cash discounts obtainable for prompt
payments.