The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-02-13
LAW MAKERS
VISIT ASYLUM
Views Of Morris Plains Inmates are
Explained to a Committee Of
the State Legislature
HOSPITAL NEEDS MORE MONEY

be Practiced in Nearly Every De-
partment. The Remedial Effects of
Amusement We're Missing.
On Friday last a joint committee Of
the Senate and Assembly visited the
Morris Plains Asylum Tor the annual
inspection.
In the party when it arrived in Morris
town were: Chairman Avis, of the
House Committee on Hospitals; Assem-
blymen Miller, of Cum berland; Guichtel,
of Essex; Schuman, of Hudson; How
land, of Monmouth; Elvins, of Atlantic;
Assembly yman Brow, of Morris. At
Morristown special train was awaiting
them and they were joined by President
Hutchinson of the Senate; Senator
Welsh, of orris; County Clerk Voor
hees, of Morristown; Clerk of Board of
Managers Charles FL Green: Assem- blN
men Gulick and Leavitt, of Mercer;
Hillery, Of Norris Alderman Emil
Hertzig, former Sherih Edward L.
During, Charles E. Shelley and Otis H.
Clapp, all of Morristown.
The visitors found the institution in
admirable shape SO far as its conduct and
appearance were concerned. The in
mates exhibited every evidence of care
and attention and appeared, SO far as
they were able to express it, satisfied
with their treatment.
The visitors were well ENTERTAINERS;
their inspection was thorough and they
probed deeply into the affairs of the
Asylum. Their expressions of salts
faction seemed justified and they ended
their work with a promise of aid In
carrying out the plans of the manage
ment for betterment cf the condition
of the inmates.
The Asylum authorities have been
badly handicapped by the failure of the
legislature to appropriate funds sufficient
for its expenses in the annual allowance
by that body. just at this time the
ASylam has $7O,0 900 in bills to pay, and
no funds to 90 it with. This phrase of
the matter was very thoroughly dis
cussed Friday by the joint Hospital and
Appropriation Committees.
Most of the present trouble of the
managers of the hospital is due to the
failare of the Legislature last winter to
make provision in the appropriation bill
for the effects of new law passed at
the same session. Previously there had
been discrim nation in favor of certain
counties sending patients to tae ,nsti-
tuition, the State paying 81 week for
indigent county patients in some in
stances and ~ in the case of other
counties. The new law provides that
the State aud counties should divide the
cost equally, each paying So week
towards the support of INDECENT county
patients.
AS there are about |, 100 patients of
this class in the asylum, the additional
cost to the State, under the new law,
WAS about $57 600 for last year, and the
failure to iu' lude any part of these
additional payments to the annual main
tenance appropriation left the resources
that much short for the year.
Under the State la " the managers are
r, r,quired to pay cash for all supplies and
purchases, as in other institutions, but
without the money due from the State.
and b-cause of the delipquence of some
OF the counties, notably Sussex in paying
III ir share, it has been necessary to
violate the law. Until recent years
there was what was known rs ''house
fund.-" amounting to $4,000 or more,
from which bills were paid in such
con ingencies, out this fund Was absorbed
in eklng out the State appropriation for
Improvements two years ago.
The membe of the committee were
informed by Warden Everett and
M -dical Director Evans that the asylum
would require $207 ,5l3 for maintainance
uext year, and that $57, 600 additional
would be tqulred to make up for last
year shortage. The managers also ask
for $S5, 600 tor extraordinary expenses 10
make improvements about the grounds
and buildings.
The following estimate Of the main
tenance account fo the coming y, ar Was
made and submitted
Salaries, $l4, 500, for the States share
of board of county patients, based on an
average of l,l4l patients. s. 1864; for
in.ane convicts, of whom there are
seventy y-two IN the asylum, $lS, 720 is
required for maintenance and $l.l52 foI
clothing, and for INDECENT State patients,
of whom there arc s43, there will be
$50.5l4 required tor maintenance and
t54, ,532 for clothing.
The law makers appeared to be in
sympathy with the managers in the
matter of providing amusements for
inmates, a branch of asylum conduct
upon which science has placed the
stamp of its approval De. Evans ex
p ained that last year they bad asked for
$4,000 or this purp 80 but that the
State had cut the appropriation in two.
l. .ck OF funds had limited the enterlaIu.
uents last year. This wits c m ilion
uuch 70 be- regretted as ths entertain
ment question was one of consi i-rabl,