New-York tribune., 1903-04-11
SUPPLIES FOR INSANE.
WG4RR ANSWERS ODELL.
Justifes Commission IN Wheeler and
Broscn Cases
TsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE ]

a,hs,v anr;i 1O-Governor Odell. having
-o-sced renorts that r. a. Wheeler acting
as purchasing steward at both the Manhattan
and at the Long Island State Hospitals Tor ehe
Insane and also that Goodwin Brown had peeh
ennloved by the Commission in Lunacy to
secure certain legislation at Washington, "rote
a letter to Timothy E. McGarr. secretary OF the
Commission in Lunacy. to-day 10 learn II these
statements were true. The Governor rao no
knowledge OF Mr wheelers appointment or OF
the engagement Of Mr. Brown TO secure lesisla-
ton at Washington, UP TO the time he read the
statements referred to- The Governors letter
was as follows:
Mr T E. McGarr. Lunacy Commission Capitol
MH Dear Sir: VIII you kindly furnish me with
the suthority OF law under which MT Wneee. e4.on !
actng as psronasSs ps sfste Hospitals and how long
he ha. acted in that capacity Also saNiss al5e
MIN Br6Wn. former Commissioner OF the Depart.
ment Of Lnnacy, vas eI1Ri9yea Yours very truly
eeOU'e B. B. ODELL, Jr.
Mr.. Wheeler. IT was stated in the articles
read by the Governor, had not only acted as
purchasing steward for the two hospitals men
toned but had also purchased some canned
goods from the Geneva Preserving Company for
en the hospitals; and therefore might be con-
sidered as purchasing agent for all the nos
pitfalls. It was pointed oct to-day that the Ia"
with reference 10 the 1Spdi lAciIN "a NA+N OO--
mission IN Lunacy says:
sion sha be eHfered into Jointly BY the stewards
OF the State hospitals for such STAPLE atIieles o.
mission TO purchase for the use OF hospitals
One purchasing steward can thus act as agent
for el the others. with the consent OF the mem
bers Of the State Commission IN Lunacy, in the
purchase Of any article.
The circumstances under which Mr. Wheeler was
appointed purchacang agent for both the hospitals
mentioned are related IN the following letter sent
by Mr.. McGerr 10 Governor Odell;
Long Island State Hospital, at Kings Park. on oc-
tober s. 1895. and was formally appointed se"arG arg, On
Nay I Lo IN a aeoa v NJ, IN 1Irfti @ Snrii 1860 In
April Of that year. owing TO frresularltles
eeeSsitv tToroeijaTev arose for the appointment of
q successor. To obviate delays resulting from
competitive Civil Service examination the MaIlflat-
tan board decided request the Long Island board
Wheeler could for the Manhattan board in the the
purchase OF their supphes 10 lils lne uiIS 3 0@r
board. through its conmittee-AieXander +. OrI-
danurred stating that Mr.. Wheeler was one OF
their most valuable officials ana that they fe9uLee
his services exclusively After several conferences
made in June 1900 under the terms Of which MI.
the i've institutions comprising the Long Island
Sdecuate bond and the State Commission in Lunacy
was requested 20 its schedule Of officials in
the State hospital service so as 10 lncIuqe nlIn
ia and revised its Schedule, including therein the
new D0SitfOu OF purchasing steward Tor lne MAI
haitian and Long Island State hospitals The he new H
schedule was duly approved, as required by law py
ana M I, M mis- caacity to the present time
corfrol of the State hospitals on the first day OF
APT aT to anS Which ia IT ha6 Succeeded decided that
il would be better at early opportunity 10 fur-
fneiv the Ramsperger bill was introduced one ef-
feet Of which is 10 clearly define MI Wheeier
Respecting your second request for information
ejoner Goodwin Brown was employed to represent
the State Commission in Lunacy before the IInIn.
States in an effort facilitate the return TO their
homes of alien lunatics and other detectives. beg
6 Of Chapter 5s5 Of the Laws Of 1886. from which
The commission may endeayor to secure leg1s-
Far +te remove. of alien and nonresident insane
and may expend a reasonable sum therefor from
the moneys appropriated for the use OF the nos
the ne TgEstiOR on4sins aT watSh se2
erel important features the effect Of which S & the
tying the State hospitals Of considerable number
of the insane Of very undesirable class not en-
titled 70 treatment in the institutions OF this
2. iSs1- T E MGARR. Secretary
In regard to Goodwin Browns appointment
IN represent the State Commission in Lunacy
before the immigration Committee Of the United
States Senate, the statement was made here to-
sav that the object OF this action was TO bring
ahout the passage Of some law which would les
sen the number Of alien lunatics that this State
is yearly called upon TO care for at large ex-
pense-
The members Of the commission knew that
Congress was about to pass an immigration law
rroviding for a closer inspection Of immigrants,
and were desirous of having amendment
made TO il declaring that an alien lunatc might
ta returned TO the foreign country from which
he came within three years. The old law limited
the time year
The support Of every chronic case Of lunacy
costs the State between $1,000 and $4,000. All
the States Of the Union were being burdened
with the Support Of these alien lunatics, and
all therefore were desirous Of the legislation
erIpnorted by the State Commission. The i'm
Ynjgration law desired was passed. Mr.. McGarr
said to-day:
we can now make steamship company which
has brought lunatic here take him back 10
the country from which he came at any time
within three years.