The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-28
ODEIL'S BRAND OF ECONOMY.
APPROPRIATION FOR STATES
Wards CUT DOWN

e1noGG TetvOtAi SOnssee'
AInAxr. April n Another session Of the
Leadslature has come and gone. and pro-
virop under Gov. Odsll's economy adj
ninistration has been made for the main
tenance and support OF the inmates OF the
State insane hospitals and the State chari-
table institutions and reformatories
The philanthropic and humane people
throughout the State, who had hoped
against hope since Gov. Odell assumed ofice
that each session would witness an abandon
ment OF the Governors plan to hitch the
administration and patronage OF these in
stitutions to his personal political machine,
arc more dismayed than ever at the outlook
for the unfortunate wards Of the State.
Under the plea Of economy the Governors
treatment OF the State hospitals has been
merciless. He has forced their appropria-
tions TO be cut down, until he at one time
boasted that he had caused a saving OF
81 800 900 Ia one year In the cost OF the main
tenance Of these institutions. While this
was shown TO b greatly exaggerated. 1t
was also clearly demonstrated that the
actual reduction the Governor had caused
made the appropriations for the support OF
these hospitals insufficient and was caus-
ing great distress 20 the patients.
At the present time the attendants at the
Gowanda and Buffalo State hospitals,
who are much better fed than the patients.
are on the verge OF q strike because OF the
poor quality and the insufficient guam
tity Of the food supplied 10 them. Only
a few days ago the patients employed
In the laundry at the Hudson River State
Hospital In Poughkeepsie refused 70 work.
because, while required to do hard labor.
they had been deprived Of meat at their
morning meal.
In the name Of economy the Governor
compelled the State Commission in Lunacy
to build three-story, non-freproof barracks
for the insane AZ the Rochester State Hos
pital, In place OF the safe two-story struct-
ures such as were built in this State pre-
vious TO Gov. Odell's occupancy OF the
Executive Chamber and such as are built
by progressive nations the world over.
The medical care given to the insane
has 90 deteriorated under Gov. Odell's
administration that last year. for the first
time in a decade. the recovery rate was
greatly decreased from that OF former
years.
The ratio Of physicians to patients under
this system of enforced economy has fallen
within recent years from ono physician
TO 100 patients to one physician to every
200 patients, VIII lie In other countries the
ratio il one physician to every 100 or even
. ICES number Of patients.
That this Is not economy, but inhumanity
masquerading In its name, is the universal
opinion Of the prominent men and women
throughout the State who have given years
OF their lives to helping the States unfor-
H. Loo
ton, were proud Of New York States insane
hospitals and charitable institutions and
reformatories.
Alleged independent newspapers Of New
York and Brooklyn that profess TO be gov
erned by high moral principles had no
word to saw In opp osiion to the Rams
bill the s Of which tss avS1sss
and was familiar with, but which he finally
vetoed. ostsnsibly because II was too bad
to sign. but really because he feared II
might put patronage In the hands OF
he a,s't State sn' hospitals pt under the Rams.
Mr.. Piatt's leader in the State Senate, and
Gov. Odell evidently realized that Platt
as ths purchasing agent Tor r, the food nod
look with the desired favor upon the grocer.
lee and provisions furnished by the J. W.
Matthews grocery house Of Newburgb.
Under cover Of the praise Of these indie
TO sign an equally bad bill, that introduced
by Senator McEwan empowering the
Governor to control absolutely. just before
each fall election. all the salary increases
In the State charitable and reformatory
institutions.
In the annual appropriation bill passed
by the recent Legislature, which is awaiting
Gov. Odell's approval, the Governor caused
to be inserted an increase Of $4,000 in the
appropriation made for the wages OF the
employees OF the State hospitals other
than the officers for the next fiscal year.
beginning Oct 1. This increase was prom
ised to the influential employees in each
Of the ten State hospitals just before cleo
ton last fall II they would round up the
employees Of the Institutions In support
OF the business Governor Here is q
direct instance Of the bringing OF the ser
Woe into politics W the worst possi-
BILE way. And under the MoEwan bill.
which the Goysnor signed on Friday,
aries viii be distributed among the
faithful" by the Governor.
The Governor has cut the appropriation
this year for the salaries Of the officers and
tent Of $4,000, and a proportionate falling
on OF the recovery rate must therefore be
| looked for.
The State Commission In Lunacy told the
Governor that the least amount winch the
commission could get along with for the
next fiscal year for betterments to the
State hospital institutions was 81 .070, 600.
The bill passed the Legislature. and was
before the Governor, carrying this amount,
hut the Governor caused Z TO lie recalled by
the Legislature on the lastbay and had the
amount Of the appropriation cut 500 900.
The patronage connected with the Off,
Gers and employees Of tho State hospitals
may he appreciated when II Ii stated that
for the next fiscal year they will draw
81 Sos 900 from the State Treasury For
the present fiscal year 81 900 900 was appro-
priated for food and supplies Of the in
mates Of the State hospitals. The appro-
priation made by the Legislature for the
next fiscal year II q, 635 600.
Apparently this IL an increased appropria-
ton for the food Of the patients. but inquiry
develops the fact that about one-haH Of
the half million increase IL TO pay for a
deficiency In the coal appropriation for
this year. caused by last winters high
prices. and that the balance Of the increase
Il simply TO meet the cost Of the dietary
adopted for the insane patients eome months
ago. when II was found that Gov. Odell's
economy administration Of the hospitals
was starving the patients. That dietary
u still In operation In the State hospitals
and Il the same one under which the attend
ants and patients are now striking for
more and better food.
The appropriation for the once Of