The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-28
Of his revolutions will impair his noble
faith, his ardent Imagination, his gift at
figuring or his adorable simplicity.
Moro About Odeil's Lunaoy Law, for
AZ Which Higgins Voted.

Moro About Odolls Lunaoy Law, for
,ae Which Higgins Voted.
Comptroller CIRCUIT, in his famous
speech at Newburgh to the neighbors Of
Governor-C Chairman ODRLL, said Of the
Qovernor-C hairman's Lunaoy law:
But the most contemplate Of all things done
under oDsLLs guidance Ia the treatment Of the
STATE institutions. II . man holds man UP In the
street and robs him he Is simply highway robber.
But when he attacks the crippled and helpless he
u q coward Is well - thief"
FRANK WAYLAND HIooINs, Governor
Chairman ODELL's candidate for Cover
nor, voted for tho Odell lunaoy bill.
THE SUN has given few Of the many
criticisms by medical authorities OF the
dreadful law which turned over $4,000
insane patients to the Odell grating
machine. In the words Of the Utica
Observer:
Gop looks down with pity upon the victims Of
oDRLL's cruelty In our State institutions. Men
OF honest convictions hate the organization for
craft which onELL means to perpctuase."
In giving a few more criticisms the
Medical Nsvs says, speaking Of the Odell
lunacy law for which Mr.. HIdoIHs, the
Governor Chairman's candidate for Gov
ernor. voted:
why does Governor OpELL wish to abolish tho
msnagers' Why does he want TO pull down this
homes, system OF which the State is so proud,
Why does be want to drag the benencent charities
OF tho State into the machine! For economy's
saket Fudgsl He knows there Is no economy
in hts BILL but there Is power, political powerl The
local boards care personally for tho petty needs
OF the insane providing them with pleasures COM
forts, entertainment. comforting with their rela-
tives, and seeing that the helpless and unfortunate
get tho food and shelter and care that the State
generously gives; but these worthy managers.
IL Is true are not Of a. much use to the machine
as g centralized closely organized corps Of in.
different paid visltors.
New York state has built UP a magnificent
system Of STATE charities. and II has taken long
time TO do II. This System should not be ruth
lessly torn down for the purpose OF making fuel
70 help run the political machines. New York
State Is rich, It's charity requirements great, and
large sums needed TO properly for her vest
army Of insane feeble minded. deaf. dumb and
epleptics II she IL spending too much money. or
not spendins II In the righs way . halt should be
called and due economy should be exercised: but
do not let US sanction the conversion of this part
of the States work into . part OF It's political ma.
chine"
= Mr. HIGGINS voted for the Odell Lun-
acy law in opposition to the protest of
all the charitable and benevolent or
CARNATIONS Of the State. This bill re-
moved from office the local boards Of
managers Of the insane hospitals. al
though the boards were made up Of per-
sons who served without pay These
boards were superseded by paid com
mission.
The Nsv York State Journal Of Nsdi-
cine said Of the odsll Lunacy law:
Every aspect Of the bill stamps II bad meas.
urs. Tue political pressure which this bill makes
u possibh 70 bring 70 bear upon the supsria,end-
ents win 90 handicap them IN applying the istss,
approved methods In caring for the inmAies that
The s,esdy progress which has Characterised ths
treatment during the past ten ysars viii Do con.
vertsd into an equally rssid rstrosrsAs movement,
The medical profession should stand aoiidy against
any such legislation
And here 10 what the Medical Record
has to say on the Same subject:
The grounds upon which well founded chico.
lions may b. advanced against this scheme are
that II carried out. ths stats hospitals will be ur.
.ually brought within the domain Of politics. The
boards of managers who have up to the present
lime supervised the institutions for the insane have
aess, ~ any rate, outside politics. They have re.
,sived no Day, and have performed their duties
faithfully and well in Me cause Of charity alone.
Perhaps their management has not been at all
Zines distingu lshed by close soonomy. but soms
when II directly benents the patients
and those attached 70 the Institutions Is preferable
10 cheese pairing methods Of conducting such 10.
lablhhmepu upon political lines"
1t is not surprising that Comptroller
CIRCUIT was moved to utter those bitter
words to that audience in the Cover
nor-Chairman's home city.