The San Francisco call., 1905-03-15
LACK OF SPACE
!. FOR The INSANE.
Lunacy Commission Clashes
With the Managers of
the Agnews State Asylum
THEIR OPINIONS DIFFER
Medical Superintendent Says
Furnishing Of New Cottage
Will Relieve the Crowding

Sheriffs are advised by DIR. Stocking.
medical superintendent of the Agnews
State Hospital, that the institution in
Santa Clara County is so crowded with
patients that women are sleeping on
the floors. The superintendent sug-
gests that no more lunatics be sent at
the present time TO Agnews. Contrary
orders, it is reported, are given by DR..
Hatch CT the State Commission in Lun-
acy, who advises the Sheriffs to pay
no attention to the suggestions of DR..
Stocking. 1t is remarked by business
men and medical experts that the
asylums in California for the care of
the insane are governed in peculiar
fashion. Each institution has board
of managers, and the managers cannot
do anything without consulting the
Commission of Lunacy, and the COM
mission cannot do much without con-
sulting the State Board of Charities
and Corrections. 1t is the judgment of
many capable observers that the old
system of making the managers or
directors of an institution Immediately
responsible to the Governor of the
State is much better than the present
plan.
1t is acknowledged that the Agnews
/ Asylum under board of managers, of
Which Isaac Upham of San Francisco.
is president, is one of the best managed
institutions of the State. Mr.. Upham's
associates on the board of management
are j. r. Wilson of San Francisco. o.
A. Hale and Adolph Green1nger of San
Jose and Edward White of Watsonville.
There is some friction between the
board and certain officers of the Lun-
acy Commission. The cottage system
OF caring for patients has been ex-
8 n Q
about by an economical administration
of affairs and sums received for the
care of pay patients" have enabled
the board to construct and equip four
! cottages. The board favors the plan
of furnishing the cottages in a style
comfortable and attractive but not
luxurious. The Lunacy Commission
wants nothing but the cheapest and
most ordinary equipment. The argu-
ment is advanced by the advocates
of comfort that the State is not called
on to pay for the furnishing. The ex-
pense is met by the kinsfolk of the
patients, and they insist that the furni-
ture of the rooms shall be comfortable
and to some degree attractive and
restful.
NAPA HAMPERED.
The State Commission in Lupacy
consists Of the Governor Secretary of
State. Attorney General, secretary of
the State Board of Health and F. W.
Hatch, General Superintendent of State
Hospitals. The last named receives a
/ salary of $4,000 per annum. The en-
ployes of the commission are c. L. Par
dee, Eureka, secretary, $2400 per an
/ mum; j. w. Stetson, attorney, S2400;
! Charles F. Waymire, assistant secre-
! tary, $500; e. E. Maxwell, clerk, $1,000:
! l.. w. Kevane, clerk, $1,000, Howard
! Cook, porter $780, In the absence of
l1a ft.satf a 70 fI,a
j Secretary of the State Board of Health
acts in his place When the Attorney
: General is absent the Assistant At
: torney General acts in his place. No
: provision is made for representing the
Secretary of State in the absence of
i that officer.
1 According to the Blue Book the State
/ Board of Charities and Corrections con-
{ sists of Professor z. c. Moore, Andrew
, M. Davis. Oscar K. Gushing and Rev.
/ Charles A. Ramm, San Francisco:
Rev. John K. Mclean, Berkeley, and
/ w. c. Patterson, Los Angeles
j Reports come from Napa that the
trustees of the State Hospital for the
Insane in that county are constantly
/ hampered. by the Commission in
Lunacy. 1t was remarked recently by
! one of the managers We cannot
| spend a dollar for the betterment of
the institution without the consent of
| the Lunacy commission. Inc man
! ayers are simply figureheads, having
no authority in the premises.
STOCKINGS STATEMENT.
Isaac Upham, president of the board
CT managers of the Agnews State
Hospital, was asked yesterday con-
cerning the reports of overcrowding
at Agnews. He advised that inquiries
! should be addressed to DR.. Stocking,
the medical superintendent.
Subsequently the correspondent of
The Call at San Jose obtained the SUI
perintendent's version. The dispatch
from there follows:
! SAN JOSE March 14.-There 1o72 pa
tients at the Agnews Insane Asylum of which
423 are women, and besides these there are
about twenty leave of absence, who ara
liable to return at any time. This is by far
the largest number ever in the asylum. In
| speaking of the crowded condition of the asy-
| lum to-day DIR. Stocking, the medical director.
said: Yes we are crowded, especially with
women patients, but this will be relieved with
| in a month About forty of the female pa
tients sleep. on the floor but their beds are
| comfortable and soft Mattresses are under
| them. A new cottage that will accommodate
one hundred women patients has just been
I completed and accepted at the last meet
ing OF the board of managers. We are now
furnishing the cottage and as soon as pos
! sible the patients will be moved into It, When
! those that are occupying the improvised