New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-31
ATTACKS STATE HOSPITAL BILL
Transfer of Power Over Contracts to
Loccl Boards Opposed.

To the Editor or 0e
Sir: There Is now pending at Albany leg
islaton designed to amend the present IN
sanity law The bill before the Legislature
proposes TO transfer from the central state
board Of paid officials. known a. the bunacy
Commission. to the unpaid Board OF Man
ayers Of the State Hospitals the respohsi-
bility Of contracting for building and sup
plies Because the State Charities AID 30
cioty and tho Lunacy Commission nave
combined in recommending the bill, and ne
cause the superintendent Of the various
hospitals and the managers whose powers
are enlarged by the proposed amendments
favor the bill n is in danger of becoming
law without challenging the attention and
consideration Of the intelligent public. The
so called reforms which are now being
forwarded appear TO me and many other
citizens undesirable And they appear so
for the following reasons:
First - The duties and responsibilities
which would he imposed on the boards
of managers are too onerous and multi
farious 10 he properly executed by unpaid
officials
Second-The present powers OF the man
ayers are sufficient 70 enable them to ex-
anime into anv contract made by the hos
pital and state authorities. they have
means to obtain information as 10 the JUS
tice % any complaint and 70 communicate
~ the commission, the Governor and the
public the result Of their investigations
They can remove a superintendent who is
inefficient II seems that these powers. n
exercised. should suffice 10 engage the
as.1 to IN
sure the performance Of their duties by the
state officials
Third-We think that the proposed legis-
lation would entirely alter the existing re-
lstions Of the managers TO their respective
hospitals inasmuch ms the boards Of man
ayers areo composed Of citizens who now
are In position to determine in Judicial
spirit difficulties that arise in the admin
siration Of the hospital Were the MEM
hers OF the boards directly responsible FOR
the quality If supplies they would become
identified with the administration and lose
their character Of arbitrators and judges.
Fourth-The proposed legislation would
lie injurious because it would relieve the
Lunacy Commission from responsibility for
work which would still have to be done
tflN hllD'I llS super slSi'iis II Np"t'
confer upon the superintendent. without
appearing to do so, very great additional
power. for the authority nominally con-
ferred upon the managers would really
vest in the superintendent.
We are convinced and We think that the
public will agree with MS. that IL such radi-
cal changes are to he made as are now adj
vocated-that H. II they are really desir-
able-the entire law relating 10 the man
agement Of state hospitals should he care.
fully revised and presented to the Legis-
lature i'm the form Of a single bill In the
present bill several clauses az the insanity
law are omitted which define the powers
and responsibilities Of the superintendent
and stewards As the effect Of the bill Is
10 alter materially the powers and RESPONSE
blities Of these important administrative
officers and to change their relations to
each other and TO the Tunacy Commission
We think complete revision would become
imperative II the prcsen. reform" he
adopted. We deplore piecemcal LEGISLATION.
which. while 1t causes by it's conflicting
mandates and inconsequential sequences
real confusion among the conscientious af-
fords opportunity for the evasion Of duty
10 the dishonest and fosters corruption.
There are other objections TO the bin
which lack Of space prevents my urging.
but which. I am sure, viii Re apparent 10
those who will read the bill Itself This
letter Is written in the hope that II will
draw attention 10 important legislation
which has hitherto escaped criticism-not
that in Itself II will he convincing. Are
not the state Charities Aid Society and
the Lunacy Commission in recommending
the present bill forgetting that their 're-
forms" are nothing new but that which
hath been hefore"-reversions 20 old moth-
DDS Of administration that had 10 be alol-
ished in political housecleanng Of not
many years ago? II l. N'KEF,N