New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-25
STATES TO CONSIDER
PROBLEM OF INSANITY
Under New York's Lead Will
Try to Have Congress Relieve
Their Heavy Burden.
ALIEN INSANE INCREASING
DR.. Dawes Report on the Sub
iect to Governor Dix To Be
Considered in the Com
ing Convention.

Albany. Dec. A.-The states most al
fected by the problem Of the alien insane
have accepted an invitation 10 cooperate
with New York in an effort TO have Con-
Sress enact legislation designed to re-
lieve them Of the burden of caring Tor
mental detectives admitted to this coun-
try, according to a statement to-day oS
Governor Dix. a meeting to consioe'
proposed legislation is TO be called by Ut
Spencer l.. Dawes. Of Albany. who was
appointed by Governor Dix in March last
10 examine into the question of the AMEN
insane In this state. Maine, New lamp
shire, Vermont. Connecticut Massachu-
setts. PENNSYLVANIA. New Jersey, Mary
land. West Virginia. Tennessee zen
lucky. South Carolina, Indiana ana III"
nois have promised TO be represented
Governor Dix says DR.. Dawes will make
his report in the next few months. and he
odds:
I believe that his recommendations VIII
he of the greatest value toward teGei anS
a solution of both the hnanclal anu
~ mic phases of the question. Soiie
idea OF the burden undertaken py liIs
state in the care OF its insane ma! V
obtained from the fact that the Leelsial
,ll, 792,7 0l for the insane, an incIease, 100 %
So APO SIS over the amount required IN 49,.
The average cost Of maintenance PEI
annum for each patient IN our ssare " are
thousands Of alien insane patients We
begin 10 realize the annual cost Oh tie to
unfortunates TO our taxpayers AS III.
average hospital life Of the insane patleLS.
ts nroSahly upward OF ten years, the total
cost OF maintenance runs into the mill
ions. .
The problem of the alien insane pre-,
sents a curious anomaly. Inc ieueI d.
government alone decides who shall enter
this country but makes practically no
provisions for the care or those ehleIi1S
who become incapacitated through Iiehi 70
deficiencies. The entire burden OF tne
care falls on the several states. More
over. the United States alone has the
right to deport the insane, and TINS only
within the three wears limit OF the teu-
pral Law and from causes arising before
landing The states may only repatrlate
insane patients when they go voluntarily
The insane deported by the federal gov
eminent are returned to their MONIES
abroad by the steamship companies at
practically no expense to the government,
v lille the entire expense of the return Oh
the insane whom this state repatrlates
IS paid by the state IL would seem only
fair that IL the federal government is 10
control entirely the admission and return
OF those entering this country II ana
not the several states should foot the
bills Tor the care OF lne IneHldl ueicS-
tives il admits but does not send home.
During the fiscal year ended September
50 1912 the State OF New York returned
10 foreign countries through the United
States immigration service and It's own
efforts LII insane. as against 7A in the
previous year. and 10 other states 5s-
insane as against 342. total OF lob TOT
1919 as against a total OF LIPS for 1911. an
increase Of 55.7 per cent. The result or
this work should reduce, during the COM
ing year. the abnormal increase in recent
wears In our insane hospital population.
IL also indicates in some degree what re-
lief should be experienced by the taXpay-
ers Of New York and other states If the
entire problem OF the alien insane should
he adequately solved through appropriate
federal legislation.
when Or. Dawes has completed his re-
port" says Governor Dix. he Intends TO
assemble convention of officials and
others interested from the states most
, affected by the problem Of the alien in
sane to consider adopt and urge upon
, Congress remedial legislation"