New-York tribune., 1921-03-28
New York Departm mt
Members to Agitate for
Hospital for Insane Vet
Grams at Creedmoor, L. l.
CIV. Wickersham Appeals
to Governor Miller to
Proceed With Plans for
Erection of Institution

A determined effort is being made by
the American Legion of the New York
Department to bring about the erection
OF the proposed state military hospital
for insane veterans at Creedmoor. l.. l.
Cornelius W. Wikersham, chairman
of the Legion's investigating commit
tee, which has been holding hearings
for several weeks for the purpose of
recommending necessary legislation
looking to the relief of disabled ex-
service men and women, has appealed
10 Governor Miller to proceed with
plans for the Creedmoor hospital.
An appropriation of s3.ooo.ooo was
made by the Legislature at the emerg-
ency session last year for the building
OF this hospital on the old rifle range
near Queens village, in Queens County.
A provision was that the federal gov
ernment was to reimburse the state in
ten annual rentals of $3,0OO,OOO each.
The pecretary of the Treasury under
the previous administration refused to
sign this contract, and a Senate COM
m,tsee m M later refused to report favorably
on an act so authorizing the Secretary.
AS consequence the state has practi-
cally stopped work on the institution.
MT. Wickersham in his letter to Gov
ernor Miller calls attention to the al
ready overcrowded condition of state
mental hospitals and appeals for imme-
uiate action. The cost Of operation Of
the Creedmoor hospital, he shows,
would be covered by the amount re-
celved by the state from the Bureau Of
war Risk Insurance for the care of the
men in the hospital. The failure of the
federal government to care properly
1or these men in no way relieves the
state OF it's duty, he asserts. The letter
to Governor Miller follows. in part:
"As chairman of the special COM
mittee appointed by the department.
commander of the American Legion for
the State of New York to investigate
the care and treatment of disabled ex-
services men in our state, l feel it is
my duty to bring to your attention the
great advantages which would be
brought to the ex-service men Of our
state who suffer from mental diseases
by an amendment to Chapter 258 of the
laws of 1920 creating the Military Hos
pital at Creedmoor.
II am we'll aware of the failure on
the part Of the Federal authorities to
make use of the facilities which the
enactment of this legislation made pos
sible. The reasons for it are similar
to those which are responsible for the
HSSieSc vi proper HOSpiCdllZaClOH, com
pensation and vocational training of
many thousands of disabled men at the
hands of the government. There is no
doubt as to the responsibility of the
government in this matter but, never
thelcss, those members of the American
Legion who, like myself, have become
acquainted with the plight of the insane
ex-soldiers of this state, are deeply
convinced that the State of New York
should follow the example of many
other states which have become i'm
patient with the delay in making suit
able government provisions and are
caring for the men.
81 am making a direct appeal to you
to aid in securing the legislation nee
essary to make the hospital at Creed
moor available without the arrange
ment with the Federal government
which was contemplated when the