Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-20
THE INSANE ASYLUM.

The news reaching us from Santa Fe, concern
ing the report of the special committee appointed to
investigate conditions at the Insane Asylum, makes
q real ANALYSIS impossible. The Journal will await
access TO the free report the evidence taken to
EXPRESS any extended views We wish to jump to no
conclusions or do anyone an injustice.
It seems apparent that the committee intended
TO report adversely on the activities of Mr. c. Rosen-
valid president of the asylum board. Several years
ago Mr. RosenwaId asked the attorney generals Of
flee If his firm might make contracts for supplies
with the asylum and was given negative reply
Since that time he has avoided apparently having
any participation in contracts but has sold large
quantities of supplies the asylum on open account
Mr. Rosenwald does not regard selling goods as Mr.
Rosenwald merchant, to Mr.. Rosenwald, member
of the board for which Mr.. Rosenwald, member
of the board agrees to pay Mr.. Rosenwald the mer-
chant a stipulated price, contract within the
meaning of the statute The Journal does not at
tempt at this time to express opinion upon TINS
legal question.
However we have no hesiancy In expressing an
opinion upon the moral question involved. 1t Is
distinct evasion the spirit of the law and the open
door to all manner Of frauds against the state by
,yav of oyercharging An open contract to supply
incidental needs at given per cent of discount from
regular retail prices would be readily obtainable
But this would be a contract and would preclude
Mr. Rosenwald. So the price fixed by the merchant
member is paid. This is not contract"
The committee reported that the sale of
secondhand tractor by Mr.. Rosenwald to the insti-
tuition was mot satisfactorily explained" We infer
that this is an evasive way Of saying that the deal
was crooked.
That the committee regarded It's report as a
condemnation of Mr.. Rosenwald is shown by the
minority report of a member Mr.. Reed of Santa Fe,
in which he exonerated Mr.. Rosenwald
Republican member OF the committee in
forms The Journal that he favored report demand
ing the removal of Mr.. Rosenwald for misfnance
and insisting upon request for the designations of
the remainder of the board for acquiesence.
This report was gar-coated. Just what is un-
derneath this sugar-eoating can be told only when
an analysis is made.
Mr. Rosenwald explained that a barrel of
whiskey which had been shipped to the asylum for
medicinal purposes delivered at his own ware
house and there opened and measured" because a
barrel previously delivered at the asylum was found
to contain only six gallons of liquor by the time it
reached the vaults of the asylum. Mr.. Rosenwald's
barrel did better Twenty gallons, out of thirty
one gallon capacity reached the vaults of the insti
tuition.
We would infep that Mr.. Rosenwad's system
is somewhat the better for the state Both incidents
should have been sfted to the bottom and the point
of leakage ascertained. Mr.. Fosenwalds own state
ment showed condition in the asylum management
which is disgrace That barrels of medical whiskey
must go to Mr.. Rosenwald's private warehouse in
that GO per cent of their contents may reach
the asylum, instead of 20 per cent being the maxi
mum, If it goes through the regular official chan
nels at the institution, shows clearly most deplor-
able condition of responsibility and msmanage-
ment.
The Journal will strive to secure the full report
of the committee and make analysis of it for the
benefit of the public little later will discuss
the violation of the Bateman act which the commit
tee reports.
Some politicians call the report "eXonera-
ton" and 'vindicatIon" Don't make laugh
our lip is cracked.