Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-16
VETERANS ABUSED,
HARDING IS TOLD
Treatment Of Mentally Disabled
Men Declared Disgrace
to Nation
STATE ASYLUMS CRITICIZED
By the Associated Press

Washington. Jan. 16.--(By A. P.)-
More than $500 mentally disabled for
mer service men now placed in the
State institutions are victims Of such
"gross neglect, Indifference and prof.
teering" that It constitutes a "black
renroach on the honor Of the Nation"
This assertion was made today by the
Disabled American Veterans Of the
World War In a memorial presented to-
day to President Harding. and immedi-
ate action bv the Government. looking
to the treatment of all such cnses In
Federal institutions. is urged. Neg'ect
Of these cases in State institutions. the
memorial said. is committing to per-
manent insanity many of the victims
who bv timely treatment probably could
be cured
Describing the condition Of "con-
tract" cases of this c'ass IN the insti-
tutions of the State Of Ohio as typical
Of those in practically every State"
the memorial asserted the Government
had EARNED ont the insane ex-service
men Of Ohio to State asylums which are
and inadequate to care for them" while
1t has not provided one Federal insti-
tuition for this purpose in the state.
Ohio Asylum Cited
'For example," the memorial said,
''in the Longvicw Asylum of Hamilton
County. Ohio, there are forty-two gal
liant soldiers who broke down mentally
under the stress of war, although Long
view Is SO overcrowded that 2i0 Of the
inmates sleep on the floor like catt'e c
every night"
OF the 25O mentally disabled placed
in all the institutions Of the State, Of
whom. IL was said. physicians believe
half might be cured by treatment not
one. the memorial asserted. was re.
ceiving medical treatment Of any kind
for his mental diseases, and curab {
cases are beng daily doomed to per-
manent insanity" None of the insti
tutions. 1t was further asserted, segre-
gates it's tubercular patients.
An average profit of $500 on each pa
items out of the S547.50 annual main
tenancc fee paid by the Government Il
shown in figures for the nine institu
tions of the State cited in the memor a.
as recently having been made pubic
Nv DR.. Fl. s. MacAyeal. director Of the
State Welfare Department. The profit
per man ranged from $2T6.66 for the
Athens State Hospital, TO $320.03 fol
the Institution for the Feeb'emindcd.
In hundreds Of cases, 1t was asserted
relatives are refusing to commit men.
tally disabled veterans. who might b(
restored to useful citizenship. to con.
d'tiOns in the contract" asylums. mos
of which, the memorial said, are moth.
Ing more than lock cups" d,
Federal Provision Urged
To make adequate provision TO- the
treatment of all mental eases in Fedora
institutions the organization urged thai
the President use his influence in secur.
ing early action by Congress on thu
pending measure to appropriate SIG,
, 600, 900 for this purpose. citing tht
eport of the special Senate Committee
that 1915 more beds were Urgent
needed. beyond what would be provided
. 1y existing appropriations.
During the two years or more before
! Federal facilities can be increased tc
take care of all cases, the memo ia
: urged that infinitely more rigid super,
, vision Of contract" institutions b,
provided by the Veterans Bureau ant
Z that To cooperate In this an indepcnd
ent commission of former service mel
, he appointed in each State. lt further
/ recommend d that every institution re.
I cciving money from the Government fol
| the care of disabled soldiers and sailor!
y 'be "equired to spend every dollar re
1 ceived for the benefit OF such soldier,
. and sailors exclusively" Establishment
of Government dispcnsaries as part o.
q the emerg ncy system for treatment o
q mental cases and assistance OF the Gov.
I ernment in organizing program o
o community social service TO CO-Ope. att
in that work also were urged.