New-York tribune., 1922-03-23
Forgery Charge
Made i'm Attack
On Insanity Bill
Foes Say Charity Society
Member Signed McAdoo's
Name TO Endorsement Of
Bitterly Fought Measure
Demand Veto by Miller
Act Held Full Of Jokers
That Put Any One iz Peril
of Being Sent TO Asylum
From, a star CORRESPONDENT

mental deficiency bill, which Was Al
iammcd through the Assembly after a
filibuster on tho closing night of the
session, after statements had beer
made that IT was shorn of ell the
jokers which might be used by the un-
scrupulous to railroad their enemies to
asylums, will come up for q hearing
before Governor Mille~ within the next
two weeks
Despite the claims OF some Of the
AsSomblymen who acted on behalf OF
the charity organization society that
all the sections in the measure which
were characterized by Chief Magistrate
William McAdoo AS vicious and
dangerous' had been eliminated an
closed the fact that the most objection
able feature of the bill still remains
Forgery Is Charged
The means used to jam the bill
through the Assembly were branded to-
day as the most questionable ever re-
sorted 10 by advocates Of any measure
In q statement issued here by op-
poncnts of the bill, including Ernest
x. Coulter, head of the society for
the Prevention Of Cruelty to Children
ment, the charge is made that a repre-
sentative of the charity organization
society forged Chief Magistrate Nc
Adoos name to a telegram indorsing
the bill. This telegram was sent to all
the members of the Legislature
"If this bill becomes law any
citizen.' said the statement attacking
the measure, may make a complaint
against any person who may be his
enemy and hale him before a magis-
tratc, who may commit him or her FOR
examination in the Bellevue or Kings
County Hospital.'
One section Of the bill permits secret
proceedings against any person who
may he accused Of being 4 mental de-
fective
This is provided for in Section 2s of
the bill, which reads
"1hc court or Judge to which or
whom such petition is presented may,
in its or his discretion. dispenses with
tho personal service OF notice Of the
application.'
Under the old law, which is stricken
from the statutes by the Knight bill
the court was compelled to serve the
petition personally upon the alleged
mental defective or upon his or her
relatives or guardians.
May BE Held Twenty Days
Another alleged joker in the bill pro-
vides that any person arraigncd before
court or under arrest may be com
mitted for examination as mental de-
fcctivc for period not to exceed
twenty days if tho magistrate is OF the
opinion that the accused is "spparently
y mental detective"
Opponents of the bill declare that
under this provision an interruptions
magistrate could cause the stigma Of
mental defective to be placed on any
ono who might BE- arrested on
trumpedup charge. A watcher at the
polls on Election Day might be arrest
ed on framcd-up charge, as has fire.
quently happened. and when taken be-
fore magistrate could be committed
forthwith for examination as mental
detective.
The opponents Of tho bill. il the pow
crful Charities Organization Society
succeeds in having the measure enact
ed into law, are prepared to have the
act invahdated by the. courts.
While the filibuster was on carry
Saturday morning, Asscmblyman Louis
Cuyillicr made formal demand that the
bill be read section by section. This
was denied by Speaker Machod. As
semblyman Cuvillior, acting as spokes-
man for the opponents of the measure
then quoted from decisions Of the
courts holding that where a member Of
either house asked that q bill be read
section by section. and the request was
refused, that tho law was invalid After
getting these decisions or the record
the opponents Of the bill ceased their
attacks. Speaker Machold, in denying
the request for full reading of the
measure, said that he would assume
that the bill had been read section by
section in view Of the fact that no one
asked for this on second reading.