The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-01-16
GROSS NEGLECT
is CHARGED
In Treatment Of Mentally
Disabled Former Serv-
ice Men
"BLACK REPROACH"
ON NATIONS HONOR
Memorial to Pres. Harding
Claims Men EARNED
Out to Asylums

] Washington, ID. c.. Jan. lG.- Assert
ing that the more than $500 mental.
disabled former service men now placed
in state institutions were victims o
such gross neglect, indifference ant
lprofiteering" as constituted a "blacl
reproach on the honor of the nation,
| the disabled American veterans OF tht
| World war, in memorial presented
| to-day to President Harding urged i'm
mediate action by the government
looking to the treatment Of al
such cases in federal institutions. Neg
lect Of these cases in state institutions
the memorial says, is committing tc
permanent insanity many Of the vic
Tins who by timely treatment prob
ably could be cured.
Describing the condition OF contract
cases of this class in the institutions
Of the state of Ohie as typical of those
in practically every state, the memo
rial asserts the government "farmed
out the insane ex service men OF Ohio
to state asylums which are notorious
ly overcrowded, undermanned and in
adequately equipped to treat and care
for them" while it has not provided
one federal institution for this pur-
pose in the state.
sFor example" the memorial says.
Gin the Longview asylum Of Hamilton
county, Ohio, there are az gallant sol.
diers who broke down mentally under
the stress Of war, although Longview
is so overcrowded that 240 Of the in
mates sleep on the floor like cattle ev-
cry night
OF the $50 mentally disabled placed
in all the institutions Of the state cf
whom, 1t Is said, physicians believe
half might be cured by treatment, not
one, the memorial asserts, Is receiving
medical treatment Of any kind for
their mental diseases and durable cases
are being daily doomed to permanent
insanity" None Of the institutions, it
is asserted, segregate their tubercular
patients.
An average profit Of $500 on each
patient out Of the s5s7.50 annual main y
tenance fee paid by the government is
shown in figures for the nine institu-
tions Of the state cited in the memo
rial as recently having been made pub
lie by DIR. H. II. MacAyeal, director of
TIE state welfare department.
To make adequate provision for the
treatment of all mental cases in fed
Hral institutions, the organization
urges that the president use his influ-
ance in securing early action BY Con-
gress on the pending measure to appro-
pirate Sl6,000,000 for this purpose, cit
ing the report of the special Senate
that 4,757 more beds are ur-
gently needed, beyond what could be
provided by existing appropriations.
During the two years or more before
federal facilities can be increased to
AXE care of all cases, the memorial |
lrges that Infinitely more rigid super |
7ision" of contract institutions be pro.
'ided by the veterans bureau and that |
@ cooperate in this an independent |
commission of former service men be |
appointed in each state. Ii further rec
'mmends that every institution receiy- |
ng money from the government for
.he esrc of disabled soldiers and sailors
'e squired to spend every dollar re-
eived for the benefit of such soldiers 4
md sailors exclusively.
Establishment of government dispen-
aries as part of the emergency system
or treatment of mental cases and as
1stans of the government in organiz-
ng program Of community social
ervice TO cooperate in that work also
re urged