An investigating commission has been appointed in New York City to advise whether the city authorities shall continue to care for the insane or shall transfer them to State care. A recent census of the the insane inmates provided for by the city showed a total of 5,483; at Blackwell's Island, 1,813; on Hart's Island, 1,319; on Ward's Island, 1,919, and in the branch at Islip, 402. This number is being increased at the rate of two hundred, nearly, every year, which is somewhat less than the proportionate average annual growth of the city's population. The cost of maintenance of these insane persons is about thirty-six cents per diem. This is about forty per cent. less than the patients under the State's care cost. The aggregate cost to the taxpayers exceeds $500,000. But this does not relieve the city from being taxed in the general levy for the care of