New-York tribune., 1880-02-08
PUBLIC TRUSTS AND Personal RESPON-
SIBILITTES.


| PUBLIC TRUSTS AND Personal RESPON-
SIBILITTES.
| The remarks which We made the other day
about the responsibility of the trustees of Mr.
Cowley's Shepherds Fold have a general ap-
| pication. In the case which has lately at
tracted so much public attention a person
who had been twice dismissed from the di-
rection of charitable asylum on the ground
of scandalous unftneSs, and had been severely
censured in the official report of State i'll
vestigating board, was nevertheless enabled
to organize another corporation, by whose
help he kept house full Of wretched little
children in his custody until he was arrested
for cruelty. Every one of the trustees of the
Shepherds. Fold was morally an accomphce IN
Mr.. COwley's crime. The cooperation OF these
persons was necessary to give the Institution
legal existence. They were supposed by
law to pledge themselves that the trust crea-
ted by the charter should be faithfully per
formed, and a proper person placed IN charge
OF the establishment. They committed an un-
pardOnable fault at the start in appointing
Mr.. COwley. If they knew his character, the
wrong was deliberate and malicious. If they
did not know it, they were guilty of wlful
was notorious. In either case they deserve
public execratioD.
The trustees of other charitable institutions
may we'll take warning from tins case to re-
fleet little upon the grave responsibilities they
have assumed. What do they know about the
management of the asylums with which they
are officially connectedf What supervision do
they exercise over the persons III authority!
Do they know that the superintendent are fit
for their places that the inmates are properly
fed and clothed and kindly treated9 that the
funds are faithfully and judiciously expendedY
that the sanitary condition of the buildings Is
satisfactory Do they realize the fact that
they have accepted the guardianship OF the
helpless and unfortunate, and in so doing
have taken upon themselves q solemn obhga-
ton toward their suffering fellOw-men, to-
ward the benevolent contributors of charlta-
BILE funds, toward the State, and toward G0d2
There would be no "asylum scandals" If
trustees gave due thought to their own ac-
countability. Unfortunately too many excel
lent persons are content with lending their
names to charitable institutions attending the
annual meetings, where they listen to the read
ing of fattering official report, walking
of inspection which does not allow them to
inspect anything, and voting their approval
of balsnce-sheet which they do not in the
least understand.
The Commissioners of Charities and Cor
rection hold the same relation toward our
municipal establishments that the trustees Oc-
cupy toward private hospitals and asylums;
and they have the same duties. There is
much discussion just now about the manage
ment of the public institutions; unfortunately
scandals in connection with them are by no
means infrequent, and recent tragedy on
Blackwell's Island furnishes. to say the least,
a very strong presumption of official neglect
or incompetency. 1t would be interesting to
know Just how much supervision the Com
missioners exercise over the care of the
10, 900 persons dependent upon them There
il an almost universal belief that enormous
abuses prevail in the administration of the
charities of the city. 1t is the plain duty OF
the Commissioners to knOC whether this be-
lief is well founded. If abuses do exist, and
cannot be broken up by the efforts Of the
Board whose chief function it is to prevent
them, then the Commissioners ought to make
the most public possible exposure of the sys-
TEN, and either enforce reform or resign a
place they are unable to fill.
- -