The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-08-09
THE STATESMAN.
DEPARTMENT NOTES.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

EXECU TIVE DEPARTMENT.
Gov. Ireland yesterday received the
resignation of Mr.. Alfred Smith as a
member of the board of managers of
the state lunatic asylum. The letter
appears below in the course of cores
pondence between the board and the
governor relative to the asylum. The
fact of the resignation indicates that
Mr.. Smith would have probably sided
with DIR. Burt and Col. Rutherford In
the controversy with the superinten-
dent, and that no action will now De
taken in the way of preferrIng charges
before the board against DR.. Denton.
The governor has not filled the va
cancy.
THE LUNATIC ASYLUM MUSS.
The following is the correspond
ence which has passed between Gov.
Ireland and the board of managers OF
the lunatic asylum, relative to the re-
moyal of DIR. Burt and Col. Ruther-
ford: o,
AUSTIN, July q, 1883
Dr. W. j. Burt, Austin, Texas:
Sir-For some time the misunder-
s5ta4ding between the board OF man
ayers and the superintendent Oh the
aunatie asylum has been very unsatls-
factory and detrimental to the PuDlc
service. ] have been in hopes that
the board and superintendent could
and would come to such an under
standing as would relieve the public
service of the petty scandal now sur
rounding the management OF that IN
:stitution, and relieve me OF the neceS-
Aity of interfering. Ii the fault IS
with the superintendent it occurs to
me that the board should have pre-
ferred charges against him and re-
moved him. / have no control over
the superintendent and am forced to
the necessity Of requesting your
resignation as one of the board OF
managers.
l am, sir, very respectfully your
Obedient servant,
JNo. IRELAND, Governor.
ngF1,Y OF THE MAJORITY OF TIE
BOARD.
AgsTIN, TEXAS, July 80, 1888.
His Excellerey John Ireland, Governor:
Sir-Your letter of the 9th instant
was received by US on the 18th, one
day after your departure from the
city, The language and character of
your communication require careful
CONSIDERATION.
You state: al have been in hopes
the board and superintendent could
and would come to such an under
standing as would relieve the public
service of the petty scandal now sur
rounding the management of that in
stdtution." Here is a charge made by
YOU that a "petty scandal surrounds
the management of that institution
the lunatic asylum.
A man of your intelligence, and
holding the high and honorable posi-
fion you do, cannot fail to see that a
general charge, so grave as this,
Should be accompanied by specitica-
tions. This is all the more important
because there are two parties to the
management of the aSylum-the
Eaoard of managers and the superin-
6enSent. Now, do you mean that the
petty scandal is concerning the man
agement by the board of managers, or
is it CONCERNING the management by
the superintendent
The other statement made by your
letter, and it seems to be the pivotal
yscint upon which you base the reason
for your action, is as follows: eff che
fault is with the superintendent it
occurs to me that the board should
have preferred charges against him
and removed him."
You have only suggested what the
majority of the board we're preparing
to do as soon as full board could be
convened. Owing to the sickness of
one member of the board it has been
impossible to have full board meet.
ing since June l. The board did not
wish to act hastily or indiscreetly in
such grave movement. For some
lnonths the management of the
.asytxm by the superintendent has not
been satisfactory, and as you say.
twas detrimental to the public SER
gice," and We believed there was
SgoOd and Sufficient cause for his re-
moval. But the fact that he was the
appointee of your eXceilency, made
tls the more cautious and iRdisposed
10 disturb the relation established M
aess the good of the institution posi-
tiveag demanded it. We probably
have been too slow in taking definite
action, buE believed as the law placed
the whole question of control over
the superintendent" in the hands OF
the board, they were not limited in
time in giving definite shape to their
convictions.
LIZ conclusion, with these statem e2ts
befote you, If your excellency desires
orr designations as members OF the
slOard of managers in order to forestal
AN investigation into the management
by the Superintendent, you will please
to indicate 1t. We haye the honor to
,be your obedient servants,
w. j. BURT,
R. A. RUTHERFORD,
Members of the Boald of Managers
i have nSS received any commune
cation from tie governor, but as a
member of the board of managers
approve and endorse the above letter
in every word. ALFRED SMITH.
AUSTIN, TEXAS. July 80, 1888.
DIR. w. =. Burt, Same to Col Rutherford),
Austin, Texas
Sir-I have yours of this date. in
answer to my letter to you of date the
9th instant.
You ask me the question whether /
refer TO the management of the board
or the management of the superinten-
dent, when refer to the petty scan
DIAL that has surrounded the manage
ment of the asylum for some time. ]
referred (and supposed no one could
misunderstood mel to the entire want
of harmonr between yourselves and
the superintendent, and to crimina-
ii ms and recriminations between the
board and the superintendent that
have scandaliZed the institution and
its management. 1t has brought the
institution into disrepute, and its fur
ther continuance would lay the adj
ADMINISTRATION under the just charge of
being incompetent to stop the disa-
greeable state of affairs there.
Having failed to send your resigna-
Aion as requested, you are hereby re-
moved from office as a member of the
hoard of managers of the lunatic
asylum, located at Austin, Texas.
am, sir, very respectfully,
JOHN IRELAND,
Governor of Texas.
AUSTIN, TEX. August 2, 1888.
Gov. John Ireland:
SIR-Your communication of 9th
ultimo, to two members of the board
of managers of the Lunatie asylum is
such reflection and insult to the
- Il l.. n n u