The Portland daily press., 1883-05-01
TEWKsBURY ALMsHoUsE.
Gen. Butler Lecturing the Board
Of Health and the Legislature.
The Governor Wants Sole Control OF
the Expenditures.

BosToN, April 30-The Governor In ac-
know lodging the consent OF the State Board OF
Health 10 take charge Of Tewksbury, has writ
ten caustc letter, in which he says that he
proposes 70 furnish money to carry on the aims
house until the Legislature can make appr0-
priatious for its support, but he will neither
furnish II nor permit IL TO be furnished il it ia
70 be expended by the present superintendent.
II the Legislature appropriate money for
Iewksbnry he will not permit any mora to be
drawn from the treasury II IL Is TO be spont by
the officials now in office. He calls the atten-
fion OF the board To the fact that they can APP
point no officers without his consent, and as he
has not consented to the appointment OF the
present officials he does not propose to allow
aiy bills contracted by them. Referring 10 the
custom Of the Assistant Attorney General to
sign opinions he suggests that number OF GUS
toms which have prevailed may have been dis
tasteful TO the people OF tho state, and possibly
may have had something 10 do with the
change Of political sentiment.
Ghas. Marsh, clerk Of the almshouse, was 70 .
cal ed. He claimed his accounts had been aca
cnrately kept, notwithstanding certain appar'
sat discrepancies. In correction ofhis preyi-
Dus testif5ouy he sta ted his ledger was bought
In 1882 although the first entry therein was
dated July 1st 1879. He has nothing 10 do
with regard to the history OF The inmates; that
is kept BY another clerk. Adjourned
Late this afterno III Governor Butler sent
communication 10 tho Legislature relating 10
support of which he claims excessive appropri-
ations, considerably over 100000 having been
used up % January list, the end OF the fiscal
year. The letter concludes with the following
propostion;
'sUnder q wise administration $40 600 would
have been ample for the expenses OF the State
almshouse for the present hseal year, assum-
ing the same number OF inmates as In the last
and that two-thirds OF that amount wonld now
complete the fiscal year | am so strongly OF
that opinion that II the Legislature will make
such appropriations andput It's expenditures
and care within the control OF tho executive
and tho auditing of bills with the uncil,
would not shrink from undertaking the labOfs
imposed by such duty. Ii a. tho end Of the
year Il turns out IL cannot be done IL will be
the best answer 10 any suspicion Of extraya-
CANT expenditure in the past. If IL can be
done then IL will be easy FOR anybody TO follow
the example. II such course Is desirable it
can be easily reached by single sentence at
tached to the appropriation bill author izDg
aud directing such control Of expenditures as
above suggested.
The board OF health, lunaey and charity met
today at Tswksbury almshouse. Reporters
were excluded. Action was taken looking TO
the preparation Of replies TO the Governors
letter OF Saturday (which was spoken OF as dis
courteons) also bis missive OF TO-DAY. Motion 70
supersede Capt. Marsh by immediate appoint
meut of Mr.. Tripp. was referred 10 the COM
mittee. The meeting was rather unharmonius
and Il Is stated one member especially objected
70 secrecy as having been the cause Of all nm
pleasantness now being experienced by the
board.