Morning journal and courier., 1883-04-25
SournaI snO Gourier.
Wednesday, April 25, 1883.
GOVERNOR BUTLER's LATEST.

Ts Governor Butler is irrepressible He has supplemented his investigation of affairs at the Tewksbury alrnshouse by directing the State board of health, lunacy and charity to take the almshouse out of the hands of its trustees and assume the control and admins tration thereof. Heahas taken this action flor the good of the public service" and in the exercise of the power and authority confer red upon him by the constitution and laws He advises the board to appoint some officer thereof ct once to take charge of the institu- ton and suggests that he would consent to the appointment of Frank B. Sanborn. He says to the board that it seems to be an un- disputed fact that the superintendent of the almshouse and all the officers and employees, and the families of those who have them, are furnished with their living there at the ex- pense Of the State, and have been for many years. He finds no warrant of law for this. He concludes his communication to the board as follows: 1T think it is due to the re- lations which exist between the executive and your board to state courteously and frankly that it is my intention to put the re- sponsibility for the conduct of the alms- house primarily and especially upon your board in the future, so that there may be no ground for reasonable suspicion hereafter that its affairs are not properly conducted, and it's inmates, eithsr alive or dead, not hu- namely cared for"
 The bold governor told an interviewer that his order removing the trustees was a reme- dial and not 8 punitive measure; that he simply removed them pending the action of the Investigating committee; that if the com mittee decides that nothing has been shown that is derogatory to the trustees or their management they can then be re- stored to the performance of their duties by executive order. He says, however, that it is due the widows the orphans and poor unfortunates of both sexes that they shall know in advance whether they are to be cut up after death at the Harvard medical school or murdered at Tewksbury; that if it appears that there be no inhumanity, If children have not been starv- ed, adults maltrsated and insane people con fined in cells, then the trustees may be re- stored to office. If not then the greatest good of the greatest number has been con- sidered by his action in the premises.
 The members of the board of health Iun- acy and charity are not in any hurry to obey Governor Butler and take charge of the aims house. They have asked the opinion of the attorney general concerning the matter and will hold meeting next Saturday to hear that opinion. The statute says the board ''may, when directed by the governor, assume and exercise the powers of the board of trus- tees of the almshouse, and the members of the board want to know if stmay" means shall. MT. Frank B. Sanborn still further complicates matters by declining to serve as superintendent of the institution.
 This latest move of Governor Butler meets of course with the earnest disapprobation of that part of the press in Massachusetts which has all along protested against his ef- forts to least disgrace" upon the State by his conduct of the Tewksbury investigation. But those who have become convinced that all is not right at Tewksbury, and they are very many, will applaud the bold governor for the step he has taken.