New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-24
MRMASE2SFRANK DISCLOSURES
HE Defends THE MANAGEMENT OF THE
ASYLUM AT POUGHKEEPSIE.
CIIEERFULLY ADMITTING ExTRAvAGANCE. EUr
DENYING Dishonesty MANAGERs ONLY
ORNAMENTS '-sEvERM WIT



NEssEs EXAMINED.
Poughkeepsie, y. V, March o3.-The investigation
into the management of the Hudson River state
Asylum for the Insane was RESUMED ut the ihsu'u'
ton to-day. state Lunacy Commissioners MacDoh
aid, Brown and Reeves were present. Ex-Jud6c
Gilbert OF the Controllers Office, conducted the IN
inquiry in tie interest Of the state The most inter-
esting incident OF the day little speech BY ex-
Asscmbyman ". a. Mase, enc Of the local Boara
OF Managers Of the institution who got on his feel
after two or three premonitOry outbreaks ana SAID
IL have remained quiet while all this testimony
has been taken and want TO say word. don't
want to be sworn and don't want the stenosrapher
10 tage II down. When I was ~ Albany last week.
met Superintendent TalcOtt OF the Miidlcown Asylum
and he admitted that the same quality OF meat We are
using here would cost 1-2 cents at his ASYLUM
which Is more than We are paying here, lhstcau Oh
being less; and l want TO say that the managers
here found out all about the meat and other things
twelve years ago. when we had On investigation on
our own account and had Van Wagenen, the butcher.
here, and we discovered that the Institution had been
paying from to 12 cents pound more than the
market price,
Judge Gilbert interrupted Mr.. Masc. and asked
him to be sworn. so that what he was Saying could
so on the record.
Mr.. Mase replied: "No. don't wnnt to swear.
You will find II all In the minutes OF the board.
Why we discovered that twenty-five cents 4 quart
for milk paid. We got report. In fact. there
were two reports. one OF them charged stealing,
but would not subscribe to that ana the o'her
report was adopted 1t said that there careless
ness and extravaganza and all that. but there was
no stealing I'm It. don't think Van Wngcren ever
paid any dollar for what he got from The asy-
lum: but II he had known he the only bidder
| believe that he would have charged more for his
meat. and the people here would have been FOOLS
enough TO have paid it. We managers then insti-
into motif
plies"
"But" said Commissioner Brown. :" the extrava-
CANT prices went on all the ssme'
dyes but there was no stealing. There
travagan and loose expenditures. and all that, and
/ can't understand how the inmates got away with
such n quantity OF meat or how they burned so many
tons OF coal. I never could. and I've inquired about
It a good many times. l want TO say word for
superintendent Ccavcland. / believe he has worked
hard for the State. lie has put In his HE here ana
he has not made dollar out OF II. Now he Is an
old man and Is getting nothing but abuse ] wish
could take all the blame on my shoulders. Instead
Of its being put on him. ! don't get any salary
from the State. and don't care. We managers are
only ornaments. anywoy."
Mr. Masc astonlshcd the Commissioners by his
candor. and his admission caused something OF
sensation.
The first witness was Willard Dean treasurer Of
Vassar College. lie testified that II cost from 5000
Il
was unable 10 quote from memory the price by the
ton paid for coal in different ,ears. lie agreed To
furnish memorandum Covering the price since looo
and excused.
The second witness was Henry Bartlett. an agent
for New York -four house lie testified that he met
Mr.. Lord. the steward Of the asylum in the street
in pouckccpsic and asked for opportunity 10 send
in a proposal TO furnish Hour for the Institution.
He added That Mr. Lords reply was: IL buy flour
% a friend In New-Yorl7 Mr.. Bartlett also said
mat he examined the Hour used at the asylum and
found It made up OF what are cHllcd wilde brands.
which had been reigled from the West to New-loik-
handled by a commission house. cbrnnded and shipped
back 10 I'onelkccpse al cost Of at least 40 cents
barrel more than the price At which the same Hour
could be purchased from large dealers.
Charles f. Fowler superintendent Of Water Works
Of the city OF Porghkcepsic was called 10 TESTIFY ~
TO the cost OF coal here lie said that he bought
pea coal at about g. 90 n ton at Kewburg. and that.
in his opinion IA change OF gratebars nt small cost
would have enabled the asylum TO use pea coal W
place Of crate coal. and 20 save 1000 n year.
Dr.. ~. 4. Allison, Medical superintendent ~ ,hs
State Hospital for the Insane. ut Matt"awan, 'old
how q weli-regulned Insane asylum should 10 run
He said he knew no reason why b-el sloui cost rom
to 10 cents at Poushsccpsie Whcn ~ COS, only
q To cents AT Mattcawau. lie said that an nStitu
lion was not well managed when IN" superintendent
visited the wards only once or twice II year
James Truesdcll agent OF Armour Co. NJ Sing
ana now gets ; cents "A pound for the rough parts
Of The forc1uarers lie said b" was not required To
compete with other butchers for the prison trade:
h,t took the order from month TO month"; ana hau
held II SiA seven years
r. Baker Of Newburg. who has tie contract Ior
sunplyinc beef 10 the West Point Military Andemy
for one year. said the present rate Is rom 10 b" re
and that swift Co.. whom he rrpfcschts are i'o"s
money on contract.