Evening journal., 1894-02-08


state Lunaoy CommissIon-nigh Priced
Wines, Havana Cigars, Choice Game and
Poultry Among tho Articles Ordered.
ALBANY. Feb. g. The important hearing
of the week was that before the senate
finance committee ON Senator O'Connor's
bill TO abrogate the powers OF the state lu
macy commission so far as the auditing of
all accounts is concerned. Senator O'Con-
nor said that he had introduced the bill to
seek uniform measures TO get rid of the
friction between the managers of asylums
and the commission.
He had hoped TO please the asylum au-
thorities, but he had found that this bill
didn't please them, and they wanted the
commission abolished He was against
such abolition entirely and would oppose it.
He said: 1T does not seem to be gener-
ally understood that the superintendents
of hospitals and all employees are provided
with rooms and board free. Each superin-
ten3ent receives a salary varying from
1900 to s., 600 year and is provided with
fine living apartments. In at least three
hospitals expensive houses have been pro.
vided for the superintendent apart from
the institution.
carriages and "a coachmau, from two to
three private servants, his laundry work
and all of his food supplies-in fact, there
have been practically TO expenses except
that for clothing which he has been Obliged
TO assume personally. All these allow.
ances bring mp the compensation OF super
intendents TO between si2O01 and $4,000 a
year-a salary greater than the governor
Of the state or judges of the court of ap-
peals. Under the new system of state
audit the greater part of these perquisites
are still allowed Co the superintendents
and their assistants, but the commission
in lunacy has not yet conceived it TO be the
duty of the state to provide these uperin.
tendents with all kinds Of luxuries for
their tables and their houses.
superintendents Live High.
"The commission under the present sys.
tenn could not consent TO allowing items
for supplies Of a costly nature, such as
cigars, champagnes, clarets, sherries, cor
dials, game, etc, which some Of the hos
| pital suporintendents have heretofore en-
| joyed at the expense OF the state" 10
show what had been the custom up to the
present time with regard TO such purchases
the commissioner exhibited a number OF
/ vouchers obtained from the comptroler's
Office which showed that all kinds Of ex-
| pensiye and luxurious articles had been
purchased apparently for the sole use of
the superintendents and other officers Of
the institutions.
Cases Of wines, gallons of brandy, fine
cigars by the hundred fancy prices for
birds and game, carriages aud harness,
fancy furniture, table linen and carpets,
bonbons and Roman punch figure in the
vouchers which the state comptroller has
handed ont for the past two years as part
Of the expenditures Of the superintendent
of three of the state insane asylums
Read before the finance committee Of the
senate to show the necessity for a state
board Of audit, they created sensation.
Some Of the most important items were as
follows:
st. Lawrence State Hospital -Pommer.
by sec, S0450; Modoc, So; sherry, SIS; 2OC
cigars Manuel Garcias $40; harness and
carriage for superintendent, Si20 At thi.
hospital two OF the trustees furnished coal
for s., 500, though it is in violation of law
They were George Hall and William J.
Proctor