New-York tribune., 1896-04-27
PRICE THREE CENTS
MOST SHAMEFUL GRAB YET
THE BOSS TRYING TO SEIZE THE IN.
SANE ASYLUMS.
AFTER THE PATRONAGE AND THE MONEY Exs
PENDED TO SUSTAIN THEM FOR HIS FOL-
LOwERs-sECREr LEGISLATION
AT ALBANY.

(FRoM MrHE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBU1rnJ
Albany, April 2s-Thori,as c. Platt's efforts
to seize patronage 70" his followers are unend-
ing. From beginning to the end OF this Legis.
lature bills presented by some Platt Senator or
Assemblymap having this purpose in view have
constantly been under discussion The Raines
Liquor Tax law had for its main purpose the
placing in Mr.. Platts hands the disposal OF
100000 in salaries and fees among his follow
ers. Excise Commissioner Lyman Is fulnliing
his mission in that respect. The Senate has
Just rejected bill OF Senator Ellsworth In
tended to put in Mr.. Platts hands the patron
age of the Niagara Reservation Commission.
The Senate, however. has just passed Assem-
blyman Austin's abominable measure giving
James NJ. Stewart the State Gas Meter In
spector, the authority TO name gas meter IN
spector in every town, village and city In the
State.
The latest drive for patronage Is contained IN
a codificaton OF the laws relating to lunacy.
1t gives into Mr.. Platts hands, or rather Gov
ernor Mor.ons-and the terms seem synony'
mous-the authority to dismiss the managers
Of every State hospital for the insane except ono
There are eleven State hospitals for the insane.
The homeopathic Asylum for the Insane at
Middetown is exempted from the provisions OK
the act probably at Senator Lexow's suggestion.
cretly showed into 1t last week, and on Thursday
the Assembly passed the measure. 1t Is doubtful
IL even two or three Assemblymer knew the
character of the change In the bill. The Senate
Finance Committee promptly acted upon the bill.
and It is on the order Of third reading In the
Senate, and may be acted upon tomorrow night.
Section 81 Of the bill originally read as follows:
Managers of State hospitals and their terms Of
ofice-Each State hospital shall be under me con-
@ snd % TO TO e
mission. and to the provisions OF tns seo.o ,bS
number OF such trustees Such trustees or managers
shall hereafter be termed managers. IN or oe,Sse S
the Tuesday In January after this cnapte takes
effect the Governor shall modify the terms M OF Once
90 tine na the erm Of e Office Of
pire the 3lst day OF December OF suen year & sma
os oi saGf The number Of than seven
no manager shall be appointed therefor unu ~ 'nca sss
than seven Thereafter the number Of managers
shall be seven and the term OF once on tme manxser
ton ton Of term shall be seven years II vacancy
occur otherwise than by expiration OF term h sns
be for unexpred term Of the whose ,s1. or
fee became vacant r. in any state & hosp,sS Ss 'rsl inIs
chapter takes effect the Governor snai apppns IS NJ
to to make 4 P ns in after this
chaner takes effect he shall classify the managers
q such hDsDa a se 30 ha s dns ns sT o ot
year and each year thereafter
As amended by the Assembly Committee on
General Laws secretly last week. and as passed
nv the Assembly this section now reads as fol-
lows:
Managers OF State hospitals and their terms Of
oftice~Each State hospital shall be under the con-
trol and management OF its present board OF mana.
gers or trustees, subject 10 the statutory powers
of the Commission, and to the provisions OF this
section as TO the modification OF their terms or
office and the number Of such trustees Such trus-
tees or managers shall hereafter be termed mana
gers on or before the 3st Of December. after this
chapter takes effect and at which time tne terms
OF the managers then In office shalf expire, the
Governor shall appoint board consisting OF seven
members for each State hospital by so arranging
terms Of one. two three. four. five. SIX ana seven
years that term shall expire on the 3lst day OF Ds.
cember in each year. beginning with the year 1877:
II a vacancy occur otherwise than by expiration OF
term the appointment OF a manager to NIL SUCH
manager whose Office became vacant: but the pro-
visions OF this section shall not apply to the Middle
town State homeopathic Hospital at Middletown,
I'm the county of Orange. where the number OF
managers shall be thirteen.
Governor Morton thus Is authorized to remove
every member Of the present boards OF man.
ayers Of the State hospitals for the insane:
Many of them are distinguished citizens, and
have been long connected with the asyums.
The amendment must have been made for the
purpose of putting the patronage OF the
asyiums and they expend A500000 yearly. into
Mr. Platt's hands. Next year, doubtless. an
attempt will be made to seize the State Commits
sion in Lunacy which audits the financial az
counts Of these institutions