The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-19
PRESIDENT MASON OF TRUSTEES
OF MINNESOTA HOSPITALS
WRITES TO CLOUGH.
REPLY TO SENATOR WYMAN.
BRIEFLY DENIES THE CHARGE OF
EXTRAVAGANCE In THE INSANE
HOSPITALS.
RATHER THAN FIGURES.
the Boards Position All
Right in Declaring That the Ap-
preparation Is Shy.

Gov. Clough received a reply
from President J. w. Mason, of the
board Of trustees of the Minnesota
hospitals, to the letter sent his excel
lency by Senator Wyman, Of Hennepin
county, dated May 13, in which the
senator criticises the board for its al
legged extravaganza. In the reply Mr..
Mason makes several sarcastic allu-
sions to the member of the legislature,
intimating that he might have been
annoyed during the session by repeated
applications for money from the va
rtous boards, but that he should have
considered himself the guardian of
them all and not as the especial guar
dian of the state university. Continu-
ing, the reply is in substance as fol-
lows:
If the senator's assumption is right, that
there will be no increase in the number
OF insane within the next two years, then
he granted money enough to the hospitals
presents itself: If the number is not to
increase and the board has been extravagant
in the past, why did Senator Wyman grant
an appropriation for the fun number, based
The board, in its letter to your excellency,
May g. said: cat conference held between
the governor, Senator Wyman, the chairman
of the subcommittee on appropriations, two
senators and the president of this board
shortly before the legislature adjourned, the
matter was again brought up, at which time
made for the increased population, when the
chairman Of the subcommittee (Mr. Wyman)
stated that ample provision had been made
and that so far as current expense was con-
cerned, the committee had granted just the
amount asked for by the board.'
Mr.. Wyman, in his letter, ignores this
statement. Now If that statement be true
and your excellency knows whether it be
Senator Wyman deliberately attempting
to mislead both the governor and the board.
There was an excellent opportunity for the
senator to have read the board a lecture
on economy, and to have stated that he in
tended to enforce it by cutting the appropria-
tion asked, $4,000, instead of saying he
not do. but reserved for future and more
public occasion to pose as champion OF
economy, with mental exception, no doubt,
in favor of the state university.
1t take 1t that every senator, Senator Wy
man included, favored the building of fourth
hospital, though all could not agree on its
location and that this disagreement was
what defeated the establishment of such
hospital. Now, If the insane are not going
to increase in the next two years and If not
in that period, why in four, why should Sem
ator Wyman, with With, his osS views & OF os economy
Senator Wyman, when he charges extrava-
gance against the hospital board, is simply
misinformed and being misinformed, should
not have made the charge. 1t looks like an
attempt at playing to the galleries" which
I am sure Senator Wyman would not do
Secretary Hart has heretofore criticised the
board for too close economy, and submit that
he is in position to know what he is talk
ing about. Sometimes it Is said that an am
bition will seize man and lead him to
merge the statesman in the politician. 4 do
not wish to intimate that this applies to
Senator Wyman, - -
The board wrote Its letter to your excel
lency simply to inform the governor and the
state of certain deficit in the current ex-
pense fund Of the hospitals, sure to result
within the present biennial period. We
deemed it wiser to adopt such course than
to wait till the funds were exhausted and
then state it for the first time. Time will
show whether Senator Wyman or the board
is right. Respectfully, j. W. Mason,
President Board Of Trustees Minnesota Hos