New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-19
AFTER PARTISAN CONTROL.
A BILL TO INFLICT IT ON THE WILLARD
STATE HOSPITAL AT OVID.

1T rs PROPOSED no HAVE TWO MACHINE" MEN
ADDED TO THE BOARD or MANAGERS 10
VOTE ON MACHINE TREASURER.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Among the Items in the papers this morn
ing is the following from the proceedings ~ the
Senate AT Albany: Bill introduced by Senator
Wilcox-AllowinR the Governor to increase the
number Of managers from seven to nine for
State hospitals" A more rascally bill than this
was never introduced into the Legislature. be
cause IT'S sole object is to bring under local
partisan control-and that OF the very worst
kind-the managing board OF one OF our largest
| and most important State hospitals. the Willard
State Hospital. at Ovid. -. Y. The Insanity
law ordained the appointment Of seven managers
by the Governor for each hospital. and these
new boards came into Office on January l, 1Ng..
The seven appointed by Governor Morton for
Willard consisted OF four Republicans and three
Democrats. end ;he evident intent was that Ii
should be non-partsan. The only offices in the
hospital under their control In respect 10 ap-
pointments were (as in all other hospitals) those
Of superintendent and treasurer
In January last month. the office OF treasurer
became vacant although the incumbent had re-
signed in June last The local Republican ma
chine In Seneca County had also then put for
|
publicans in the Board Of whom am one. to
vote him into that office. The vacancy in the
office has been kept until now in consequence Of
my refusal 20 vote for a candidate whom find
TO be unfit for the place. and who would surely
make a partisan use Of II. and after the worst
manner. Now therefore. since. in the opinion
Of the machine. am no true" Republican. but
traitor" and worse than anything else.
"Mugwump" IT has become necessary to bring
the whole weight Of Legislature and Of
Governor down me by the passing OF this bill,
| which may bring into the Board two Repub-
cans Of the right" (that is to say. Of the Tom
Plato sort and make the Organization" sure OF
It's control.
You will observe that the bill "allows' the
Governor 10 appoint not ordering that he shall
appoint so that two managers may be
| named for Willard and none for others. II the
Governor choose yet he Will probably APP
point two for other at least so II might not
be said that Willard the only one in view.
as in fact II is. There is earthly need for
two more managers in any hospital board.
The seven now in office are ample for all objects
OF thorough ard efficient administration, and
this Is nothing but a ow-down political move.
worthy as 70 its origin 10 be rathered by any
degraded political heller.
1t is greatly TO he hoped that the New-York
purpose Of extending their system through the
State We are weary Of this incubus ~ Tom
Plattism against which Senator Wilcox was
It'll a little while ago one Of the most persistent
opponents: but he is now one OF the dociie pupils
in Tom Platts Sunday school. The whole sys-
tenn Of practical politics in our State has become
utterly demoralized and UNANIMOUSLY corrupt un-
der the malign manipulation Of this man Patt
once men Of uprightness and integrity could
take part in politics and retain their self-re-
spect exercising a worthy and honorable por-
ton: but now honest men are tolerated rather
than esteemed. and showed aside by the
noisy and boisterous. once We knew that the
term Republican" did indicate a somewhat
higher degree Of honesty and purity in admins
tration than the term Democrat; but now
there is no choice in the personnel OF either
Marty on either side high-soundng principles
gro nrofessed and sonorous platforms are con-
structed Of ringing" planks. hut the same old
familiar lot Of barnacles and bummers attach
themselves to either party when It is successful.
and as promptly detach themselves as soon as
the people have kicked II out Of office
II is as certain as anything in the future can
he ,ha, if this bill shall become a law the
largest hospital in our State will pass under
control OF a gang Of demagogues as vile as any
that Tammany has ever produced. l have no
interest in this question other than that OF Sc
curing honest and non partisan administration
in tho institution named. my office carries no
salary and offers no attraction to me other than
The opportunity for good service on behalf OF
tho unfortunate / have been a Republican ever
since Fremont and Dayton were nominated.
JOHN II OSBORNE.