New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-11
pUBLIC CHARITIES AND THE STATE.

Controller Morgans letter 10 blsnop I1uhlihS-
ton concerning the Syracuse State Institution
for Feeble Minded Children illustrates anew the
value of the rigid State supervision or public
charities which Is being developed In this state
Every new light thrown upon these various In
situations gives convincing proof OF the need
of unification of system and more rigid and I'M
partial inspection than can be secured through
the agency Of the best intentoned local boards
The chairman Of the Syracuse Board Is Bishop
Huntington. and among his associates are some
OF the most respectable and high minded citi
zens Yet the Controller points out to them
that the subordinates In whom they trust nave
been abusing children most cruelty, and he also
SAYS that he will hereafter speak of shortcom-
ings in business methods. He expects that the
Board, It's attention having been called to these
matters, will Immediately institute reforms.
There is no reason In this case to suppose that
it will not, though we have repeatedly seen
boards fercely championing the perpetrators OF
abuses against humane public sentiment ana
State authority. The more excellent the board
and the more readily It welcomes suggestion
and responds to admonition the more clearly II
shows the impossbty Of obtaining good re-
suits In independent institutions entirely domi-
mated by local influences.
The trouble is not that local managers are not
in the main good men. They are frequently
able men, leaders in affairs But they are sell
dom experienced IN a large way with the prob
lens Of charity. They are generally SUCCESSFUL
lawyers, merchants and bankers, with sprink-
ling Of more or less scheming politicians intent
on using the patronage and contracting opportu-
mites Of their places These politicians are IN
the minority, but while they are active their as
soclates are commonly too much absorbed IN
private affairs to give more than perfunctory at
tention to the institution, trusteeship OF which
they commonly regard more as a badge OF dig
nifty than call TO labor. Even when they do
take their duties a serious and difficult
charge, local prejudice and lack OF expert knowl-
edge are likely to stand in their way. They Sc
lect a superintendent whom they trust, and
whether he does we'll or Ill he knows enough
more about the details Of his business than they
do to prevent them from finding 1t out, particu-
larly II he favors local tradesmen and politicians
and so commands influential local supporters to
vouch for him as against meddlesome reformers
and State officials So far as knowing what
other institutions are doing and having any
comprehensive policy Of charitable work in ac-
cordance with which his institution has def
mite function TO be performed in harmony with
y,
Of such thing He regards the attempt to de-
velop any such system as unwarrantabe inter
ference" with "home rule"
This exaggerated doctrine Of home rule is
one which springs from a mistaken notion Of the
functions of the State and past neglect OF the
State to do It's duty. The unit of government is
not the town or city, but the State. To the
State belong all the activities Of government,
~ ~ Inv punishmant of
crime, the supervision of education, the admin
istration of public charities. The primary func-
ton of municipalities is only the transaction Of
local business pertaining to streets sewers,
buildings and the like. The governmental activ
tiles of cities, such as the exercise OF police
functions. are not natural, but are exercised
purely as granted powers from the State, which
has found 1t convenient to delegate its original
duties From that delegation or, rather, abdl-
cation. have come some loose ideas Of home
rule" which lead cities to think everything in
their hands belongs to them, that the police
mower is to be exercised as suits local notions
with law enforced or not as they see flt 1t
also deludes them into the belief that an asylum
within their borders Is local institution to the
control of which they have a natural right and
that II is interference" and Capitalization" and
"despotlsm" for the State to attempt to regulate
It's conduct.
We have been working away from that delu-
sion in some matters. Thanks to the energy and
faithfuness which from 1893 to the present
time have characterized the work of our Lu-
macy Commission, the insane Of the State are
cared for with intelligence and humanity. A
similar work Of rigid inspection and regulation
is needed to bring the other great State charities
into harmonious relations. They must be made
TO serve the whole State, not merely the towns
where they stand. They must be subject to
supervision which will bring to them the bene
fits of the most enlightened methods, and must
be SO regulated that the money of the whole
State which goes to their support may be spent