New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-06
STATE CHARITIES AND THE STATE.

Governor Roosevelt sums up IN one sentence
of his message a real evil In connection with
the public charities Of this State. 1t Is an evil
rarely thought OF by persons not In familiar
contact with the institutions supported In whole
or in part by taxation but II Is nevertheless
decided menace to their usefulness to the peo-
ple rs a whole and results In the continual per-
version Of the common resources to the promo
tion of personal and political interests In diHer-
emf sections Of the State. Speaking OF the
charities the Governor says: THE economical
"and efficient administration OF these lnstitu-
@tions Is interfered with by the custom which
has grown up OF treating each as II II exist
"ed for the benefit OF the locality In which 1t
exists whereas. Of course, this Is All utterly
"irnnroper view. as the administration should
"aIways be simply in the interest of the state
"ar large"
ANYBODY who knows about the schools.
homes and asylums scattered through the rural
counties knows that this is perfectly true. The
Legislature appropriates few hundred thou
sand dollars for the care Of some particular
class Of the afflicted and designates some town
for the location Of the institution TO receive IN
mates from the whole State or some large dis
trlct A board Of trustees Is appointed com
posed almost exclusively Of residents OF the
town where the institution Is located, and II
thereupon becomes in the eyes OF the citizens
n local concern. to be managed for the proht or
the local butcher and grocer, and possibly or
the local political leader The States function
In the matter is regarded ms that or milch
COW. and any disposition Of a New-iork City
taxpayer to inquire what any particular place
IS doing would most probably be regarded by
that place as an unwarranted attack on the
DrInclple Of home rule. Local boards lnslst
that institutions must benefit home Industries,
and often pay high prices for supplies to near
by tradesmen rather than purchase at lower
rate In n larger market Buildings are planned
less with a view 10 the general welfare than 10
plense nelghborhood taste, and the demand Tor
accommodation from distant parts of the state
is often made unnecessarily subservlent To the
convenience Of local taxpayers. who are glad 10
strip their poorhouses Of all persons who can
on any pretext be put into State Institution
at general expense. while other communities
cannot secure the room they pay for In state
institutions for their proper subjects OF care
In some institutions the per capita expense Is
far too high, because they conform TO no COM
parative rule
The same condition OF affairs formerly exist
ed In our insane hospitals. but benencent laws
and excellent administration on the part OF the
present Commission In Lunacy have resulted In
a gratifying change To-day the Insane are
cared for with n unity OF purpose and concep-
ton Of the various hospitals as parts OF State
system rather than isolated institutions for local
benefit. Wholesale estimates for supplies are
made and everything Is bought In the cheapest
market at the lowest possible rate consistent
with suitable quality Standards Of employ
ment have been made uniform; every hospitals