New-York tribune., 1899-07-08
MR.. MORGAN'S CHARGES.
STORM AROUSED BY ALLEGED MJSMAN-
AGEMENT OF STATE ASYLUMS.
MATTER TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE
GOVERNOR - COST OF INSTITUTIONS
TO THE sTATE-A PLEA FOR
OUTSIDE" APPOINTMENTS

GOVERNOR - COST OF INSTITUTIONS
TO THE sTATE-A PLEA FOR
OUTSIDE" APPOINTMENTS.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrsUxE.l
Albany. July 7-william J. Morgan, the
State Controller. the centre of quite
storm centre" to-day in view OF his statement
Of yesterday. which printed in The Tribune
OF to-day. in reply to the attacks made upon
him by the friends OF the managers OF the
Western House OF Refuge for Women at Albion
because OF his reduction Of their estimates OF
the cost Of maintaining that institution.
Some State officials think. the result OF
Controller Morgan's statement and his investi-
CATION In company with the State Board or
Charities Of the management of the several in
stitutions and the abuses Of management dis
closed, formal complaint may be made to
Governor Roosevelt concerning the method OF
administration OF several Of the institutions
concerned. In that case the Governor might
appoint special commission TO learn all the
facts possible regarding the faults Of manage
ment referred to by Controller Morgan To-day
the Attorney General received a dispatch from
the Governor requesting him to name some day
early next week when he could come TO oyster
Bay. Attorney General Davies said tonight:
Il believe the Governor desires to have a chat
investigators, Austen G. Fox Wallace Macfar-
lane and BENJAMIN G.. Shove. but suspect there
are also some other matters about which he
wishes to consult me as the law officer Of the
State"
TO GO BEFORE THE GOVERNOR.
Controller Morgan said to-day that undoubt.
edly the mismanagement Of State institutions
to which he had referred would ultimately be
brought to Governor Roosevelts attention He
then added
THE statements 7 have made based upon
testimony taken by Mr.. Gilman. my first deputy.
and Mr.. Hebbard secretary Of the State Board
OF Charities. and when the proper time comes
that testimony will be disclosed This investi-
CATION. which was authorized by the amendment
to the State Finance law made at the last
session of the Legislature which provides for
the reclassifcation Of the positions and the re-
grading Of salaries Of employees Of the state
reformatory and charitable institutions, has
been only just begun. II will be conducted In
every institution over which the State Board ot
Charities and my Department have any control
When it is completed a report ratified by the
State Board of Charities and myself will be
submitted to the Governor
Il deplore very much the necessity Of having
l
they were forced from me- l have been attacked,
and so has the State Board Of Charities for our
enforcement of the law governing these insti-
tutions. and we have been compelled TO Justify
our position. The charges are all borne out by
facts and when the proper time comes the
names of participants and specific facts will be
made public"
ACTING UNDER THE LAW.
Controller Morgan and the State Board OF
Charities are now carrying out the following
command OF Chapter 3s3 of the Laws OF 1879:
The State Controller and the President OF the
state Board OF Charities, subject 10 the ap-
proval. In writing OF the Governor. shalI las as.
sfv into grades the officers and employees OF the
various charitable and reformatory instltutlohs
required by law to report 10 the Controiier' aNu
shall fix the salaries and wages TO De paid such
officers and employees. Differences IN tne -
nense Of living and rates OF wages in the local-
ties in which such institutions are situated my
be considered The Controller shan nave the
mower Of audit subject to such classlncatloh.
There are fourteen Of these State INSTITUTIONS
70 be examined and their officers classihed ihto
GRADES and their salaries fixed. II may he mem
toned here that years ago the employees OIL uhe
state runacv Commission and Of the State
Prison Department thus classihed' ana
had their salaries graded. but 1t was not I'LL
Board OF Charities enabled to gain this
control over the charitable asylums OF the
State. For years the managers Of these instl-
tions have resisted such supervision or tneir
salary lists by the State authorities and THIS
wear II was only at moment when they seemed
70 be asleep that the reform act was passed
Primarilv therefore the resignation OF various
boards OF managers OF State charitable asyums
is due 10 their feeling that they do not desire
strict supervision Of the financial affairs OF the
institutions in their care by the State authori-
ties.
CURTAILING POLITICAL DEALS.
A good deal Of political patronage VIII %
lost. and pay rolls will be cut II the State au-
thorities grade the asylum employees and FIX
their salaries Deputy Controller Gilman and
Secretary Hebbard. of the State Board Of Char
tiles. Controller Morgan states. have had the
task thus far OF classifying into grades and
fixing the salaries Of the officers and employees
NJ the various charitable and reformatory in
stitutions required by law to report to the CON-
,rolIer I'D 20 the present day the institutions
which have been examined are the Asylum for
the Blind at Batavia. the House Of Refuge on
RandalIs Island, the House OF Refuge Tor
Women at Hudson and the Thomas Asylum Tor
Orphan Indian Children at Iroquois.
Mr. Morgan also made the following state
rnent
IT am preparing copy of the evidence taKeh
regarding the management OF the Albion insutu-
ton and other institutions OF like character. on
which based my statement printed to-day for
submission 10 Governor Roosevelt. Until the
Governor receives this evidence must decline
TO make IT public"
From this declaration Of the Controller II Is
clear that Governor Roosevelt has already re-
ouested information from the Controller about
the evidence on which he based his remarkable
statement in to-day's papers. The Governor Is
interested personally. because the managers OF
the Albion institution have resigned. and ne
must soon act upon these vacant places More"
--..zO.. ~ o,har institutions whn