New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-19
4 NEW LUNACY COMMISSIONER.

Governor Roosevelt after long study, for rea-
sons which doubtless seemed sufficient to him.
self determined to change the membership or
the State Commission in Lunacy, and sent 10
the Senate the name Of William Nanamee
Facts which the Governor did not know when
he made the nomination, and which naturally
were considered of no Importance by Mr.. van
aimee himself rendered that nomination an I'M
wise one. and It was withdrawn by the Gov
ernor in accordance with Mr.. Vanamees own
desire Mr. Osborn. whose name has now Deen
sent to the Senate for that place. possesses all
the qualifications which the Governor believed
Mr.. Vanamee to have, and In addition is Tree
from any Of the objections which made 1t I'M
possible for a Republican Senate. with regard
for party consistency and right feeling on an
important moral issue. to consent to the FORMER
appointment
Mr. Osborn has been and still is Democrat,
but has been identified with the branch OF that
party which struggles for good government ana
honest currency. Those who know him best
declare that he is admirably fitted for the office
of Iupacy Commissioner. Indeed, 1t has been
commonly said that instead of being second
choice. he was really the first choice for the
place having been picked out by Miss Schuy-
Ter TO manage the department which she did
so much 10 create, and that the Governor In
tended originally TO nominate him, but changed
his mind for reasons of what appeared at the
time to be expediency. Learning otherwise. he
returned to his first opinion, and concluded 70
nominate Mr.. Osborn and leave the Democrats
in the Senate to take the responsibility If they
wished to saw. as it was limited they might,
that they did not want Democrat Of strong
reform affiliations who would be thought bet
ter than his party" This is right and wise.
Mr.. Osborn being still Democrat has really
better right to expect that the Democrats will
not oppose his confirmation than Mr.. Van
AIMEE who had become for all practical pur-
poses a Republican. and when 1t comes to
sober second thought Democrats can hardly OBJ
iect because the Democratic member selected
for this non-partsan Commission is not
worker at practical politics" which all agree
should have no part in the conduct of this de-
partment.
Mr.. Osborns appointment will keep the
Lupacy Commission out Of politics, as it has
been from the beginning. There have been
some fears expressed that the politicians might
in some hidden way make an attack upon the
bosptals. and II has been said that move
ment was on foot TO remove Mr. McGarr from
the secretaryship in the interest of contractors.
The politicians who were suspected OF this
plan, however, are not responsible for Mr.. Os-
born's selection, and no doubt Governor Roose-
Welt has acted with full knowledge that no
selfish schemes of this kind could be carried
through with Mr.. Osborn in the Board. Mr..
Osborn himself is known to be man who In
all ways will strive to maintain the high char
acter and efficiency that have made the Lunacy
Department one Of the most creditable features
Of orr State Government, and his nomination
should be promptly confirmed