New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-05
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


Albany. April 4.-There was considerable talk
to-day among Republican Senators over Gov
ernor Roosevelt's nominations for State Offices
and rumors that some Of the men. notably Will
lam Van AIMEE. nominated for member OF the
State Commission in Lunacy. might not be con-
firmed. Yet the Senators mentioned as op-
ponents Of Mr. Van Amees confirmation are
not those who have been concerned in previous
bolts. Thus, Senator Coggeshal is pleased with
the nomination Of John Williams, OF Utica, for
State Factory Inspector and probably will sup
port the rest OF the men nominated for office
by the Governor. Senator Malby. also IS
pleased with the nomination OF his friend, ex
Judge John NJ Kellogg. Of St Lawrence County
for Judge Of the Court OF Claims, and. II Is be
lieyed. will support the other nominations. Sen
ator Willis secured the office OF State Tax Com
missioner for his friend George +. Priest. Of
The Ithaca Journal" and so is likely to vote
for all Of the Governors selections.
The fact was disclosed to-day that William
Van AIMEE the nominee for Commissioner in
Lunacy. and Judge Isaac n Maynard. were
members of a social club I'm the Catskill Noun
tains. There Mr.. Van AIMEE grew 70 admire the
Judge. and when the latter accused Of
stealing the Dutchess County election returns
Van AIMEE defended him. Later related in
The Tribune OF to-day. he went to the Demo
cratic state Convention Of 1898 and nominated
Maynard for Associate Judge Of the Court Of
Appeals In 1896 Mr. Van AIMEE is reported to
have voted for Mckinley for President. The
Governor considers him Gold Democrat.
ECONOMY a MOTIVE.
It is understood on high authority that the
Governor hopes by putting Mr.. Van AIMEE in
the Commission ih, Lunacy to decrease its ex-
penditures, and that this was his chief reason
for not reappointlng Mr.. Brown. The ex-
penditures Of the Department now reach 5000
900 annually The Governor has been informed
by Controller Morgan that in his judgment the
expenditures can be reduced largely EX-Con-
tioller James A. Roberts also informed the Gov
ernor that the expenditures of the Commission
could and should he reduced But Mr. Brown
was exhibiting letter from Mr.. Roberts to-
night in which the latter asked Governor Roose-
welt to reappoint him. In this letter Mr. Rob
erts said:
have known Mr. Brown for many years. first
az a lawyer in Buffalo. then as pardon clerk ap-
pointed by Governor Cleveland. and latterly as
a member Of the Lunacy Commission. / believe
him 10 be honest. painstaking Intelligent and an
excellent public official Should you determine
70 pursue the policy Of continuing the Board in
is quasi non-partisan character. do not think
you could do better than retain the experience
/ and ability OF Mr.. Brown.
Mr. Roberts thus favored the retention OF Mr.
Brown. although thinking there should be re-
duction in the expenditures Of the Department
Possibly the Controller thought that the State
Commission in Lunacy was spending too much
money on buildings and improvements TO the
state hospitals for the insane. The present Ap-
preparation bill contains item Of Sl2Oo,COO
for buildings. repairs and Improvements all 70
be expended by the Commission in Lunacy-
CHEAPER THAN IT USED TO BE.
Mr. Brown said tonight that he did not sec
how the Commission could be reproached for
| extravagance in the maintenance OF the INDECENT
insane as IN 1893 the average cost OF maintain
ing each inmate OF the asylums was 5000. where
as now it is only S1S5. Mr. Brown also made
the point that II the expenditures Of the Com
/ mission were 10 be curtailed. f. was singular
that the Appropriation bill contained the usual
sum OF 81 o0OpO for the care OF the INDECENT
insane
one Of the reasons why the Governor declined
TO reappoint Mr.. Brown. It is said. was that he
did not oppose the appointment ~ special
counsel for the various State hospitals for the
insane in 1897. when Speaker O'Grady and other
Republican members Of the Legislature got such
employment Mr. Brown said on this point;
NV advice was asked about the appointment
OF counsel 10 the insane asylums and I said
that the Commission in Lunacy would not rec
/ ornmend II directly indirectly-that this was
! n matter which the Legislature should decide.
II however the Legislature which was Repub-
lcan. should impose this duty on us We would
be glad 70 get rid OF the Incompetent manage
/ meut Of our cases in the Attorney General r
office"
A FEATURE OF THE OPPOSITION.
People here will watch with keen interest the
action Of such OF the State Senators az have
friends who received appointments as counsel
for the State hospitals for the insane In 1897.
Among these Senators. fl is expected. resistance
will he made TO the confirmation OF Mr. Van
Amee II was rumored tonight that these
Senators would resist the holding Of any caucus
on the nomination.
II Is also interesting to note that the Appro-
priation bill has been go artfully worded that
the appropriation 20 pay the counsel for the
asylurns is continued. This appropriation also
is 80 arranged that the Governor cannot veto
! II Without vetoing the whole appropriation for
/ the department. The Governor in his annual
message, TO the Legislature criticised such extra
nayrnents for counsel. and recommended thi,
/ tho Attorney General should do this work