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

salary list and other expenditures are 30 far
under control Of the State Commission that they
can he made to conform to n common standard
and give uniformly good result for their APP
propriotions so far MS differing conditions will
permit
The asylums and reformatorles now com
prsed in the Charities Department should like
wise be co-ordinated and cease to he tenders
TO local interest at the expense or their ell
cheney MS State institutions. BY this we do not
mean to say that some Of them are not adj
mirably managed by most devoted men, 30
were some of the insane hospitals. and from
them State supervision might today be taken
without danger In particular cases. But the
general effect would he bad. and the too great
locnlization of charitable institutions results I'M
fortunately The State Board Of Charities has
in past years done splendid work In correcting
abuses. and in this particular direction Is doing
all that its powers allow. But It's authority IS
restricted within far narrower limits than thnt
of the Commission in Lunacy, and II the char-
liable institutions nre to be harmonized ana
brought to respond to the highest need or the
whole State some change must be made.
Perhaps the end could be accomplished by as
slmiatng the charities administration TO mat
Of the Lunacy Department, and giving the state
Board OF Charities similar powers to the Com
mission in Lunacy. The latter body however
consisting Of only three men, Is much Detter
fitted for work OF detailed administration IMAM
the more numerous Board Of Charities, when
was originally constituted to exercise super
vIsorv rather than executive functions, though
there has been gradually thrown upon it much
administrative work which II has eXcellently
nerformed Another method would be 70
change the managers Of institutions ny slow
stages as vacancies occurred from almost purely
local bodies to boards In which every Juniciai
district would be represented. The dlsadvah-
tage OF such plan Is the difficulty In securing
sufficiently minute attention to the institutions
from managers living Mt distance. But care
ful choice by the Governor might secure men
with the leisure and devotion required, for there
are certainly persons in every community whose
interest IN charities would he suf1clene for the
nurnose: and local visiting committees could he
used to supplement the managers. IL also
might no argued that in most Of the present
boards the real work is done by two or three
mon and in general boards the same number
~ local representatives would keep adequately
o,ose watch on affairs On the other hand, II
,s n he noted that II nonresident managers
left the residents largely in control the power
OF local rings might he Increased rather IMAM
diminished for two or three local members
could play politics easier than Dozen lhese
are only suggestions Of many possible schemes
which might he developed to accomplish 'l'
same thing. We do not think any plan Wouiu
be wise which involved radical overturn III 'he
separate institutions or the state system ana
any such coordination rs we have SUGGESTED
could best he reached gradually and completeiy
attained only by making the natural changes
as they occur all work in the direction OF 'he
end kept IN view. But certainly an lheai Oh
unity and responsibility to the whoe STATE
should he set mp for our charitable INSTITUTIONS