New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-21
WAS PRESIDENT OF STATE
COMMISSION IN LUNACY.
FINAL HEARING OF GRAVE CHARGES
AGAINST HIM-GOyERNoR'S
PROMPT DECISION.
IBr 4EIEoRAFH 10 THE rR1BuSr.I

macy after giving him an opportunity 10 make an
exclamation OF certain statements made to the
Governor on December 10 and II in relation to
the alleged sale through him Of stock in cop
per mining company OF New-Mexico, in which
pr. wise was pecuniarily interested. TO employees
n State hospitals for the insane under the con-
troll of the State Commissioner in Lunacy, and,
second, IN regard TO his part in the construction
of az artificial ice plant on the grounds Of the
Long Island State Hospital at Flatbush. This
exclamation the Governor considered unsatis-
factory. and therefore removed him from office.
DR.. Wise's term would have expired on Decem-
her 81 OF the present year. The Governor states
that ,se viii not iii the vacancy In the State
Corr,uission in Lunacy, leaving that duty to Mr.
oden when he assumes Office in January.
The Governor sets forth his reasons for DR..
wise's removal in the following memorandum:
IN making this removal consider nothing but
the statements and admissions OF DR.. Wise him
self IS made in his testimony taken before me
On December 10 and IL inst. and submitted IN
the form OF Exhibit No / at the hearing on
he charges On December 20 1900. The ac-
curscy OF this testimony was acknowledged by
Or Wise's counsel
Dr. wise was guilty Of gross inpropriety in
directly or indirectly BY suggestion or other
wise, soliciting subscription 10 the Copper Hll
Mining Company, o. which he was president
from his official subordinates OF both sexes, in
GLIDING superintendents, doctors, stewards, and
in al least two cases the heads OF private asy-
lums which are under the supervision OF the
State Commission in Lunacy. Such conduct
zrould be improper in any public officer. It is
peculiarly improper in the case OF the head OF
the State Commission in Lunacy. This Com
mission has extraordinary power, controls vast
SUNS OF money, deals with & peculiarly helpless
class OF people: so IL calls for a particularly
high type OF official rectitude- When the head
Of department suggests in any way 10 a sub
ordinate 10 take -tock IN any company which IS
under the control OF the said head the effect is
twofol6. IN the first place, there must in many
cases be a species OF moral coercion upon the
-Fe MA Ha
stock al the request OF his chief the latter is
70 q greater or less extent under such relation
10 him as must inevitably impair proper disci-
pine: they become confederates, and such a
relation necessarily lowers the entire morale OF
the force. II the case OF private asylums
wherein any abuses in connection with the In
sane are especially likely 70 take place, II, OF
course. IS especially incumbent upon the Lunacy
Commissioners 70 avoid any relations which
might hamper their freedom OF sction- In this
case DR.. Wise. owing TO his presidency OF the
copper mining company IN question and his
efforts 70 have the stock taken by subordinates,
was thrown into still further unfortunate rela-
tions with them: such as having seven doctors
and 3 steward indorse 1ote for Sl6Uo on one
occasion, and trying 70 borrow several tnousano
dollars on another occasion from the head OF one
OF the private asylums. Seemingly the copper
ztre company is now in a very bad nnanciai
condition a circumstance which Is sufficient TO
show the utter impro 9riety in the head OF q
Department using the influence given by official
position 10 persuade sdbordinates earning not
too large salaries TO embark some OF their
slender earnings in such venture.
The case Of the icehouse at the Flatbush
Asylum regard more serious still Here DR..
Wise clearly sought TO make money out Of his
official position. It was no part OF his duty to
have such a building erected Nevertheless, he
usurped this function Of Cne Of his subordinateS
and himself directed the erection Of the build
ing. The foundation and piping were lald by the
labor Of the patients-that is, by the State. 1t
was intended 10 use the icehouse as an expert
ment in making ice under a new process for
the different State hospitals.
DR.. Wise had financial relations with the
company such that he would have benefited
~ u
claims that the experiment, if successful, would
also have benefited the State; but this, of
course. does not alter the utter improperly Of
his using his position as a State official 10 Sc
cure pecunlary advantage 10 himself from
corporation which through him was to estab-
lish relations with the State. He had finan-
cial interest in the company while in the inter-
est Of the company he was building the ice
house on State land and partly by State labor
conduct by stating that when the construction
~ the icehouse was undertaken he gave up his
letters that he never gave II up al al-certainly
not for eight months after the construction of
the house was undertaken and until IL was be-
hered that the process was failure In eX-
rlanation Of these letters which were written
the officials or agents of the company DR.. Wise
asserts that he really had given up his interest,
but that he was deceiVing his business associ-
ates during their long correspondence. lasting
for eight months. Taking into account such a
s.sT a tt-sl a llai4g gu'tei III IIIs lestlioiy
o December II written by him TO Air. Vaughn
II is absolutely impossible 10 credit this state
n.ent or TO believe that he entered into such a
long, complicated and utterly purposeless de-
ception. Moreover. if his plea is admitted, il
simply makes him guilty Of another type Of
moral turpitude.
public service and at the same time to condone
such conduct as that Of DR. Wise and he is ac-
corcingly removed from Office.
DR. Wise was represented at the hearing to-
day by Louis z. Carr and J. Murray Downs of
Albany. and was himself present. BIr. Carr sub
nit 81
against DR.. Wise In this answer DR.. Wise took
the position that the Governor had no jurisdic-
ton 10 hear the charges against him, and pro-
tested against being tried at this time for the
reason that no opportunity had been afforded
Nm Of procuring the attendance Of witnesses in
ms behalf Second, DR.. Wise protested against
tne use, without his consent, Of personal cor
respondence and papers stolen from his Office
and delivered TO the Governor. and which papers
the Governor refused to let him inspect ex-
anime. He alleged that one should be com
helled 10 be witness against himself, and that
he should not be tried upon testimony which he
was not allowed 10 inspect. upon the infor-
nation furnished by accusers or infOrmers
whom he was not allowed to confront exam
Inc and that he could only be removed from
once, he being a constitutional officer, after a
trial before the Senate upon charges preferred
by the Governor and after he had had a fair
opportunity 10 prepare a defense and TO sub
stantiate il by the testimony of witnesses per-
sonally acquainted with the facts.
DR.. wIsEs DENIAL
Dr. Wise also in his statement denied that he
solicited any physician in the employ Of the |
state hospitals TO take stock in the copper min
ing company Of which he president, and al |
leeed that II any Of these officials purchased |
me stock they did il on their responsibility