The Jersey City news., 1901-10-26
State Hospital Board Pre-
pairing It's Report Of
Investigation.
REVISING THE TESTIMONY
When it is in Proper Shape
it Will Be Given to the
Governor for Approval

The recent investigation into the man
agement OF the State Hospital. which
covered a period of two months has ap-
parently been relegated to the rear for
the time being in order that when the
committee finally makes its belated re-
port the incriminating testimony Of the
seeventy-four witnesses examined may be
lees fresh in the public mind.
Strenuous efforts are being made in the
meantime to offset the effect Of the over
whelming testimony against the manage
ment that the public may be prepared
TO accept the withdrawing report.
which it has been learned almost beyond
peradventure it is the intention 10 pre-
sent.
The latest version of the investigation
as promulgated by the counsel hired to
defend the mana cement. although nom
inally paid to conduct the investigation,
is that the burden of the evidence was
simply that a few cooks had spoiled a
few pots of soup and that this fact was
responsible for the feeling against the
management which extended from end
TO end of the State.
The investigation was brought about
by the petition of the attendants con-
cerning the character of the food sup
piled by the warden. the publication of
which brought to light other and even
more serious abuses rejecting upon the
entire management of the institution.
The managers and other officials af-
fected a fine display of Indignation at
the conditions disclosed Wholesale de-
mails of the charges followed which de-
malls were speedily disproven by the pub
lieation of official records showing the
truth of at least the major portion of
the charges, and indicating clearly the
existence of the other abuses.
Then the managers went off on another
tack. starting out with the assumption
that they would investigate themselves,
and named committee from their own
members to perform the delicate task.
One-half of the board. namely. Judge
Joseph Thompson, DIR. Henry r. Bald
win. B. w. Andrews and DR.. J. Newlin
Stokes. was selected to purge the whole
The committee began with the assump-
tion Of innocence, and during the entire
ordeal vigorously adhered to the stand
that if there had been any shortcomings
some one else must have been to blame.
The managers themselves. although de-
Ginning to regard themselves in such a
light were the real defendants and des-
ignated their own counsel Edwin Rob-
err walker. TO prosecute the inquiry
The determination to whitewash became
more pronounced as the inquiry pro-
gressed.
At the outset the committee determined
to exnnerate itself by simple inquiry
into the food, and it was announced tnat
only this question would be considered.
But even the most casual examination OF
witnesses brought to light abuses which
the self-constituted committee could not
ignore and the investigation developed
into an omnibus inquiry that actually cul-
minated with the calling of one OF the
managers who desired to be exonerated
from charge of being interested in SELL
ing supplies to the institution
without any function, asserted or other
wise the Governor was asked to sit with
the committee. that his presence might
lend at least some color of sincerity to
the travesty. His presence was absolute
Iv ineffective and barren of result, ana
when the affair came to an end he an
nounced that he would await report OF
the committee which. he presumed, would
come to him in the course of time.
ridiculous feature of this forthcom-
ing report is that it is to be suDmieteo
BY the committee to the entire board OF
managers, by whom. il it will be revised
or modified to suit the exigencies of the
case and then passed up to the Cover
nor for his official sanction, which the