New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-02-28
THE NEW CHARITIES BILL.
WOULD CENTRALIZE CONTROL OF
STATE INSTITUTIONS IN ONE
COMMITTEE.

Albany. Feb. 21.-The bill which embodies the
recommendations of Governor Odell in his
nual message to the legislature as a change in
the system of Management of State reformatory.
charitable and eleemosynary institutions has
been drawn by the special committee appointed
at the conference of legislators held in the Ex-
ecutive Chamber two weeks ago. and sent
to NewYork City to-day for consideration by
the State Board of Charities at it's meeting to
be held tomorrow in that city.
The measure is radically different in many
spects from the bills which have heretofore been
outlined by those who have been following this
proposed legislation. 1t does not abolish the
State Board of Charities nor the boards of man.
ayers of the institutions The powers of those
bodies modified, however, and the control
and management of the institutions practi-
cally reposed in a central bureau. TO be located
in this city.
The main features of the measure are:
The Governor of the State shall appoint
superintendent, under whose direct supervision
the institutions will be managed, and who will
receive salary of $4,000 year. with $1,000 for
expenses.
The superintendent is empowered to appoint
superintendent and steward of each institution,
The superintendent of each institution is
vested with power to appoint the subordinates
OF the institutions. and Is held responsible Tor
the manner in which the institution is con-
Quoted.
The steward is made the purchasing agent of
the institution subject to regulations to be pre-
scribed by the State Board of Charities
A State improvement commission, composed
of the Governor, the State Controller and the
president of the State Board of Charities. is
created. This commission is to have the power
to ratify or reject plans for new buildings or
lnes or improvements can pc recommended 70
the legislature for appropriations without the
consent of this commission.
The power to estimate for supplies is taken
away from the State Controller and reposed in
the superintendent OF institutions He is
charged to inaugurate system of purchases in
bulk such as is now in operation in the State
hospitals for the insane, for which institutions
the State Commission in Lunacy exercises
supervision.
Local boards of managers retain the power of
visitation and inspection of the institutions
to be subject to the control of the State Board
of Charities. and may be called upon at any
time to investigate complaints and TO make re-
ports on the condition and needs or the institu-
ton.
The State Board of Charities retains its power
of visitation and inspection which Ii now exer-
cises under the constitution and the State Char
tiles law, but the power of passing on plans for
the improvements to and betterment of institu-
lions is taken from IL and reposed in the State
Improvement Commission, composed Of the
Governor, the Controller and the president of
the State Board of Charities.
While the power of passing upon estimates for
supplies is taken from the State Controller, he
the expenditure of public moneys in behalf Of
the institutions.
The bill has been drawn under the supervision
of Senators Ellsworth and Higgins. Speaker
Nixon and ssemblymen Aids and Kelsey, and
has been printed. The general plan out
lined to the State Board of Charities at the con-
ference held by the members of that board with
Governor Odell and the committee of legisla-
tors Monday last. The plan. II is said i'm
pressed the board favorably. but ii desired the
plan worked out in detail before passing upon
it officially.
Governor Odell believes that the board will
cept the measure, and that il will be passed by
the legislature. 1t is the opinion Of those who
drafted it that the creation of the State I'M
provement Commission and the institution of a
system of estimates subject to the approval of
the superintendent of institutions will result in
large saving to the State. both in the outlay for
new structures and improvements and in the
purchase of supplies.