The sun., 1903-11-20
ODELL MACHINE DENOUNCED.
PLAYING POLITICS WITH STATE
CHARITIES, SAI'SJ. T. ALLTNG.
Farms Out Contracts Where They viii DO
the Most Political Good. He Charges
Paper Read at the state Confer
ence OF Charities and Correction.

| Farms Out CONTRACTS Wnefo Iney VIII DO
| the Most Political Good, He Charges
| Paper Read at the state Confer
| ence OF Charities and Correction.
BUFFALO, Nov. 1o.--Joseph T. Alling OF
Rochester caused a sensation at the ses-
sion, this morning of the New York State
Conference OF Charities and Correction
by his arraignment Of Gov. Odell and the
Odell administration with reference to
| State charitable institutions. Mr.. Alling
was greeted with much applause, but owing
to the lateness Of the hour the public dis
cussion Of the paper WAS eliminated from
the programme.
AS is we'll known, said Mr.. Alling, 1the
Governor of this State has made a deter
mined effort to add the twenty-five State
hospitals and charitable institutions to
his patronage column and to increase the
power Of his political machine over the
people Of the State by playing politics
with the interests OF the sick, infirm and
delinquent classes
Mr.. Alling declared that the State machine
has things fixed so that it is able to farm
out the contracts for cha ritable institutions
where they will do the most good. He
added:
"As an illustration of the present methods
It is matter Of record that instructions
from Albany direct the purchase Of groceries
from New York houses. who promptly as
sign the orders to parties in Newburgh,
and the goods are shipped from that city.
where, as is well known, some OF the friends
of the Governor are in the grocery business.
There is no lack Of money! said MIR:
Alling, ito build barge canal or to send
the Governor and his stan and a regiment
OF men for a week g picnic to st. Louis TO
make show Of themselves. Yet in the
sacred name of economy the appropria-
tions for the care OF the insane must be
cut down.
Mr. Alling said that it was becoming
more and more difficult for the committees
the charitable institutions. because the
State machine had closed the mouths OF
the employees. One Of the first, moves
In the political game has been to close the
missal.
Mr.. Alling said that the Governor had got
control Of the State hospitals by abolishing
the local boards Of managers, The new
ED ugSn the state LHnaSy
formed for the purpose OF reducing all the
employees OF the state hospitals TO a con-
di,fon of peaceful acquiescence in the
demands Of the political boss.
Civil Service Reform Association, read
paper on Civil Service Reform in Its
Practical Workings" in which he said that
the Low administration had einned griev-
iously In this respect He said in part:
"The exemptions, from composition IN
some branches of the city service which
have been asked for and granted during the
past two years, and other relaxatlons OF
sound civil service principles, are amazing
TO one who believes in obeying the Con-
stitution and the laws. They are quite
appalling to one who looks on from the out,
SIDE, understanding the merit system and
the need Of it's resting on the fixed and firm
foundation Of impartial composition. and
who contemplates what the result will be
when those come into power in that great
city who may be less high minded and less
dsinterested than Mr., Low
Homer Folks, Commissioner Of Charities
of New York. had prepared reply to Mr.:
Wilcox's paper. Owing to the Absence Q!
Mr.. Folks his paper was read by Frederic
Almy OF this city.
j. G. Phelps Stokes read the report Of
the Committee on Preventive Social Work.
He spoke in favor Of the probationary
system Of punishment