New-York tribune., 1904-10-23
HIGGINS ON CHARITIES.
He FaUors Local Boards for State
Insane Hospitals.

Lieutenant Governor Higgins. In the current num-
Der OF Charities" has expressed his attitude tow
ard the State charitable institutions. State hos
pitals for the insane and prisons and refOrmatories
The article reads as follows:
I am in favor Of re-esta blIshing local boards OF
managers Of the State hospitals for the insane,
and of transferring from the State COMMISSION In
Lunacy to such local boards all the administrative
powers and responsibilities which they had when
The feature of the changes which were made three
years ago. which commended them to me. was the
uudoubted extav and wastefulness Of the old
system Of purchases by local boards. notice that
by creating a new board. composed of the Control
Ter and the presidents of the various other state
boards such body would in my opinion. serve
no useful purpose. Its work would be done by
some one employed by it for that purpose. would
prefer to see the financial responsibility kept where
i nsw is, in the State Lunacy Commission, which
IS l understand discharging this responsibility
i would give the local boards power to say how
clothed, how they should be cared for. and who
should feed and @ eiothe and care for them. to,,,s
be Unsalaried board as contemplated by the con-
women. who would have full powers Of inspection
and recommendation. The Prison Commission
Should sn b not Pe T in sense part of the admnr
Il has always seemed to me that the eastern part
that at Elmira and that the institution at Nap
anoch should be such an Institution Il should
tenn and should have Its own local board Of man
ayers. have the other State .reformatories.
Referring to certain aleSed undesirable results
OF legislation which received mis- support in the
Senate. Mr.. Higgins. while expressing himself un-
eQuivocally in favor of the changes above outlined.
and a readiness to consider with open
mind, insisted also that much more depends upon
who are called upon to administer tho system than
upon minor differences in the system itself In
the charitable, penal and reformatory system Of
the State said Mir. Higgins with great earnest
ness, appointments should be made with no ref
erence whatever to party affiliations and every
appointment should be such as to command the
immediate respect and to inspire the confidence OF
those who most familiar with charitable work
and the real needs of public dependents.
II shall lend my aid in securing an Increase Of
appropriations for the enlargement OF the State
institutions for idiots and the feeble minded as
secure the removal of all this unfortunate class
from the county almshouses We should take care
adequately. of all the insane. and Of all the feeble
minded who require public care. as the State has
assumed the responsibility.
las to the removal of the House Of Refuge to a
country site. with cottage buildings am In favor
of such action at the earliest possible moment.
This would be in line with the action OF the last
two legislatures in providing for similar removal
Of the State Industrial School at Rochester.
These my views" said Mr.. Higgins. IT am
desirous that they shall be widely known among
those who have at heart the welfare OF the institu
uonS and would not wish any to vote for or
against me on any misunderstanding Of my posi-
ton"