The Spectator., 1914-12-18
FOUR MEMBERS OF BOARD RESPOND
Messrs Love- Dunaway Shane and Parsons Make Counter Charges Against Dr. J. L. Greene and
 Deny His Charges.

| LAtNiC U DAs AL. Greene resigned as superintendent of the Arkansas Hospital for Nervous Diseases. On November 27 he made public a statement in which he made numerous charges against the n;em- bers of the board. Later two of bis friends resigned from the board, the governor removed four others, and then appointed six new members. who, with Gen. Green of Pine Bluff. one of his appointees, constitute the board. December IA, Messrs. Love, Dunaway. Shane and Parsons, the four members whom the governor sought to remove, made public their reply to the charges of Dr. Greene.
 In explaining the delay in their re- ply these members said:
 Tt would hardly be expected that Democratic officials, under Demo cratic administration, would feel call ed upon to respond uninvited to the attacks of Democratic newspaper. when the attack was based on the reckless and unsupported statements of former employe, who confessedly had quit the service in a bad humor and was bearing i'll feeling and preiu- dice against the board, especially when he was Republican and brought with him from his former home the reputation of Republican politician. As to making an explana- ton to the governor of the state. We would have been unworthy to occupy such a position of honor and respons,- bility had we been such inefficients as to not know that reports to that de- partment, as well as to tho legisla- ture, are customarily and properly re- 1 Quired to be made in official and doc umentary form and not to partake of the character of newspaper controver- sies. We hardly expected the gov ernor to require us to do so or iE fact to take notice at all of wild and reck- less charges of conduct that in fact and in truth did not constitute official misconduct, if true. and the details of which, so far as true, were more or less familiar to the governor as we'll as other state departments"
 Charges All Denied.
 The charges made by Dr. Greene are then enumerated and denied With reference to the attitude of Secretary Hart the reply says:
 "The charge that the board was being gradually brought into opposi- tion to him, and presumably so be- cause of the influence of the secretary. Hart, who forsooth had become un- friendly because of his failure to re- spond to a proposition of the secre tary which was never made, is too silly to seriously consider. It argues nothing save that Dr. Greene has a most wonderful and flexible imagina tion. That a member told him that another member said they could force him out by not purchasing the SUD- plies he wanted is not fact. No member made any such suggestion, and so far as we know, no member told him any such thing. Some of the luxuries that Dr. Greene placed on the TUT HIS OWu tdDle, anu eN- pensive and difficult to get. were dis. allowed because in our judgment it was the proper course to pursue in a sane and economical administration. Such action had no further signf- canoe. As a matter of fact, the re Quisition for the table of the superin- tedent was far superior in variety and quality to what was asked for the em- ployes and patients. and while we did not always allow his requests in full, his allowance showed a marked con- trast in quality. variety and quantity from the other departments and pa. ients"
 New Power Plant.
 The board replies at length to the charge of Dr. Greene. That the chief cause of contention has been the erec- tion of the new power plant for which the last legislature appropriated $75,- 000." They show that they had sought to save money to the institution, and conserve its best interests. The re- ply says:
 The engineer contended that to make the change suggested by Dr. Greene would weaken the building. Dr. Dunaway and MT. Hart agreed with the view of the engineer. Dr. Greene then became very angry and In fit of anger told the engineer, Mir. Smith, that he would appeal the mat. ter to the board and would smoke him out at the next board meeting. He then communicated with the other members, who were not in town. Dr. Greene wanted the change made mere ly for what he contended would be tho improved appearance of the build. ing and grounds. At the board meet. ing the matter was heard on its mer. its. The engineer expressed no in. terest in the matter. but advised the board that it would result in poor