Year: 1876

last two years. and that inmate women, with much
probability aege similar intercourse IN other instances
where children were not born We proved tnat tho
sexes were allowed TO mngle at Tewksbury under so
htte restriction that these offences might easily occur,
as, In fact they have occurred We offered testimony
70 show that one Ordway, assistant farmer at the
Amshouse, eloped last autumn with female
inmate and len the State, deserving MS vile
ana children, who for some months were
ignorant OF his whereabouts We proved that
one Thompson another employs at the Almshouse,
eloped from the town OF Tewksbury with girl much
younger than himself and was arrested for abduction
on complaint Of the girls mother, Notwithstanding
which scandal he was retained in his place by The
superintendent We proved that the superintendent
and Assistant superintendent were variance about
matter OF discipline the Assistant Super intendent. who
Is son OF he superintendent undertaking 10 prevent
one OF tho officers from voting the democratic ticket at
the State election Of 1874 and actually preventing him.
while the superintendent told the officer he might
vote Tor whom he pleased. We have proved in fact
just such state OF discipline might naturally be
expected where an old man. fond of his family and
surrounded by his children and grandchildren like an
oriental patriarch, has had the weakness to appoint
his whole family to important Offices in public nsti-
tuition.


CAN THIS THING BE sroPpEpS


And this brings me TO the point concerning which
ask careful consideration and legislation will
evil IL is scandalous, gentlemen that public officer,
however well meaning should be allowed TO sur
round himself in great public establishment
with many of his own offspring and kindred
drawing salaries living at the expense Of the taxpayers
and forming clan ring that manage matters they
please II is well enough ana often unavoidable to
allow superintendent or other public officer to en-
ploy single relative generally would be his wife, in
position Of trust But beyond that the law should
forbid him TO CO. II those who appoint or confirm ap
pontments have not discretion enough prevent this
nepotism. We at Washington what mischief IL has
done on great scale; We soc at Tewksoury how mis-
cheyous Il can be in apetty way. II your invesiga
ton leads TO nothing than the prevention OF such
nepotism in Massachusetts, you will not have wasted
the timc spent on the inquiry.


OH sHAMa, MASSACHUSETTS,


But also call your attention, gentlemen OF the
mittee the serious and distressing tact that
~ est sh-
ment Tor the poor and unfortunate, there have been
detected and corrected, within two years and half
some OF the worst abuses that exist such esab
lishments For the discovery, condemnation and
preston Of these evils the sworn testimony before
you has shown, the Board oil State Charities alone Is
responsible. For the existence the abuses the Su
perlntendent and his all-pcrvadng family, the in
spectors who neglected nothing and the governors
and Legislatures that allowed them 10 remain
in office are solely and jointly responsible.
The worst Of these abuses-the illegal
Imprisonment OF insane women--was reported
by ne 10 the Chairman or your committee about
year ago, after the Board Of Charities had removed it.
but before the avowed author Of the abuse had been
allowed TO leave the Almshouse uncensured by its
authorities. Other evils have been reported from time
TO time, by members OF the Board OF Charities to the
Executive OF the Commonwealth to the Board Of In
spectors and to other responsible officials. DR. Howe
complained TO Governor Washburn OF the wrelched
sanitary structure and condition of the hospitals DR..
Allen discovered the Imprisonment of the insane
and caused II to be gwen up l myself put stop TO
the shocking mortality among the insane women last
summer by insisting that the faithful old physi-
cian, in1rm from age, but skilful IN his pro-
fession, should supersede the daughter of the
Superintendent in the charge of these poor invalds
The General Agent, Mr. wrightington, probed the
iniquity OF the night watchman Reid, and sent him
fleeing from Massachusetts, II the discipline OF the
Almshouse better than at any time since 1872
believe 1t is the Improvement is due absolutely TO
the members Of the Board Of Charities, individually
and collectively, who have lost opportunity since
the revelations of 1871 to purge and improve
the State Almshouse. They nave done their duty,
gentlemen. Il remains for you and for others In oh
clal station to do theirs. And that duty will not
be fully discharged until the administration at Tewks-
bury has been radically changed