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Governor Butler's Order To The State Board Of Charities
IntroductionThe investigation of the Tewksbury almshouse was driven partly by Massachusetts Governor Benjamin Butler’s interest in becoming the Democratic presidential nominee for 1884. In another political ploy, Butler attempted to force the State Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charity to take over the management of the Tewksbury almshouse. The board had made regular inspections of the poorhouse, but as was typical of state boards of charity, did not actually run almshouses or other institutions. Franklin Benjamin Sanborn, the Inspector of State Charities and a longtime political enemy of Butler’s, declined the new responsibilities. Sanborn was one of the most prominent reformers of the mid-nineteenth century. A friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson and a fervent abolitionist, Sanborn had helped fund John Brown’s attacks on Harper’s Ferry before the Civil War. Afterwards, he helped found several leading social reform organizations, including the American Social Science Association, National Conference of Charities, and National Prison Association. He also served as the secretary of the Massachusetts Board of State of Charities (later called the State Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charity) starting in 1863. Between 1879 and 1888, Sanborn served as the Inspector of State Charities. He typified a new, postwar generation of reformers who believed deeply in the power of investigation and, especially, statistical studies to illuminate the origins of social problems. Sanborn played an important role in Anne Sullivan’s life (and thereby Helen Keller’s as well) when he visited Tewksbury on an inspection visit in 1880. Sullivan begged Sanborn to let her go to school. Soon after, Sanborn arranged for Sullivan to be sent to the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind—her first real schooling ever. | |||||||||||||
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| 1 | THE ALMSHOUSE. | |
| 2 | GOVERNOR BUTLER'S ORDER TO THE STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES. | |
| 3 | AN INTERVIEW AND CORRESPONDENCE SHOWING HOW THE QUESTION STANDS TO-DAY. | |
| 4 | The State board of health, lunacy and charity met by special call of the Governor Monday, when the following communication was received and read by the Chairman, ex-Gov. Talbot: | |
| 5 |
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSSETTS. | |
| 6 |
To the Honorable members of the State Board of Health, Lunacy and Charity: | |
| 7 | And the said Trustees, from and after the day you comply with this order, will cease to do any act or exercise any authority or power in regard to said institution, and especially will Incur no expense on behalf of the Commonwealth, and contract no debt. | |
| 8 | I do further respectively advise the board to appoint some officer thereof at once to take charge of said almshouse, the appointment or designation of such officer to be submitted to the Governor for his approval. And as I deem this a matter of urgency, I also take leave to suggest that I would consent to the designation of Mr. Frank B. Sanborn to that duty, and for the reason that, so far as I am informed, he is the one officer who in a long series of years has shown any disposition to reform abuses therein. | |
| 9 | I would further suggest that a full and detailed inventory be taken of all the State property at the Almshouse, so as to form a basis for future proper accounting therein, and also as evidence in case it becomes desirable for the Commonwealth to take proceedings upon the bond of the Superintendent. | |
| 10 | I take leave to say further that the orders and suggestions herein made are remedial and preventative, and not punitive. The latter, if necessary, will be taken after the investigation now pending is concluded. | |
| 11 | I also take leave to call the attention of the board that it seems to be an undisputed fact that the Superintendent of the Almshouse and all the officers and employees, and the families of those who have them, are furnished with their entire living at the expense of the State, and have been for many years. | |
| 12 | For this I find no warrant of law. This statute is that the resident physician will have "a right to reside with his family at the almshouse." Again, that the Superintendent shall have a fixed compensation, and "shall receive no other compensation or perquisite for his services except to reside with his family in the building under his care." A similar statement in regard to the Warden of the State Prison and his Deputy, which provides "that no other perquisite, reward or emolument shall be received by any of them except that there shall be allowed to the Warden and Deputy Warden sufficient house room with fuel and light for themselves and families," has always been construed, as I am informed, to exclude all other expenses of living. | |
| 13 | The legislation as to the Reformatory Prison for Women is different. The officers in that are to reside therein, and have their living at the public expense. | |
| 14 | The practice of living at the expense of the State extends to other institutions, and even if it were sanctioned by law, has of necessity led to great abuses. | |
| 15 | I think it is due to the relations which exist between the Executive and your board to state courteously and frankly that it is my intention to put the responsibility for the conduct of the almshouse primarily and especially upon your board in the future, so that there may be no ground for reasonable suspicion hereafter that its affears-sic- are not properly conducted, and its inmates, either alive or dead, not humanely cared for. | |
| 16 | I have the honor to be, very respectfully, | |
| 17 | BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, Governor | |
| 18 | The board debated the Governor's communication for nearly three hours. All the members were present, except Prof. Hitchcock and Mrs. Leonard from the western part of the State. The principal point discussed was whether the Governor's authority was mandatory under the statute. The law provides that the board of health, lunacy and charity "may" under such circumstances supersede the trustees in the management of the almshouse. It was voted to seek the opinion of the Attorney General on the question whether the board has discretion in the matter. The board adjourned until to-day (Saturday) at 11 o'clock, when the Attorney General's opinion will be presented, and the secretary notified the Governor of their action. | |
| 19 | The trustees of the almshouse are Emily F. Pope, M.D., Boston; Francis H. Nourse, Winchester; Ellen S.S. Hammond, Boston; William S. Spalding, Lawrence; George P. Elliott, Billerica. | |
| 20 | Mr. F.B. Sanborn, secretary of the State board of health, lunacy and charity, also sent a personal letter to the Governor, as follows: | |
