, 1874-04-05
WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY.

WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY.
In the speech Of Mr.. Starne, published IN this
paper yesterday, the statement is made that IN
the provision for State charities in Illinois, there
is at least one salaricd officer or cnploye for
every four patients, and that the constructions
account for buildings for the accommodation OF
the unfortunate shows that it has cost Sl,0o0 to
provide hopse-room for each Of the blind, mute,
| aud insane accommodated By the State. This,
AZ Ba understand it, Is tho cost Of the buildings
| alone. Taking tho average Of the homes Of the
| people throughout the State, $1,000 will
more than cover the cost Of the family
! residence. Tho cost Of maintenance for each
of the State's wards is not given, but,
in the matter OF building. there can be no COM
plant Of want OF hberality. The tendency in
all such matters is ia e1travagance. It seems
to be accepted as settled thing that, whom the
Government proposes to erect building for
particular purpose such building should cost
twice Us much as If it were put up for Like pur-
pose by private capital. Thus, private persons
can put up hospital capable Of accommodating
q given number Of patients for one-half what
the State OF city can 1aye the same work done
for; and nine times out Of ten the building
erected for the public is greatly inferior in
every sense. The fact is that tho political
morality OF the day comedies, to great extont,
the lawfulne5s Of cheatiug the Government
whenever en- occasion offers. The practice has
been general that, whenever q State has to e1-
pend money to purchase sites and erect public
buildings, the business becomes the patronage
Of the political party IN power. Hence none but
true aud tried Republicans (or Democrats) can
be trusted with the selection of the site, the let
ting of contracts, and the handling OF the money
to build school-bouse, 9 hospital, or an asylum
for idiots Tie expenditure OF money for the
public is part Of the plumber which is divided
among politicians, and hence it costs the State
20 per cent to collect its taxes, and at least 50
per cent more to purchase or erect public build
ing than the same would cost private citizen.
Another item in the expenditure for public char
ity is the vast number OF salaried persons to
administer the charity. In an article published
in this paper some time ago1xiying the items Of
cost in running frst~class hotel, we referred to
the e1travagance of modern hotel-lfe, which de-
manded one servant to every four guests in the
house. It seems that the State institutions for
the ipaane deaf and dumb, blind, and idiotic,
have reached tho same point, and that it requires
at least one person under salary for every four
After the liberal allowance OF 81, 900
for houso-1oom for each patient, the provision
for the guardianship, and care, and food Of the
seems to be no less liberal. We
had some years ago State Penitentia1y SO man.
aged that it cost 81 900 day over and above it's
earnings to care and keep an average OF 1000
prisoners is to say, each prisoner ateup all
be earned each day, and one dollars worth be- |
side. For long time this monstrous abuse was
defended it WAS portion OF the party patron |
age, and it was boldly declared that any attempt
10 change the syBtom would be failure, besides |
injurng the patty. Finally, there was change, |
and now the institution pays its own expenses
out of it's own earnings While We do not object |
to any proper expenditure for necessary build |
ngs for hospitals and aHylums for tho insane
poor, the blind, and the helpless, the |
tendency has been to extravaganza, and these |
buildings have cost perhaps twice rs much IS |!
1as necessary for the end accomplished. Waste
|ulness is not Iberality. and money thrown away |
1seless1y is not charity. How far like e1trava-
,euce is practiced in the number OF the persons |
employed to administer this charity, we do not |
nov, but it will be strange It there be no abuse
n this particular. One difficulty that has marked
,ur legislation on this public-bui1dins business
s that the erection OF public building in one
oart Of the State is followed by demand for
N appropriation for like building in some
,ther part OF the State. Because Nor
nal School was erected at Bloomington,
Normal School had to DO located in Southern uli-
lois. So the Insane Hospital at Elgin has been
balanced by another at Anna SO, to balance the
State Industrial College at Champaign, there WAS
II institution started ut Irvington, and, afterthe
:emova1 Of the State Prison from Alton to Joliet,
1t Alton. II demonstration of these buildings,
heir management and control, could be aopa-
:ated from politics, and no longer made party
OF, there would be vast saving in the
original cost u well as in the annual ex-
2enditure for maintenance, REPAIRS and extern
lions.
THE DANGERS Or a CRU5ADE.
Those who have doubted that there are two
ddes to every question may be convinced by
urning to the two communications On the Tenn