Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-01-18
S908,34682

Among the items appearing above, for which
appropriations are asked, there are, doubt
less, many which should be carefully scrutin-
lied, not TO say disallowed. 1t is asked, In one
instance, that sum be appropriated for insuf-
ance. 1t is now many years since the State
ceased insuring it's public officers; in other
words, became its own insurer: Whether this
course is the more judicious do not propose
to discuss; but 1t Is well that the step should
be fully considered before any money is voted
for this purpose. No other property the State
has anywhere, 90 much requires insurance as
lection OF books has been gathered into small
space, and its destruction by fire would involve
q loss as great as would be entailed by many
times the same extent OF property In any other
OF the States ediices. If money Is to be ar-
propriated for insurance, the library should be
termined on, 1t ought to be genera, and appli-
cable to all the States buildings, The cheap
est insurance, however, is to be found In the
erection Of fire proof buildings. 1t Is poor
economy which sacrifices this consideration Tor
any apparent cheapness. ,.g..
Another item of expense for which appoprri-
alton Is asked suggests question as to the
proper uses to which the support-fund OF an
institution may be put. For instance, there is
q doubt in reference to the extent to which that
fund may be used in making repairs. 1t is con
ceded that for such repairs as are necessitated
by ordinary wear and tear, and even those ex-
traOrdinary ones entailed by the destruction by
fire, or otherwise, Of part of an edifice, the
fund may be used. But whether the rebuild
ing of structure entirely destroyed by fire can
be properly considered, as coming within the
designation of repairs, so as to warrant the use
of this fund for that purpose, is open to very
serious question, SO much 80, that | think it
would be well that the legislative will be ex-
pressed in regard to it. Beyond this, there can
be no doubt that the support-fund cannot be
employed, and every use OF 1t for permanent
improvement ia a diversion not only unauthor-
lied by law, but virtual violation of the COM
stitution which declares that mo money shall
be drawn from the treasury but in consequence
OF appropriations made by law" To use the
States money for an object, altogether differ
ent from that for which 1t was drawn from the
treasury is az much violation of the constitu-
tional provision as If 1t were 90 drawn without
any appropriation at all. think It well for
the general assembly to make inquiry as to the
extent this diversion Of public funds is prac-
ticed, and at the same time to ascertain wheth-
er the amount Of support fund now allowed the
various institutions ls needed OF sufficient In
all cases. The present rates OF allowance were
mostly made during the period Of high prices
Immediately following the war, and II enough
then, theyNmust, II, some cases at least, be too
much now. It might be wen TO adopt both
minimum and maximum rates, the former only
to be transcended upon the approval of the
executive council, upon proper showing OF IT.
necessity. r9 "i3 "a lim79f 81 9h" 4tfnD11ri
I have, before stated that after the payment
OF outstanding warrants there win be nothing
left for new public buildings, or for improve
ments in existing ones, without an. increase in
the rate Of tax levy; and as such increase can
not be productive until 1879, there viii be nc
funds whatever to pay for such improvements
the present year. This is especially to be re-
GREETED for several reasons-frst, the absolute
necessity there exists for such improvements
For instance, the building for the deaf and
dumb must be regretted. The needs OF this
class of unfOrtunates make this imperative
The insane hospitals should be enlarged and
the new capitol hastened to completion. Sec.
ond the comparative cheapness of labor and
materials at the present time. This deem al
important consideration. To my mind, the
time when, as now, private enterprise is com
paratively stagnant, is the States opportunity
] Tor making needed improvements. It can then
get for its outlay the maximum of material and