River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-12-30

constant oversight Of the entire business Of the
duct the entire business department. He should
be paid much larger salary than that officer
has hitherto received He sh0nid be the purchas
ing agent and held 10 strict accountability under
heavy bonds; he should have marked executive
and bus mess ability, and be thoroughly experience
ed in business affairs. The superintendent should
be a physician Being relieved from business
cares he should give his study and attention 10
the treatment Of patients. II is too much to ex
pect skilled and expert medical man to be able
also to successfully conduct the manifold and com
pick business transactions Of a hospital contain
ing population Of 200 people. The medical and
business departments should be made distinct and
to IA large extent Independent from each other,
and the incumbent Of each be compelled to pay
strict attention TO his duties.
UNPAID BOARD CT TRusTEE.f,x
The Judgment that your committee reached
after careful consideration Of the subject is that
the entire government of our charitable institu-
tions should be changed; that there should be one
board of management for them all; that this
board should be re ..ired by stringent laws To
give their entire time and attention 10 these insti-
tutons and be paid n reasonable compensation
for their services, and such board take the place
Of all local boards and the state board Of charities
None but competent business men ought 10
have control of the affairs Of these institutions and
It Is too much to expect that a man whose time
will leave his own affairs to serve the state
gratutiously for any extended period Yet some
member of the board OF control ought to visit
each institution as often as once IN ten days and
stay long enough TO thoroughly acquaint himself
with its proceedings. The board of control should
absolutely direct affairs and this il cannot do by
infrequent visits. 1t cannot shape the
policy of the institution unless its pres
ence and power is felt continually, as
the inevitable tendency is for the superintendent
to find himself independent and manage according
10 his own notions, where the board seldom APP
pears. The actual cost Of such paid board
would not greatly exceed the sums now paid out
TO the several local boards and TO the state board
Of charities We have not been able to get exact
figures, but as near rs we can ascertain the cost
to the state of the present system must be over
So 600 per annum and we think three competent
men could be found to do this business Tor - 300
per year. Such n board could 90 into the large
wholesale markets of the country and pur-
chase supplies for all the state institutions in bulk
and in this one item save 10 the state each year
many times the amount paid them for salaries.
| They should have absolute authority and be held
to the strctest accountability. They could and
would prevent extravaganza, and stop the charge
that superintendent of public institutions are au-
tocrats. We confidently believe such paid board
of control would save to the state SO 900 per
year, and would do more to elevate the character
and advance the work of our institutions than any
other improvement we are able to suggest.
SEED or SOME AcTIoS.
1t appears to your committee that it is time to
seriously consider the problem Of our charities.
We appropriated last year over 1895 900, direct
ly to our charitable institutions, and consider
| ing the money received by them, otherwise
than through the Legislature, it will be safe to
say that they cost the people Of the state over
half million dollars per year for current eX-
penses. The classes to be provided for, especially
the insane are increasing in percentage far more
rapidly than our population or wealth Is ncrcas-
ing. Of this there is no possible doubt and
prudence calls upon to prepare for the future.
| If extravaganza and unbus nc like ways now
characterize the management of these inst buttons
the time will soon come v hen the burden will b.
so great that there will be a revolution. ana
we will be pushed TO the other cX-
IRENE when it VIII be impossible to
obtain the means Of necessary support This
clearly points to strict economy rs the one thing
constantly to be kept in view. Tie aocommoda-
tions and furnishings for objects Of charity should
| be heathful and comfortable, not luxurious. The
hospital should be hospital for patients and
officers, not palace for either. The administra-
! ton should be practical and economical, not
! theoretical and magnificent Honest and faith
| full work should he required of all con-
nected with these charities and the state
should honestly pay for such work.
RECOMMENDATIONS or CHANGE OF OFFICERS.
| In closing our report we are compelled to say
that we believe the best interests of the state and
| of the hospital whose affairs it has been our I'M
| pleasant duty to investigate. viii be promoted by
! an entire change in the managing officers of the
| institution.
! All of which is respectfully submitted
GEORGE E. SUTHERLAND,
| J. b. McGREW,
1 p. II. SMITH.
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