Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-08-26

upon a wrong basis. As now oper-
ated, each institution has separate
and independent organization with,
perhaps, superintendent in imme-
date charge and board of trustees
as advisory committee, composed OF
eminent citizens, who know little or
nothing and, if possible, care less
for tiresome details. Whatever the
theory may be, actual practice
makes the superintendent quite gen.
orally the highest authority, so that
there results a heaping upon the
shoulders Of one man vast amount
OF responsibility, care and actual
drudgery, which quite precludes
him from exercising that careful su-
servision and performing those pro-
fessional duties for which he has
specially been chosen and for which
his training has peculiarly fitted
him.
Take, for instance, the superin-
tendent of one Of the hospitals for
insane. Ia effect his authority is
almost that of an autocrat Mana
ger OF large farming interests. con-
trolliog extensive and complicated
details surrounding hospital and
farm, overseer Of a small army OF
employees, and yet guardian over the
health Of four or five hundred unfor
tunate, demented people, whose sad
condition ought surely to demand
and require his individual attention
and deepest sohcitude.
The difficulty of framing q new
and successful law governing these
varied interests, can not be disputed
But we think it may be done, and a
few general ideas in that direction,
may no. here be out of place.
As money is supposed to be the
root Of all evil, and as control and
handling by local tressurers and
boards, of the large sums appropri-
ated by the state, seems oftenest to
result in trouble, We would begin
the reform by abolishing all such
Offices and making the state treas
urer the custodian OF the funds of all
state institutions, he paying them
out on the warrant of secretary OF
state as other funds are now dis
bursed. Then should follow the
creation Of board having general
control over all these institutions;
with powers to provide for improve
ments suggested by superintendent
If advisable; purchasing for all OF
them the large quantities of fuel,
provisions aud supplies OF all kinds,
which are annually consumed: hav-
ing such functions as might be
proper: and being in all things re-
sponsible to the governor or iegisla- /
ture for the faithful discharge Of its
duties. This would no, only do |
away with large number OF petty
officials out, relieving superintend- /
ents of q graa. amount OF response /
biity aud labor, would thus give
them opportunity to devote them I
selves more fully 10 the perform
ance Of those duties for which they
are specially chosen.
Under some system thus roughly /.
outlined the state through the pris-
on authorities would not have lost
s10,0 by the failure Of Waupun (
bank: would not now be endeavoring
to collect OF former treasurer OF
the Madison insane hospstal short /
age in his accounts OF $4,000; (
wonll not .ast winter have been I
compelled to or der an Investigation T
iuto the affairs Of the Madison hos /
pita,: while Dr. kemaster, with
plenty of time to devote exclusively /
70 the mental and physical condition .
Of his patients a. the Oshkosh hos /,
uital, would not now be troubled "a
be is with serious charges etfectiog
his management.
lie. the next legislature establish
this reform and it will not only save
the state thousands OF dollars annual
". but viii entitle itself to immortal
itv as one OF the few such bodies Ia
our history which has existed for a
good purpose.
PsrrbIIrsE Co-n-r Cen -sntion,