River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-08-19
STATE INSTITUTIONS.

! Inc people OF W lScOnSlH iecelN6 lilt
plaudits of humanitarians everywhere
because of the fostering care which
they bestow upon their more unfortu-
nate fellow beings, but years of expe-
rience has demonstrated the fact that,
however fine-spuE may be the theory
Of the system which characterizes the
management of our State charitable
and refornatory institutions, in prac-
tice it is grossly defective While
some improvements in the detail Of
/ their management have from time to
! time been made. the defective system
at first adopted has been religiously
adhered to, and it is high time that
the interests of Taxpayers, as well as
Of the inmates of the several State In
stitutions, be consulted by the adop-
ton of an improved system. These
| institutions are managed by local and
/ political rings politely termed boards
4 Of trustees or managers us the case
may be, who seem to consider their
OWN interests, or the interests of the
4 place in which the institutions respee-
lively are located, as Of paramount
1 Importance, while those of the State
are made a secondary matter. As a
/ rule, those who constitute these sever
III boards Of trustees or managers, are
selected with less consideration of
their fitness to properly fiji such posi-
tions than of their prominence and in
luence politically ; and that which
prompts their selection prevents their
removal after their total unlitness has
been fully demonstrated.
The losses already sustained by the
payment to treasurers thereof of funds
appropriated for the support of these
institutions are TO our minds good and
sufficient reasons for making the State
Treasurer the sole custodian of such
funds, which action would dispense
with one worse than useless officer Of
each institution. The abolition of all
local boards of management and the
purchase Of all supplies of the lowest
responsible bidder, rs the State pro-
cures its paper, printing, stationery,
coal, etc, would reduce the cost of
maintaining these institutions thous-
ands of dollars annually; and we doubt
not would also tend to render less fire.
quent the scandals that are becoming
entirely too common, as superintend-
ents and teachers would then become
responsible to a superior power less
liable to be warped by local prejudice.
4 highly cultivated farm, with its
blooded stock, latest improved ma
chinery and spacious buildings con-
tanning All modern improvements, is
the boast of each OF the Hospitals for
the Insane, and we presume to say
that nothing is produced upon either
that could not be purchased at Il hand
some discount below what is expend-
ed in producing it upon those farms
which are backed by the State treas
ury; for, public officials who ''farm it
with State funds do no sweating" at
the plow While farming IS a COM
mendable occupation for an individu-
al we seriously question its practical
utility as engaged in by the State gov
eminent.
The Dunn County News in discuss
ing this subject suggests the creation
Of board having general control over
all these institutions, with power to
provide for improvements recon-
nended by superintendent if deemed
advisable; to purchase for all of them
the large quantities of fuel, provisions
and supplies of all kinds which are an
nullly consumed, said board to be Civ
en- such other functions as might be
proper, and in all things held respon
sble to the Governor or legislature for
tie faithful discharge of its duties.
These suggestions embrace the gener-
al scope of bill introduced during
the last session of the Legislature, up
on which no affirmative action was
taken. We trust that the legislature
of 1881 will make itself conspicuous
for one worthy act by inaugurating an
improved system for the management
Of our State Institutions.