Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-01-22

with all necessary restrictions and safe
| guards, would be far less expensive, far
more efficient, and in every respect pref
cradle to the present cumbrous, awk-
ward and wasteful system.
STATE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The biennial report of the Board of
Trustees having charge of the State
Charitable institutions furnishes full de-
tailed information concerning the condi-
ton, expense of maintaining, capacity
and requirements of the Asylums and
schools for the care and education of
those unfortunate citizens who are men,
tally or physically afflicted.
Some years ago the Legislature wisely
consolidated the management of all our
charitable and reformatory institutions
under one Board. Thischange has been
attended with the best results. But the
system under which these institutions
are managed is, in many respects. inn
perfect, and the supervision of the Board
exercises over them is inadequate. The
Trustees, receiving no salaries and hold
ing only occasional meetings, cannot de-
vote such time and attention to the
supervision of the institutions in their
charge as, in my judgment, the import
| ance of this trust should require. Six
great public charities, the Insane Asy-
lums at Osawstomie and Topeka, the
Institution at Wvandotte for the E.lu-
cation of the Blind, the Institution at
Olathe for the Education of the Deaf
and Dumb, the State Reform School
| near Topeka, and the Asylum at Law
renee for Idiotic and Imbecile Youth,
are remote from each other, and even
the most occasional and superficial visi-
tation and inspection. by the members
of the Board, is difficult and exacting.
and expensive to the State.
More than two-ifths of the total appro-
priations made by the Legislature for
the support of the State government
during the current fiscal year-S352 9S4
of total of $3.50, 946-are expended for
the maintenance of these charities. Yet
the expenditure of this vast sum of
money, as well as the still more vital
question of properly supervising the
management of these institutions, is
committed entirely to the charge of
small body of citizens who hold only
occasional meetings, make few and
hasty visits of inspection, and, having
their own private concerns to engross
their time and interest, cannot fairly be
expected to do more than this
In my judgment the Executive, in
nominating the members of the Board,
should designate one of them as Secre-
tary, and the Secretary should be sal
aired officer, and should devote his en-
tire time and energy to the work which
properly comes under the supervision of
the Board. He should have an office at
the State Capitol, in which all the rec
Ords, accounts and papers of the Board
should be kept; he should be required to
frequently visit and carefully inspect all
the charitable institutions; and he should
gather and compile, for the information
of the Legislature, facts and statistics
concerning the management of the jails
and aims houses of the State, and the
local expenditures on account of the de-
pendent classes.
I believe that the change thus recon-
mended would not only result in effect
ing important and desirable reforms in
the management of the State charitable
institutions, but would be a measure Of
economy.
THE PENiTENTIARY.
The reports of the Directors, Warden,
and other officers of the State Peniten-
tiary show, in detail, the operations of
that Institution during the last two fs-
cal years. The Penitentiary not only
continues selt-sustaining, but the profits
of the coal mine have made it a source
of revenue to the State. Its surplus
earnings for the year ended June 3Oth,
1881, were $25,717.09, and the Directors
express the opinion that the institution
will, hereafter, not only continue self
sustaining, but that its earnings will be
sufficient to carry on and complete the
improvements rendered necessary by
the increasing prison population.
The output of the coal mine is steadily
increasing. For the year ended June
3Oth, 1883, it was 1913, 433 bushels, and for
the year ended June SOth, 1884, itreached
81, S57 bushels.
The Directors and Warden report that
another cell house is necessary; advise
the introduction of electric lights in the
prison; recommend number of addi-
lions and Improvements; and call atten-
ton to several defects or omissions in
the laws regulating the management of
the institution. These suggestions are
commended to your attention.
Since the biennial reports of the Off
GERS of the penitentiary were prepared,
~ AAeso oOOA uloNONCICl Lildt tllo ClliSl
Clerk of the prison, j. G. Pusey, has stolen
its funds to considerable. amount, bv
means of forged vouchers and other Grim
inal practices. Pusey disappeared, SIM
nltaneousiy with the detection of his
crimes, and has not yet been apprehend-
ed.
The Warden, Col. Jones, asks that the |
Legislature make searching and impair
tial investigation of this em5ezzlement,
and Of the management of the prison gem |
orally. This request should be complied |
with, not only that the guilt or fault of |
the crime may be fastened on the prop
er person, and the innocent NAV be
shielded from unjust suspicion, but in
order that measures may be suggested for
preventing, or Instantly detecting, at
tempts to commit frauds or crimes with
in the very walls of the States prison
THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Superintendent o.
Insurance furnishes detailed exhibit OF
the transactions of his Office, and Your
attention is directed to its statemt hts
and recommendations
An immense sum of money is ANNUALLY
paid, by the people of Kansas, as premi-
ums for insurance, and it is an impora-
tive duty of the Legislature to provide
adequate laws for the protection of those
thus insured.