Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-07-24

found very rcprclIcnsiblc, from the
fact that there was no sanction for il
by law and custom being no iustitica-
ton for the misuse of public funds.
The committee also found by acct
dent that there was 4 large sum OF
money, aggrcgating over. S2l 900.
which had been appropriated at va
rious times since 1887 and not used,
still in the hands OF the of treasurer
of this institution. And what was
more remarkable, these various
amounts were not mentioned by the
treasurer in his bi-annual reports to
the Legislature prior TO 1886. and from
this fact, thc.committcc.. recommended
the act contained in the committees
report, which requires all funds ap-
propriatcd for benevolent purposes
and not used, to be paid back into the
state treasury.
The committee found that the In
stitution for the Blind was most *
travagantly managed and with very
little business method about it. SO
much so, that | even approached the
Governor on the subject and suggest
ed that probably the Trustees must be
to blame.
While the people of this State have
been generous in rcnlcrin. aid and
assistance to the helpless and afflicted,
and are sill wishing to protect them
from want, they are far from consent.
ing to have their public funds wanton-
~ wasted on the prGtcXt Oftaking care
of this class of our citizens. In max
ing an estimate of the amount cX
pended by the Institution for the
Blind, we find hat it is maintained at
the enormous expense Of over 800
per capita per annum for the years
1884 and 1885. The amount appropri-
atcd being $4,000 per annum, they re.
ccived in addition $1,000 from the sale
of some state property, aggregating
S2l,60 which gave them $l0,S00 for
the support OF thirty pupils Tor nine
months.
1t is impracticablc to enter upon n
minute account of the cxtrayaSances
of this institution. | shall therefore
give simply two facts which Will illus
trate its general management. In this
institution of thirty pupils, we found
eleven servants on the pay roll, whose
wages range from Ihir.y-tivc to twelve
dollars per months. with the exception
Of one, who received three, They al
so have with the same pupils nine
teachers, whose salaries range from
$3.50 to $3.50 per annum. SO it will
be seen from these statements that
more than half of lhc:appropriation is
consumed in the pay and support of
of servants and teachers.
With the management of the Deaf
and Dumb Institution, the Committee
were well pleased but recommended
at the suggestion of the Supcrintcn-
dent, DR.. Dobbyn q reduction OF one.
fourth in the appropriation.
We hope that this brict notice will
cause the people OF NoXubcc County,
at least to enquire more particularly
ticularly into the disbursement of
their public funds, both OF county ard
state.
The amount expended by the state
annually in the way of bcnevolencc is
about $l25.000 little more than one
sixth OF her revenue.
II is generally conceded that the
statute which makes tho Secretary of
The Treasury also treasurer Of these
| various benevolent institutions, with
an additional salary of $1,000 is a bad
one and should be changed. Ny re-
cent experience convinccs me beyond
question Of the necessity of this
change.
| cannot close this communication
without n word of praise to the cncr-
gy, industry and fidelity of my CO.
workers ON the committee, every one
OF whom were determined to disrc.
gard former custom and enter into a
thorough investigation ofthc manage.
ment Of the various state institutions.
TO Col. James II. Jones, of Wilkcrson,
the State is particularly indebted for
services in this matter.
JAMES J.. CLEMENS.
Report of Committee on Benevolent
Institutions.
TO the Hon. Speaker Of the House o.
Representatives:
Your Committee on Benevolent In
situations in the discharge Of their du'