, 1888-03-03
THE DISAPPROVAL.


NlAIl TN rum
authorizes the issuance of the bonds of
the territory not exceeding $50, 1000 for
completing the erection of the insane
asylum at Evanston. The last legislative
assembly appropriated $50, 900 in bonds
to erect the insane asylum building and
it was erected at a cost of S3I,1O9. IS,
which was paid, leaving a balance in the
treasury in favor of the asylum of ST.
1865 {. The premium on the bonds sold
was 81, sos, so that the amount for build.
ing purposes was 1872, sos. The board of
commissioners in their report to the gov
ernol, which was submitted to the legis-
lature, shows the erection of a building
two stories, with basement structure, con
tanning on the first and second floors forty
two patient rooms, two dining rOoms, four
attendants rooms, wo bath rooms, two
water clos Is and two clothes rooms, with
commOdious halls throughout the build.
ing. The kitchen is in the basement,
with an elevator leading thercfrom. The
partition walls as well as the exterior
walls, are constructed of stone and brick
and the ceiling are covered with CORFU,
gated iron, thus making the building fire
proof practically. See executive message,
pages 80, 80 and "a.
This, then, is the building, and will any
sane mao say it is not sufficient for the
insane OF Wyoming for many years to
Gomez Why the appropriation now of
5000 0 more of the bonds of the terri.
tory for building purposes? The report
of the commissioners further sets forth
that in order to complete and finish the
asylum and make it ready for occupancy
a further appropriation Of SIT, 500 is re-
CURED 20 be expended as follows:
For boiler and engine house.........S l,500
For steam heating apparatus. ....... 5000
For electric light plant.-.."...... 1000
For water service, sewerage and
plumbing. 4,5Oc
For fuInishing".......".~.."...... $500
For kitchen, bakery and laundry. 100
For apOthecary shop, medicines
and surgical instruments......... 500
Total. SIT, 500
How many of these articles come under
the law OF congress for erection of penal,
charitable and educational institutions"
and for which the bonds of the territory
can be issued2 The board of commls-
sioncrs say that Sl7, 500 will be sufficient
to equip the building, even to the estab-
fishing of an electric light plant costing
$1,000, but the legislature says the insti-
tuition must have $50, 900 to be expended
in erecting and completing the building.
Surely money must be plentiful and taxes
light. The same argument applies here
as to the university regarding the use of
the money derived from the sale OF bonds,
and | am amazed that the special and i'm
,,nl,,tn Ir,a,l 20 H.. ,nrt,.a..A-u i. -
see the dangers attending any attempt to
apply the money in violation of the act
of congress governing the territories.
There is no danger attending the cXpendi-
ture of the capitol building appropriation,
for that is IN taxes, and there is no dan
ger in laying the foundation OF n pcni-
Tertiary and poor asylum for they are
clearly lawful, but it is otherwise with the
university and insane asylum.
CHAPTER FIVE
locates a poor asylum building at or near
Lander and authorizes the issuance of
5000 in the bonds of the territory to
purchase n site and erect q building, the
entire cost of which is to be $25, 900.
What shall the site be in this case, ten or
1000 acres? Who can tell? The issuance
of the $1,000 is the last drop left in the
bucket and completes the 1920, 600 allowed
by law. Where is the 500, 600 coming
from to erect the poor asylum building?
There can only be one answer viz: by
direct taxation two years hence, and in
the meantime the s., 0 will be spent and
accomplish nothing during the two years;
yet Fremont county will be charged with
having a great public institution.
The passage of this act, then, is enlarg-
ing the foundation for biennial attacks
upon the treasury Of the territory, and
which all good citizens will condemn when
public opinion has had time to ripen and
mature The bill was rushed through
both houses under a suspension of the
rules, without debate or amendment be-
ing allowed; was signed by the respective
presiding officers OF both houses and
placed in the hands of the governor inside
of two hours. The bill was enrolled the
night before its passage by four different
clerks, not officers of either house. and in
a private office away from the capitol, and
is not an exact copy of the enactment as it
passed the house and council. The bill
was called up in the dusk of the evening,
when the members of both houses were
unprepared to present objections, and
when many of them had left, supposing
nothing was to be done. The whole sur
roundings of the bill are dark and mystic
rious. A great public measure appropri-
ating a large sum of public money should
not be afraid of the light of public discus
sion. | am, very respectfully,
THOMAS MOONLIGHT,
Governor.