St. Paul daily globe., 1889-01-10
Reckless Extravaganza Is Eat
ing Up the Substance Of
Appropriations.
He Roasts the Management
of the Various Territorial
Institutions.
Economy Must Be Praetieed
to Save the Territory
From Bankruptcy.
Special to the Globe.

lead pencil at O'Clock this afternoon.
The regular routine was interrupted by
a proposed amendment to the rules
allowing bare majority to call up any
measure introduced at the request OF
the Farmers alliance at any time. The
amendment carried, receiving thirty
votes. Four bills were introduced at
to-day's session-No l. by Adams. allow
ing counties to issue bonds to buy seed
wheat for residents of the territory III
case of total failure of crops; No. 2, by
Elliott. at the request OF the statehood
convention. providing for cOnstitu-
tional convention for North Dakota;
Nos. and 4. by McHugh, amendment
to chapter Is of the Code, and providing
method for counties to issue bonds Tor
building purposes and floating indebt-
edness, respectively. Then the mem-
bers of the council came down 10 the
house and joint session was held, ana
the governor delivered his biennial
message. The governor takes occasion
to call attention to the reckless eXtraV-
agapce that is eating up the substance
of appropriations, and INDUCES in
- severe ''roast'' on the management OF
territorial institutions. He says the
total bonded Indebtedness. expended In
building and furnishing the public IN
stitutions of the territory, is S1,09o,S0O.
The credit of Dakota never was better,
and the report says:
/ predict that when Dakota is state her 3
per cent bonds will sell more readily than
the 4la per cent bonds did,. Nevertheless,
this is the first time in the history OF the
United States that a territorial bond sold tor
less than 5 per cent, and we have conelu-
sive proof that Dakota's credit is better than
IL eto+ drin
the East. Even st. Paul, with all her re-
sources and moneyed power, sold her 4l2 per
rent bonds about The same time at 3 per
cent less premium than our territorial bonds.
The total receipts for the year ending Nov.
30. 1888, were 81, ,sOs $3.50, and the dis
bursements for same time were $1,793,-
499.32.
AssEssv---- AND TAXATION.
The total vail OF 'operty IN The territory,
as shown by tn, ss sment roll for the year
1888. amounts S16l ,42O,9.4.3O. AS
4,aO0 miles of railroad and other property III
the territory belonging to railroads, with
valuation of over S49,0000O0, is not as
sessed and forms no part of the above valua-
tion-Tairoads being taxed upon their gross
e9rnings-and as property is usually as
Sessed at from one-half to tWo-thirds of its
actual value, 1t is moderate ana safe estl-
mate to place the actual property alue or
wealth of the territory at S32O,OO0,OO0.
APPROPRIATIONS.
The unsurpassed development of the terri
tory has necessarily led to large increase OF
government expense. am of the opinion
that the public welfare will in o instance
be promoted by an appropriation Tor any
new institutions or for improvements or ad-
ditions TO present institutions. On the as
Sembling of the last legislature some OF our
institutions were not completed others not
conf leted TO the extent necessary 10 place
them in condition for the object intended.
The asylums undoubtedly needed enlarging;
the Madison Normal school had been de-
hyf fro nnGpr 1nc0nr-
agement thatan appropriation therefor would
not meet with executive disfayor. This con.
dition of affairs does not now exist; all of
our institutions are completed, and as COM
pleted are ample for the needs of the terri
tory, or future state or states. for some years
to come. | earnestly recommend most rig
orous scrutiny in matters of appropriation.
THE YANKToN ASYLUM CASE.
The last legislature appropriated sum of
$92.5G0 for the construction OF two addl-
tonal wines I'd other improvements at the
asylum. YanKton. Charges of irregularity
having been made against majority of the
board of trustees of this institution, and an
examination having been made by the public
examiner, and report of such examination
having been filed in this office, as provided
by law, upon careful consideration OF said
report and testimony taken, deemed it my
duty to withhold my sanction TO the expendi-
ture of this appropriation under the then ex-
listing board.
After due consideration of the report of
L
suspended from further performance of the
duties of the office of trustee majority of
the members of the board and, on the I'd
day of November. after further considering
the report of the public examiner and the
evidence submitted on his examination, re-
moved, for official misconduct and neglect
of duty, the majority of the board
affected by my order of Sept. 30, the balance
of the board having rendered their resigna-
ton, and thereupou appointed and commits
stoned an entire new board, consisting OF
five members The removed members took
legal proceedings to test the power OF the
governor to m, K such removals, which pro-
ceedings were decided adversely to the old
board and the action of the govern Or sus-
tained. The new board have proceeded with
the construction of the two additional wings
provided for by the act of the legislature
above referred to, and such improvements
are rapidly approaching completion. l re-
spectfully submit the report of the public
examiner and the evidence taken. on
such examination. The trustees of the
jamestown insane asylum exceeded their
appropriation by some S29,377 for two
years ending March, 1887, which deficiency
was provided for by the last legislature. In
their report now submitted. it appears,
deficiency again exists At this time, Jan.
s, the amount is $8923.O5. The evidence
shows q laXity of management which
amounts to disregard of care in the manage
menJ of the funds appropriated for its main
tenauce.
TOO MUCH ExTRAvAGANcE.
The manner OF managing our public 1nsti-
tutions is eXtravagant Until the passage of
the public examiners act, there was no con-
Meeting link between the territorial govern
ment proper and the various boards, and
while that law has proved very beneficial in
its operation, yet there is no law which en-
ables the governor or auditor, or any other
official. to restrain extravaganza and curtail
expenses of the various boards An exam
ination will show the payment of large and
excessive salaries, and the employment of
unnecessary help III many instances, when
good management and the application of
business principles to reasonable degree
would result in the same service being rem
dered to the public at a large saving to the
territory.
trustees for our different institutions should
be abolished; and the establishment of nom
partisan board of charities and correction,
which should have charge of our
charitable and penal institutions, with
the superntendents and the chief Off
GERS OF said institutions-said board to regu-
late the number of employees and the salaries
,of the same, and TO have general control
hhereof-and board of regents, with full
Aower to regulate and control our educa-
uonal institutions, are suggestions worthy OF
your consideration. The cost to the territory
during the past two years for the different
boards has amounted in the aggregate to
S29, 9,777.32. certainly an exorbitant amount,
considering the nature of the duties per-
formed. If the above suggestion is not fol-
lowed the number of meetings of boards. for
which they receive compensation, should be
limited and the amount of compensation
therefor fixed. and no other compensation
should be allowed, save for such services as
may be performed by the order or consent Of
the governor and allowed by the auditor.
Large bills for expense of travelling and
services rendered without the territory
are frequently presented. The cost
of conveying the insane to and from
asylums, and prisoners to penitentiaries,
ties, and the expense appertaining to requisi-
tions should likewise be cbargable to the
cnunties Excessive bills are constantly be-