St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-23
THE l,EAKAGES.

Again the GLOBE cOmmendS the two
branches of the state legislature for
their heroic efforts to economic by
striking the sinecuTeS from the legiS-
lative pay roll: and while we have had
senate or the house to accomplish the
reform they are aiming at, we are going
to give them all the encouragement in
our power to perseyere in the direction
they have started. AT the same time,
we do not propose to let the legislature
remain pnmindful Of the fact that these
little legislative cxtravagances are only
drop in the bucket. compared with
the leakages in the public treasury in
other quarters. We have already
suggested that the management of all
the public institutions needs most
thorough overhauling and investigation.
We do not urge this because OF any
knowledge that we have of a misappro-
priation of the public funds, or of any
crookedness in the financial mal.age-
ment of these institutions. But we do
urge it because the reports of the various
boards of directors do show that exceed
ingly loose methods prevail, and the
opportunities for leakage are innumera-
bic. Just for Illustration. we refer to
the new institution for the maintenance
of dependent children at Owatonna,
where the state is at the expense of
keeping up an Institution upon the sup
position that It is to accommodate 200
children, when, as matter of fact,
there are only twenty inmates. Then
take the three institutions at Faribault,
for the support of the deaf. dumb,
blind and feehIe-minded, respect
lively. All are under one man
agement, ana yet we find the same
butcher who supplies these institutions
with meat is paid three different prices.
He gets cents a pound for supplying
one, 80 cents for another, and 10 cents
for the third. 1t isn't hard to prove that
there is q leakage there. In CHANGING
over the report We find the same vary
ing prices for groceries and other sup
plies. Without going further into de-
tails at this time, these Instances serve
to illustrate the point we are making,
that the opportunities for extravaganza
in the management of the public insti-
buttons are unlimited, and too frequently
they are improved. Considering the
leakages in this quarter, it is no
wonder that the taxpayers of the
state have been startled by the demand
made upon this legislature for the ap-
preparation of sums aggregating nearly
a million of dollars for the support of
statesinstitutions. In view of the OPP
portunities for leakage, the surprise is
that the demand hasn't been for two
millions. Ii will be that. and more, too,
in a short time. unless the leak holes are
stopped.
1t must occur to every intelligent
legislator that fearfully loose system
prevails III the management of these
public institutions. The taxpayers are
wofully impressed with it, and unless
there is an immediate reform accom-
plished the dominant party in this state
will have TO surrender its lease OF power
when the next election comes around.
In speaking Of this matter now the
GLGBE is not influenced by party con-
siderations. We are speaking in the
interest OF the burthened taxpayers,
and in their behalf we make this appeal
to this legislature to do more for them
than its predecessors have done.