Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-03-27

! idNS' 10 >dUule upon II burdens II had not
assumed, and to becloud and incu Der
Its title to the property. Such loosenesS
and disregard of lew on the part
/ upon them the severest cenSurp. If
nothing worse. Such dealings between
individuals would be regarded rs a gross
breach Of good faith. They eyiuce a fail
ure to appreciate the obligations of legal
DUTY, which are very poor reCommenda-
ton for those who claim the prerogative
OF dispensing the bounty of ;he state with
unlimited discretion. However worthy
the object, however Jealous in a GOOD
cause Its promoters may be there Is no
JuSuhcatlon or excuse ior departing from
the law and attempting u fraud upon the
state. Where such spirit and purpose are
apparent Is no fit repository Of the public
money with no check or guard upon its
expenditure.
The management of the home is. in the
ory. IntruSted to 4 board of seven trustees
elected annually 10y the Grand Army of the
Republic. In fact, aud from tue neceSSi-
ties Of the case, it Is left almost entirely
10 local management. And the bill here
with returned recognizes this fact and
| leaves, as the Grand Army does. the dis
! creton mainly with two or three officers
of the board. Practically the manage
ment organization, system. methods of
| purchase, accounts, as we'll as admission
/ Of inmates. selection of officers, employees
| and fixing of their salaries are left to only
ii part of the board of trustees. They are
vested, as | understand. with the power to
| manage an institution which looks to the
state largely for its buildings. equipment
! and means of cgrrent support.
| Ii needs no aTruDnDt tn Ia,,,,us+r,t.
| that such system is unwiSe, unsafe, nm
| buSlneSs-Ilke and contrary to the dictates
| OF sound policy. 1t is desirable for all in
! terrstS, especially that of an institution
( ttGG .ui> one, that lis management be
/ placed on a sound footing. 1t is better for
the actual managers that they be limited
IN their powers, compelled to keep and
show proper records, accounts and yoach-
erS tor their own protection against scan
dai and suspicion, which can hardly fail to
follow the present loose system The well
being of this asylum for the aged and des-
tItute soldier demand more careful and
conSjderate legislation.
| ylelG to none IN an active sympathy for
the veteran detenuer: and would stint in
nothing that tends to make happy and
comfortable his old age or to testify to
INN the gratitude of the state. But the
gift should oe made in wisdom and in |
care. Every precaution of legislation and !
administration should be taken that he |
only Is the beneficiary of the provision a |
grateful state makes for him The people |
are willing to give literally and they ask |
only that their generosity be not abused |
through an irresponsible stewardship. |
They wish to know, and have the the |
means of knowing, that the money they !
devote to this worthy object has been |
faithfully and judicjousy applied, under |
due sense OF legal responsibility and all !
the safeguards of ConSiderate legislation. |
1t Is not suggested that the state should |
recede from the policy of support of this |
home, which has been adopted, nor is it |
insisted that the control of the home |
should be taken from the present local |
management, the noble band of men and |
women, the Grand Army of the Republic. |
or the Womans Relief corps, under |
whose kindly auspices it has been con |
ducted; but 1t Is inevitable that for many |
years the veterans home will largely !
draw upon the state for Its means of sup |
port. Its other sources of revenue will !
fall off and its expenses increase. 1t |
should, therefore, IN my Judgment, be |
placed under such reasonable state super |
vision rs the people have a right to de- !
should not be turned off with the intima- |
tiOn that 1t Is their business only to give |
and ask no questions.
| deem this hill So faulty and the pres |
pnt course of dealing with the institution |
so Objectionable that am constrained to |
withhold from it my approval
i Is respectfully submitted that an APP !
preparation Of this magnitude for such a
purpose should contain, IN view of exist |
ing circumstances, provisions in substance |
as follows:
/. That the sums designated for pay
ing Indebtedness be used as far as need !
be, to pay off the outstanding mortgage |
which encumbers the property.
,. That ne title to all additional land |
purchased for the use of the home be taken |
In the Eame Of the state, and that the at |
toTney general be required to examine as |
to the title, and approve 1t before the pu- |
chase money is paid.
>. That, before tins appropriation be |
paid over, the city of Waupaca be author |
IZed to execute and file with the secretary |
Of state, a REIMBURSEMENT Of claim or in !
terest III the lands Of the home. hereto !
fore or t. be hereafter acquired by the !
state, thus removing an attempted cloud |
upon the title of the state.
1. That the objects for which the appro-
priatiOn is made be clearly set forth in the
bill and not left in the alternative, loosely !
to the discretion OF the managers.
}. That the state board Of supervision
be required, at stated periods. to fully ex-
anime into the accounts of the home so
far as they involve the expenditure of state
moneys, into its management. and TO an
nually report upon its conduct and COndi-
ton.
6. That before receiving any part of
the appropriations. the trustees be re-
uuiTed to execute and file a bond in form
approved by the attorney general, with
sureties to be approved by the governor,
upon due justification of their re- pOnsibil-
ity, conditioned for the faithful expendi- 1
lures of the moneys In accordance with
and for the purpose of the act and in no
o her manner and that they will fully dis
close TO the board of supervisors Of the
state all books, contracts. accounts
| vouchers or other papers, whenever re-
quired, in relation to such expenditure,
! and in all respects fai hfuIy perform their
duties az such trustees. This Is to be re-
quired in addition to the treasurer bond
as custodian.
T. That the board Of trustees be required
/ to report bI-ennIaly 70 the board OF su-
pervisiOn OF control of the state institutions
an account Of the transactions OF the
home, its receipts from all sources, and
the expenditure thereof by items. the names
and salaries of employees and officers, the
names and number Of inmates, the time Of
their occupancy, the organization in
| which they served and place from which
admitted and such other details as the
/ board of supervision may require az TO the
expenditure of state moneys, such report
TO be made according to the fiscal year of
the state.
g. That all permanent Improvements
upon said property made with money
appropriated by the site, be made upon
the approval Of the state board Of super
vision, or majority thereof; that plans
and specifications be submitted to them,
and their approval certified before the ez-
penditure can be incurred; and that the
m0ness be paid out FROM time 70 time by
warrants on the state treasurer, a. the |
expenditures are made upon their ceriI6ca- |
tion Of approval
Such provisions OF others N the same |
line will not disturb the present control, |
Dor interfere with the prerogatiyes Of the |
Grand Army. The selection Of inmates |
Is not changed, but 4 supervision, such as |
Is ,Ine the state, sill be imposed. Some |
such steps to clear up title and clouds |
10