Telegram-herald., 1891-02-15
BuRRowING FOR FACTS.
HE Legisiatiss Com naittrs Locates some
Dens4saSleS.

tisc Ice tsiatife tosh 1iltttcS tOt ates some
Dens4sDcles-
The legislative committee resumed
IL work AT the Sold. ers' Home yesteT-
day morning. Major Long Was again
pat on the stand sad questioned re-
gardng the building plans and con
tracts. lie taraed 10 al entry ia the
records showing that on September 80,
1870, there Vas deficiency IA the dor
mit0ry extension fund oi sSSos.s a
deaca ia che hospital building lund of
sol92.l5. IA the root cellar fund short
age ot Ss3.5s; one OF Slll.73 IN the Te.
ceylng vault fund, and deficiency of
sll lS0.37 IA the current expense ac-
count. The Improvement fund con
tanned credit OF S3S4.77. The build
iug fund wa oyerdrawn 10 the extent
OF s96s2.ls. The shortage in the cur
rent expense account WAS occasioned
by the failure of the June appropria-
ton Of the National Government 10 be-
come operative at the tune the balance
was struck. This appropriation amount
ed 10 sl0,5o0. and was not received in
time to be applied 10 the credit OF the
expense fund. The money was re-
ceiyed in October and applied, redue
ing the deficit 10 SSS6.4s.
The committee were not satisfied
with the balances, and directed Major
Long 10 prepare a detailed account of
the cost OF the nam building with
equipments. including prices OF extras.
material, completing work on grounds,
sewerage, architect lees and surveying.
He Was also directed 10 prepare an tx-
hibit showing the appropriations re-
celyed from the State and from the
Federal Government, since the lnstltu-
ton was. Started. Accompanying these
exhibits must be a statement showing
disbursements for the several depart
ments ot the home.
Gen. Pierce informed the committee
that the Legislature of 1856 IN passing
Appropriations divided the money into
ninteen distinct funds. Some OF these
funds were oyerdrawn and Others were
exhausted. The Legislature of 1889
pasted measure under winch these
several funds were merged or conso.i-
dated and balances entered on the
booksI He further explained the un-
avoidabie confusion resulting from the
attempt made 10 apply the different
funds TO the purposes tor which they
were created.
Major Long was recalled and directed
TO prepare statement showing the
amount OF money paid To the architect
and 10 the members and IN
what manner the bulls were pre-
seuted and credited. The Home
is not INSURED. When the buiid-
ings were completed, $500 was paid IN
premiums on policies to Burch of Big
Rapids and Watkins OF this city, bnt
the insurance was allowed 10 expire
without a reissue. The committee
adjourned at 1880, TO meet IN Lansing
Monday night.
During luli IN the proceedings, sew
eral disgruntled inmates got the ears of
the members and poured forth Their
tales OF woe IN regard 10 rations. The
burden OF Their complaint was directed
against the grub" and privileges. The
committeeman listened patiently TO
their grievances and assured them Of
their sympathy. The committee. how
ever, was not organized 20 inquire into
these matters and w.li not beed tae old
grumblers. They are well aware that
the ''oid soldier is gwen 10 the recital
of bioOd-curdhGg yarns aDG refuse 10
be thr He'd with thc narrowing details
Of the attempted killiugand slaughter
Ing of their IclloRsb by TIE esatanIcattend-
ants. Thus far tie committee has
come into possession OF facts that were
epcn 10 anybody VINO would take the
trouble 10 examine the books. The
committees lnvcstigst ng the Jackson
prison, the Kalamazoo ssylum. the
Coldwater school and other public IN
situations, report fayorably or else pro
ceed to gwen point, and failing -
locate crookedness, await further and
/ future developments, remarked gen.
ilemen last evening. ''These inquiries
are ali right enough. bat toe commit
tees are too large and too expe usIye.
/ II costs more to invest gate under the
/ present system tnsn i would 80 pay
the deficiencies. Bythe time the senate
Committee gets over the ground. 4 vii
have cost the State from 5000 10 1000.
Marx my word, sad he, earBettIy. II
don't matter If tlls session - four
weeks shorter than the shortest on rec
ord. tbc cast 70 the Stale viii he greater
tlgan for any SESSION ln the history Of
t4e state -