The record-union., 1891-01-12
BOARD OF EXAMINERS.
Renewal of the Proposition for An
other State Body.
The Retiring Members of the Old
Board Say It's Business Was
Far Too Great.

|, In the recently-published report of the
State Board of Examiners to the Legisla-
ture, the recommendation is renewed for
the appointment of a special board or
commission 10 relieve the Governor, Sec
retary of State and Attorney -General of
the duties that now devolve upon those
officials in their ex-officio capacity as ex-
aminers and auditors of claims, etc. The
report says:
The business required of this board has,
| during the past two years, been attended
TO as well as the circumstances would
allow. The record shows an increase in
accounts examined and audited of over
fifty per cent. over and above that Of the
preceding years, and we are conscious
! that much remains undone that should
| have been attended TO. The different
! boards, commissions, asyluns, prisons,
and other institutions receiving support
from the State are creatures of the State,
and are Il part of the State; yet, little by
/ little, within the past years, they have
! gradually Withdrawn themselves from
any control the Executive may have be-
/ fore exercised over them. We DO not be-
| lieve that all interest and responsibility
/ OF the Chief Executive in the manage
ment of the different State institutions
ceases upon the appointment OF the tIuS-
| that the Governor should be informed, at
times, of the condition Of every depart
ment OF State government, and that it
was the intention OF the trainers of our
| Political Code that the Board of Exani-
| ners should exercise this supervisory care
over all the diffent departments.
| This plan may have been effectual
while the State was in its infancy, but the
| large growth in her population during
! the past fifteen years, and the increase OF
interest within the State, has led to the
multiplication OF boards. commissions
and bureaus, and to the consequent in
| crease of business coming before the
Board of Examiners, so that now that
! board is able to be of but little protection
to the State or her interests, and she GER
| tainly should have some officer or ot1i-
| GERS who would attend to her business
! interests. The time of the present ex
of1icio Board Of Examiners is wholly
| consumed by the business coming before
the several departments OF the members,
who can only afford to devote few min
utes to the examination of claims, where
hours should be expended.
This department. is the most import
ant in the State government, and should
not be neglected, and we advise the crea-
ton Of a State Board of Examiners
whose sole duty it shall be to audit ali
claims against the State, and to inaugu-
| rate thorough business system through
out all the departments of State govern
ment, and compel its introduction, and
TO personally investigate all expenditures
OF the States money, for whatever pur-
pose appropriated.
''Such q Board would fill the hiatus be-
tween the Legislature which appropriates
and the institutions which spend the
money. 1t would exercise such control
| over the expenditures made by the insti-
| tutlons as to prevent extravaganza and
bring the cost Of State government down
to the minimum. 1t would be advisory
and supervisory as far as expenditures
were concerned, and would be of great
| benefit to the State and to her creditors
who, under the present system, are often
| compelled to wait months for money that
should have been paid upon demand
IF such board should be created bv
your honorable bodies, it should take the
place of the present Board OF Examiners.
1t should also be authorized to act as an
Advisory Board to all the departments of
State government; and no extraordinary
expenditure should be made unless it re-
celveS the sanction of the Board 1t
should approve all plans and contracts,
and should exercise control over the dit
terent orphan asylums, homes OF aged
lndigents, and county hospitals receiving
State aid. and should be empowered to
compel the introduction Of such a busi-
ness system as in their judgment may be
best adapted to the wants OF these insti-
t1fiODs -