Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-08-26
FINANCIAL SYSTEM.

The income OF the asylum 10 derived from
three sources. LIST. monthly drafts by the
annuity appropriated for its support by the
Legislature; End the board of ay-patients;
3rd, the sale OF sundries by the Steward. ALI
It's money in whatever amount or from what.
ever source they are received, are required to
be deposited In the banks of Stanton, to the
q edit OF the asylum SAD 1snks 0elng req s
double the amount on deposit at any given
time.
out for any purpose whatever. except upon
checks signed by three members OF the Board
OF Directors. At the beginning Of each month
an Executive Committee consisting of ma
jority of the Board, receive from the Steward
an estimate OF the amount that will be needed
for the expenditures OF the month. for which
amount he receives q check signed as stated
above. He is debited by the clerk with the
amount OF this chock, and with nothing else
whatever. No other portion of the asylum ms
funds are subject to his use or control. When
ever he makes sale of asylum property, he is
required to report it to the clerk. who enters
upon the day.book the name OF the purchaser,
the article and amount sold, and the price
paid, and who then deposits the proceeds In
bank to the credit Of the asylum.
He Is required to take, number, and file
voucher for very expenditure made by him,
the account v each expenditure being fully
ebese to an audtrg
Tee of the Board of Directors, who examine
them in detail. and verify the balance ex.
hibited In his statement of account
The above sy stem has been used here for
many years past. 1t is recommended not only
by its simplicity, but by It's keeping the funds
ri the asylum under the immediate control of
the Directors. and its enabling them to main
tain a constant personal supervision of the
manner in which they are disbursed.
The Board of Directors Is also required by
law to render to the Auditor of Public Ac-
counts quarterly statement In detail OF all
the receipts and expenditures OF the asylum
The records of the asylum show clearly now
malicious and economical an expenditure OF
| the public funds is secured by this system.
| The cost per capita of the maintenance of the
| inmates during the fiscal year ending October
Ist last was s151.7. With four exceptions
only, this was the lowest per capita cost re-
ported by any of the forty prominent Ameri-
can asylums with which comparison was
made, and in these four 1t was but trif1e
| lower. To appreciate the full significance OF
| this statement, it must be remembered that II
| means that the inmates have been furnished
with a most comfortable home, constantly
kept in the best repair, with fare abundant
| in Quantity and excellent In quality and man.
ner of preparation, with clothing, fuel, lights
| washing, medical attention and servants at
tendance, with the means of amusement and
| entertained and in short with all that was
| necessary for their physical and mental we'll
| being, all for the sum OF 40 cents day. AND
| this has been the average cost for years past
| It is surely unnecessary to say anything more
| concerning the financial management OF the
asylum than to state this one fact.