The Forrest City times., 1893-02-24

III liiS IAIC btlGO llC MdS CdliCti upon ny
the present perintendent to visit this
part of the building-the basement
for the purpose of calling his attention
to the need of greater comforts for the
pupils, and he found one tin basin for
the boys one tin basin for the girls
and only two bath tubs for 1873 pupils"
In regard to the blind asylum the
message states that, apart from the ir-
Irregularities mentioned in Gov Eagles
message, the examination had not yet
begun.
BUCHANAN'S DEFALCATIoN.
In speaking of the lunatic asylum he
reviews the facts as to the shortage of
DR.. S. ii. Buchanan. which he thinks
may possibly reach s12. 900. After re-
viewing the method of this defalcation
the governor continues:
But the most disagreeable feature
of the affair is TIE fact that the board
failed to take bond as is required by
law, from him during his last term, and
that it is precisely during this term
that his shortage was upwards OF
So 900, for which the state has abso-
lutely no security, unless indeed the
board has, by their neglect of duty,
rendered themselves personally liable.
Then there are other Irregularities but
they are not pert inent to the purpose
of this message. The gentlemen who
constitute the board of trustees are
men whose characters for honor and
integrity no man will for a moment
doubt. The question then arises, how
81, i IL.
systematic embezzlement be SO long
continued and to such an extent, with
out detection, and how is it to be pre-
vented in future? In my Judgment
there are three reasons for this state of
things:
Il. These boards are composed of
citizens of Little Rock, who have SO
much business of their own and whose
time is so valuable that they can give
the affairs of the institution but cur
sorry attention. They accordingly rely
too implicitly upon the honor CT such
men as Buchanan.
so. Buchan an, having been both
treasurer a nd secretary, and the board
being too busy with their own affairs
to audit his accounts properly. was en-
abled to make his books put on an hon
est face.
'3. ii the same men had constituted
the board for all these institutions, a
comparison of the conduct of them all
would have led, by their contrast of
me thods, to detection of the defects,
as well as of the excellence of each.
Accordingly / would respectfully
recommend, by way of remedy, that
the boards of all these institutions be
consolidated not only on the interest of
efficiency but of economy. This would
give five trustees instead of fifteen, one
secretary instead of three, and one
purchasing agent. instead of three,
who, by purchasing at wholesale, can
buy more cheaply. A majority of this
board should be composed of citizens
residing outside of the city of Little
Rock, so that when they come to attend
the meetings of the board they will have
no other business but this to engage
their attention. and who, coming. too,
from those regions of the state where
the tax crops are produced. will be
more lSeenly alive to the interest of the
taxpayer"
OTHER MATTERS
The governor then goes on to say
that the state executive should be re-
leved of some clerical duties which
take mp his time at present. lie then
explains the status of the amendment
TO the constitution, and concludes as
follows:
1.-The state debt board was called to-
gether few days since to order the
printing OF lithographing of $500 900 of
evidence Of debt, to be exchanged by
the treasurer for bonds under the act
approved April ., 1891, and we discov-
cred very wide door for fraud
in section II of the act.
These blank evidences of debt are
all turned over to the treasurer
with no check whatever upon a dis
honest man. These certificates when
printed should be delivered to the aud
itor and by him countersigned and
turned over to the treasurer and
charged to him under the orders of
the board. As the law now stands il
would be very easy for the treasurer
to have thousands OF dollars issued and
put upon the market without Gelee
ton.