The advocate., 1895-01-16

the duties Of the different officers, so that eacn
could be held strictly accountable for the dlS-
charge Of his duty
The act referred TO provides for the compen-
satlon Of clerks at stated sum per folio and
no authority exists for employing assistant en-
crossing or enrolling clerks by the day. The
disregard OF this law by the legislature has
cost the state thousands Of dollars biennially
and has caused an unseemly scramble for
places, in many instances by persons utterly
unqualified to discharge the duties Of enrolling
clerks
State Boards.
Several propositions have been discussed
looking to a change of the powers and duties OF
the state boards, but doubt the wisdom OF
making any radical changes in this respect.
Some amendments might be made which would
increase the efficiency of these boards, and it
would be we'll for you to consider the proprtety
Of abolishing entirely some Of them 1t would
seem that either the board Of public works or
the ofnce Of state architect might be
dispensed with. The office of silk COM
missioner can be abolished without
any detriment to the state. The state
board of health might be made less expensive
without materially diminishing its efficiency.
The Office of state veterinarian might be aool-
ished and the office placed under the control
Of the professor of veterinary at the sgricul-
is your duty to cut off all expenditures not
absolutely necessary There has never seemed
to me any reason why members of the state
boards should be paid mileage. 1t would be far
more reasonable and sensible to pay them
their necessary travelling expenses actually
paid, and their per diem for all time necessar-
lily employed, and know no good reason why
the per diem should be increased. The treas
urer OF the board Of charities handles large
amount of money, and gives only small bond
as member of the board The business-l1ke
way to do would be to abolish all these minor
treasurers and require all moneys to be paid
by the state treasurer. But if this not done,
he ought to be required to give bond Sutfi-
GENTLY large to cover any moneys belonging TO
the state that may come into his hands
There seems to be no system Of checks or
counterchecks on any of these boards. The
board of charities eXpend about S3)O,OOO per
year. They make their own contracts, audit
| their own accounts and manage matters after
! their own will There is no provision even for
| the investigation of their accounts, except
| when the legislature is seized with spaSm OF
| virtue, and examinations Of this kind are Ou5
| Of little value The most critical examinations
ought to be made of the accounts Of every
state institution, at least once a quar-
ter, by an expert accountant, who should
visit the institutions at irregular sea-
sons without the slightest notice to the
officers He could render valuable assist
ance by suggesting improved modes OF
keeping accounts. The governor, as the chief
executive of the state, is virtually responsible
for the proper management Of the state insti-
tutions. To enable him to be brought IN closer
touch with their management, would Suggest
that he be authorized to employ an additional
clerk, who should be an expert accountant,
| dY,tr hn tO
terlY, or oftener If directed by the governor,
the accounts of all the state institutions and
state boards. He should also be subject to the
orders Of the governor at all times, with au-
thority to examine the accounts OF county
treasurers far enough at least to protect the
state in the matter of state taxes and school
land funds The simple fact that there is
difference of almost 100000 in these accounts
emphasizes the Importance Of this last sug-
gestion.
deem it OF far more Importance that these
suggestions should be carried out than that
radical changes should be made in the num-
bers, powers and duties of the boards. Fre-
uuent changes in the laws make many and un-
necessary complications, and it is better TO
endure the ills we have than to fly to those we
know not Of"
State House.
The state house ought not to be allowed 10
remain long in it's present unfinished condi-
tion. The wise course, in my judgment would
be to make q special levy of a small amount to
carry on the work so that it can be gradually
and substantially advanced by completion.
levy of 4 OF o mill for the years 1895 and 1896
would raise at least 100000, and this would
probably be as much as could be judiciously
expended during that time. Provision should
, be made so that the work might be commenced
| at once small appropriation should also be
made for improving the state house grounds
A competent landscape gardener should be en-
ployed by the executive council to prepare
plans, and then all work should be along the
lines Of those plans
State University.
M ,,,rorior gnstieutions oP learning ara re.