Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-01-17
state Boards.


Several propositions have been discussed
looking to change OF the powers AID 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 wei for you to consider the propriety
OF abolishing entirely some of them It would
seem that either the board Of public works or
the office OF state architect might be
dispensed with The office of silk COM
missioner can be abolished without
any detr1ment to the state The state
board Of health might be made less expensive
without materially diminishing its efficiency
The ONCE OF state veterinarian might be abol-
ished and the office placed under the control
OF the professor of veterinary at the agricul-
tural college In these times of depression it
is your duty to cut on 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 good reason why
the per diem should be increased. The treas
urer of the board of charities handles q large
amount OF money. and gives only a small bond
as member OF the board. The busineSS-like
way to da 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 a bond Suff.-
clentlS 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 $4,000 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 but
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
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,
and whose duty 1t should be to examine quar-
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-
t..Ot..y 10 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 q
difference of almost 100000 in these accounts
emphasizes the Importance of this last Sug-
geStion.
Insane and Insane AsyIums.
The dictates of humanity demand that the
tenderest care should be given to our unfortu-
nate fellow-citizens who have been bereft Of
their reason. No reasonable expense should
be spared to provide for their comfort or to
furnish the best medical attendance attainable.
At present the two asylums at Topeka and
OSawatomie seem inadequate to pro-
vide suitably for all of this unfor-
tunate class. The detached building
at Osawatomie for female patients. author
lied by the last legislature, is now nearly
completed and when proper provisions shall
fitting
for occupancy, it will furnish accommodations
for about three hundred females This will re-
lieve for the time being the pressure upon the
two institutions; but additional room will
soon be required. To provide for this need,
the asylum at Topeka should be completed by
the erection OF ward building for women. and
a center administration building. When
the institution opened in 1872 with q Ca
pacity of 125 patients, temporary ac:ommoda-
tions for officers were provided in one end of
one of the ward buildings, and they have ever
since been occupied for that purpose. This
greatly lessons the comfort of the patients, and
this temporary arrangement should be ABOLISH
ed at the earliest possible moment.
The present laws for the commitment of the
insane to the asylum seem to be relics of bar
bariSm There is something absolutely repul-
sive to in the sight of sheriff taking a
young lady from her home as he would take
person accused of a crime, and bringing
her before the court, where a gaping
crowd Of curious people have gathered to see
her tried by a jury like thief. cannot
see where there could be any danger of a per-
son being unlawfully deprived of his liberty II
the probate judge were authorized to appoint
commission of two three reputable phyS1-
clans to go quietly to the home OF the uRfor-
tunate, and make the necessary examination.
And when any person is adjudged insane, it
would seem much more appropriate to employ
some friend in whom the insane person had
confidence, to take him quietly to the asylum
And in case the patient is a female, a lady at
tendant ought in every case to accompany her.
ReformatOry.
The legislature in 1885 appropriated $4,000
70 purchase site and to commence the erec-
confinement of a class of young criminals
whom it would be possible to reform and turn
to lives of usefulness It is a startling fact
that the number of criminals in the country at
large is steadily and surely increasing There |
seems to be large class of vagrant, shiftleSS !
trampS, from which the supply con- |
Stantly recruited The effect of confinement
criminals out of those who in some measure |
might be called incidental convictS Primarily, |
the object of all punishment for crime is the |
protection OF society, but it is oftentimeS a |
better and a cheaper safeguard to society to !
make a good law-abiding citizen out of the |
young man who has fallen into evil ways, than |
it would be by repeated convictions to keep |
him in the penitentiary- Other states have
adopted a system of reformatories with |
marked success, and suggest to you careful |
OF their systems and the results |
that have followed, with a view of carrying out |
the original plan for similar system in this |
state
In pursuance of the act of the legislature of |
1885, commission appointed. and site |
for reformatory was selected at Hutchinson, |
the citizens of that county donating $40 acres |
Ir,o11I No lon for hot