Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-01-18

1885,, ,6O506 acres have not been az
proved by the Interior Department
Protests have been presented to til
Secretary to suspend approvals unit
the subject can be fully considered b.
your honorable body and such provis
ion made as will secure to the Stat
every advantage to be derived unde
the operation OF the new amendmen
to the sundry civil bill. A recruisin,
of the suspended sections would seen
advisable. The work could be dom
inexpensively, as compared with tn,
the present manner of outlay, through
the cooperation of land appraisers ap
pointed under the act of March 15
1898, with the board OF State Lane
Commissioners. For thousands o
acres comprised in filings more valua
BILE tracts could be substituted, while
the large areas selected as agricultua
land in the arid belt might be rejected
for future inclusion in the grant con
ferred on the State under the Carey
reclamation act.
AS the further employment Of as
sistant attorneys general at local land
land Offices is now rendered needless
or nugatory, the repeal of the Law
which brought them into existence is
recommended.
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
The cost of maintaining the State
institutions has increased $12S,O3l.2s
during the two years ending October
81, 1894, The total cost of mainten.
ance since statehood is $l ,375, ,S69.62, q
sum 1928, ,6S3.S7 in excess of the out.
lay for all construction and improve.
ment during that period. About $685..
600 was expended the last two years
in per diem and mileage for the sew
eral boards and commissions.
This branch OF the public service is
an open field for corrective and more
comprehensive legislation. The laws
pertaining to it are diverse, diffuse
and unsymmetrical. A many headed
system of management, irregular
methods Of disbursement, extraordi-
nary independence OF control, and a
growing inclination to regard the
institutions as means ef concessions
to localities rather than auxiliaries OF
government, are among the conse-
quences. Certain boards draw war
rants for quarterly maintenance sums
for the use of which in detail they are
not accountable to the State auditing
authority. These warrants are cashed
often at premium, and while an
interest debt is thus made to pile up
against the taxpayers, the funds ob.
tained lie in banks awaiting an indefi'
mite necessity for employment. The
manner and amounts Of compensation
for the directory officers are as varied
as could have been devised. Some re.
ceive mileage; others are reimbursed
for actual expense. Per diem is dis.
similar throughout.
A sweeping reform as to this sub
ject is recommended. The manage
ment of the State institutions should
be provided for in the general act, all
commissions, directors, boards and
administrative officers to be placed
under the supervision Of an examiner
who shall act under the instructions
OF the Governor in scrutinizing con
tracts, investigating methods and
discipline, and in checking up dis
bursements. The foods and all sup
plies should be purchased under con
tract let to the lowest bidder, afteI
publication of notice in leading news
papers of the trade centers OF the
State. Mileage should be abolished
only actual expenses repaid; per diem
made uniform, and the authority to
draw quarterly allowances revoked.
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
= Our public institutions, though en-
dowed handsomely, are as yet charge
against the revenues resulting from
direct taxation, and they must 80 con.
tinue to be until another tide of i'm.
migration and the renewed prosperity
attending it shall render the granted
lands disposable. 1t was owing to nc
personal feeling or antipathy of opin'
ion that the veto power was exercised
in the cases of the Cheney and What
com Normal Schools. While it is not
to be denied that the normal training
is essential to the best educational
equipment of the State, and an ad.
mirable adjunct to the modern public
school system OF which Americans are
SO justly proud, was fully persuaded
that the people were sufficiently taxed
for the support of facilities to higher
education.
THE STATE PENITENTIARY.
Whether the State will recover in
full the amount OF the defalcation, the
discovery of which was attended by
the deplorable tragedy at the Peni-
tentiary, is not yet determined. In
all probability the monetary loss will
be inconsiderable. In recalling the
melancholy expiation of the warden,
whose reputation for probity had been
unquestioned, it should be said that
his talent as an executive officer and
his skill as disciplinarian wrought in
the institution changes for the better,
the value OF which to the State is not
to be estimated lightly.
The law respecting the sale of the
products of the Jute mill should be re.
constructed and its provisions SO
hedged with penalties that the barter
ing and manipulations OF middlemen
will be suppressed.
STATE CAPITOL BUILDING.
The financial stringency following
80 swiftly on the passage of the capi.
tol building act thwarted the purpose
to put it into effect Immediately
Funds anticipated were not available
owing to the suspension OF land in
vestments and the contraction of val
ues, in the face OF which it would have
been unwise to attempt the sale OF
the lands granted under sections 1:
and II of the enabling act. Further
delay was occasioned by interna
differences arising unexpectedly in the
commission. the settlement of which
in accordance with the dictates o
duty compelled a reluctant An,
regretable exercise OF executive
authority.
The basic work of the capitol is nov
we'll under way. On behalf OF th'
enactment of such legislation as will
be conducive to the prompt erection
of the building, no more eloquen
argument could be invoked than tn
protests OF your own pride and digni..
against the shabbiness and meannes
OF your legislative surroundings.
An erroneous idea as to the natur
of the liability to be incurred has takel
possession of the public mind. TIL
debt to be created will not be charg