The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-25

should Boards of Directors Be Paid for
Their Services ~ such?

Their Services - ~uchg
To the Editor OF The Times.
Sir-ln your issue OF the 18th inst. your
correspondent w" ventures the predic-
ton that IF the Legislature should adopt
the recommendation az the Committee on
Insane Asylums, and allow boards Of
directors nothing but their travelling ex-
penses while attending the affairs Of
Their respective institutions. that all the
members of these boards will resign.
This Of course would leave these institu-
lions without directors. Suppose this
should be the case. though / think IL
hardly probable what harm. pray, would
result from it? None whatever that
can see. New appointments could or
would be made and the different institu-
tons would 90 on as before.
Since the subject is before us, I would
be glad 10 know if w" can tell MS where
these boards get their authority for max
ing such charges as they have done in
late years None. as far as 1 can see.
are TO be found in the Code. and / know
Of no legislative enactment that would
enttle them 10 per diem. mileage, and
expenses. 1t would perhaps be hardly
fair 10 say IL is q matter Of self-aDprOpri-
alton out Of the allowances for mainte-
nance Of the insane, yet. unless there Is
legal authority for it somewhere. such
must De the fact.
When we look at the aggregate expen-
SEES OF this class of boards FOR all the
institutions they represent II amounts to
considerable sum, and il is interesting
TO note how il has increased year by
year. Reference 10 the annual reports
Of the two white asylums for the insane.
Eastern and Western, Tor the year 1873,
we find that only $l05.0J was expended in
this way by the Eastern Asylum, and
5000 by the Western, or s307.05 for both
institutions for expenses of boards Of
directors and visits made by superintend-
ents. How was II last year, The annual
reports show that the Eastern spent
S0Jl5l and the Western $l.l540, or s.. o.
Ns9' for both, a difference OF only s.
1922 per annum.
10 would hardly be Just 10 say that the
boards I'm ISIS die not do their duty faith
fully. and though they COST the State only
about Onc-tenth as much as the same
boards do now. did not do IL cheerfully
and wei. There are some duties every
citizen owes 20 his State. and this service
on boards Of directors or trusteeships OF
educational and elcomosynary institutions
have always been regarded as such. and
is given usually without charge. For in
stance, school trustees in Virginia serve
without pay. ] think not even an expens.
account is allowed to them ANYWHERE
ia the State. / do not believe tie boards
OF educational institutions get anything
except their expenses refunded. Boards
OF directors, trustees or boards OF con-
troll, they are rariOusiy designated i'm
different States for the oversight of in
sane asylums. as rule. get no nav. Nof
even the Central Boards for asvlums in
the states a. Massa chusetts, New York
OF Pennsylvania. get any compensation.
only actual and necessary expenses
travelling on business for these great pub
lie charities. and their expense accounts.
instead OF being paid out Of appropria-
tions for maintenance are paid ort ~
the treasury direct.
The boards in these States are cauabl.
men, and do their duty. Surely Virslf,ians
are as devoted and as patriotic as tho
men Of any other State. and would not
refuse 10 serve under such d necessity as
this.
TO a certain extent concur with w
In his reference 10 the visiting committees
from the Legislature 10 state institutions.
Such trips are expensive and no legista
tor no matter how observant he T.. can
tell anything Of the actual management
when he sees II only on dress parade
X.
Marion. Smyth county Va. Feb. T. 1905