The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-05
AUDITOR DUNN's IMPUTATION ON
MANAGERS OF STATE INSANE
HOSPITALS, AND PRISONS.
WHILE FOOD PRICES DROP
THE PER CAPITA COST OF HOsPT-
TAI AND PRISON MAINTENANCE
RISES.
ECONOMY IS URGED UPON THEM
In "a Circular From the Watchdog
to the Various Superintend-
ents and Stewards.

State Auditor Dunn has laid down the
law to the heads of the various cor
rectional and charitable institutions
of the state, which he thinks are ex-
travagantly managed. The following
circular sent out by his office yester-
day, indicates his feelings on the mat
ter plainly:
I'm harmony with the times, the legisla-
ture of 1895 reduced the tax levy 2-10 of a
mill for state revenue purposes
The present indications are that the total
assessment of the state will fall several
millions short of what it has been for the
past two years. This, with a reduced tax
levy, will result in still greater falling off
In the state revenue fund.
During the past three years almost every
individual and private institution has found
1t necessary to reduce expenditures, and they
have been able to do So through the reduced
cost OF nearly all necessaries OF life This,
however, does not appear from our records
to have been the case with our state insti-
buttons.
II find that the cost of food for each DAYS
board, including employees, has decreased in
nearly every case over 10 per cent and still
in the face of this fact, the total cost per
capita, for maintaining our correctional and
charitable institutions is increased in many
cases.
1.-The average cost of food in the insane
ne hospitals per day, for the year ending April
~, 1893, was IL 4-10 cents. For the year end
ing April 30, 1896, it was 10 ITO cents, a
substantial decrease, yet the total per capita
cost for the same period was increased from
$l79 to $lS9. This proves to my mind that
our state institutions are not conducted as
economically as they should be. The impress
sion seems to prevail among Them that the
amount appropriated for each institution is
meant to be spent, regardless of actual wants.
II 100000 is appropriated for an institution
and $4,000 will provide for all actual re-
quirements there is no reason why the re-
naming $25, 900 should be expended.
The law imposes upon the state auditor
the duty. to examine and adjust all claims
presented against the state. If I understand
this correctly, 1t means that the state auditor
shall endeavor to keep the expenditures
down to the actual necessary requirements.
And, while do not desire to arbitrarily ex-
ercise any power the statutes have clothed me
with, give due notice that when, in my
opinion 1t is necessary, the pruning knife will
be vigorously applied to all expense accounts.
The unfortunates intrusted to your care
should be provided with every necessity.
Apply the same principle to purchases in
tended for use Of your officers. Minnesota
has been very generous with its state insti-
buttons. Millions of dollars have been spent
in buildings; the legislature has provided
literally for their support, and the people
have maintained them without complaint.
"a new fiscal year begins today. The finan-
cial conditions demand that expenses for
support of our state institutions be reduced,
end" R. G.. Dunn State Auditor.
Mr. Dunn interprets the law as CIV
ing him the power Of refusing to audit
DlllS winch 90 not properly come W1Inln
the province of the management of the
institutions, and he has set out to re-
duce the expenditures of the institu-
lions, which have been generous even
to the point of extravaganza in some
instances Mr.. Dunn points to a re-
cent instance, when in the expense
bills of one of the state educational
institutions was included an item for
the payment of $32 for music furnish
ed at an alumni banquet. Hereafter a
close watch will be kept on the bills
from the various state institutions,
and in cases where the expenditure, In
the judgment of the auditor, is not
warranted, or is exorbitant, the bills
will not be paid. The figures as to
cost Of food, ETC., contained in the cir
cular, have been made up from the re
ports of the various institutions, and
yet in spite of the fact that there has
been decrease in the cost of both
food and clothing, the maintenance &C
counts increase.
This curious coincidence and the fac
tors which have made it, will be sub
mitted to a thorough investigation by
the auditor.