Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-14

| ludu Nueil uhNaSA $3.50
! ical system would be necessary. sus-
! qest TO the Legislature the considera-
ton of the experience OF the asyiulils'
! Under the old system the sherlns COLI
veyed the patients to the asyluiiiS.
The costs were three times what they
/ are now under the present system OIL
having the patients conveyed by the
attendants to the asylums. Ihls
( system could just as we'll carried OUT
bv the penitentiary authorities as by
the asylums. Thousands Of dollars
could be saved to the State by the adop-
ton of this system
AS l formerly suggested in reference
to this question, l believe that the stem
ographers of the criminal courts have
been used to an extent never contem-
plated by the law-making powers, ana
nv prophecy as to the amount needed
for the court stenographers Will be
about the truth.
believe that there should be made
by the Legislature a law to as near
as possible place the criminal charges
upon the counties from which those
! charges emanate. | do not mean Dy
this that those counties should be dl-
rectlv charged with all their criminal
expenses. but am thoroughly convinc-
ed that if the plans above suggested
should be adopted in reference to tel-
ony and misdemeanor cases, that IL
would result in more nearly placing
upon the counties their legitimate pro-
norton of expenses. AS it is, 1t IS
clear out of proportion and counties
in the State whose criminal expenses
are very small, almost infiniteslmal IN
fact, are compelled to pay large
amount of criminal expenses or other
counties. This is borne out by the
table which shows the amount or
criminal charges for the year 1895. 1t
consicts of witnesses, jurors, Jailers,
constables. etc. and the want of pro-
portion will be readily seen.
(See appendix, Criminal Charges. }
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
The State institutions are in good
order. | have given great deal OF
personal attention to their administra-
ton and believe that they rank in etii-
cheney with any institutions Of similar
kind in the United States. Wherever
there has been any question as to the
efficiency of any officer, he has been
removed without regard to the personal
or political connection he may have.
wish to say that in no institution OF
the State has there been any charge
of fraud or any scandal. | do not be-
lieve that any of the States money has
been Incorporated. Without eX-
ception they have moved along with
credit TO the State and | believe it has
been the object Of the boards which
have been appointed to act solely for
the good of the State and the lnstitu-
lions under their charge. The only
execution to the statement | make
was in the case of the Second Hospital
for the Insane at Spencer. Charges
were made there emanat g from dis
listed people, who were animated
entirely by selfish motives, and the
| Board of its own motion ordered an
investigation. | was invited to assist
and went in person to the institution
and did all in my power to make
9 most searching investigation. After
most careful search it was found the
charges were absolutely baseless,
without decent excuse and preferred
by absolutely and utterly irresponsible
people. The charges were summarily
| dismissed and the institution was
found to be working in the most eff
cient manner. The finding in this
case was unanimous on the part Of the
Board. Republicans and Democrats
alike Joining in the making of the
report.
| wish here to state the question of
10. Int-
oughly solved within this State. The
system has been found to work even
beyond the most sanguine expectations
of its promoters | am informed that
during the time of the action of the
non-partisan boards that there has
| never been a division on party lines
within any board in the State of West
| Virginia. AS my experience with the
boards has become more intimate,
am impressed with the idea that the
/ executive management of the institu-
lions should be largely divorced from
, the curative or teaching departments.
| suggest an enactment which, in my
opinion. will be largely beneficial to the
State in reference TO the institutions.
| 1t has been the custom since the forma-
ton of the State for the treaSurers or
the various institutions to take the
| sums appropriated by the Legislature
for the institutions and place them IN
the local banks. This is done before
the institution needs the funds, and
! thus the State loses the interest upon
the deposits, which interest goes into
the hands of the local banks. This
should be absolutely changed. and the
| III hn ollnUl6 IN
take the funds from the State treas
urer until they are needed for the use
of the institutions. / would suggest
another change. 1t is absolutely i'm
possible to do away entirely with favor
itism in the purchase of supplies for
the institutions. Under the present
system the clerks, the treasurers or SUI
perintendents of the various institu-
tions have the RICH to purchase the
supplies at private sale. l would sug-
gest that the purchase of these supplies
be by sealed bids at public competi-
ton. for a period extending from six
months to a year. This short period
will prevent any loss to the State by
reason Of rise or fall of price Of the
goods. Whilst some of the boards
have adopted this plan, / believe it
should be made universal. l believe
this system would save to the State
thousands of dollars a year.
Some of the institutions have a
faulty financial system. In some cases
this has been corrected, in others I
have not been able to do so. For in
stances, the superintendent or manager
Of an institution will check upon the
Treasurer, buy what he wishes, and