The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1897-01-15

Kalamazoo. It would not seem that
the additions proposed are more than is
needed. The construction, furnishing
and management of this institution, so
far, has cost great deal more per cap
ita than has been paid for the same
accommodations In the asylums in the
lower peninsula. a portion of this ex-
ira expense Is due to its location.
portion is due to the character of the
material used but much more Is owing
to the necessity for guarding against
the climatic conditions which have to
be met The state is now paying go
cents per day per capita for the keep
ing of patients in this institution. while
II Is paying but Al cents per day per
capita in the other asylums. 1t WILL
probably. always cost more to take
care of the patients in this institution
than in any of the others, but this very
marked difference should not continue
If 1t has proper management.
The governor has good words to say
concerning the schools for the deaf,
blind. the state public school, the in
dustrial schools for boys and girls. the
insane asylum, state library, etc, and
continues:
Powers of Boards.
The management of state institutions
by separate boards, the members of
which are appointed for long terms and
serve for the honor and not for the
compensation, has proven a very salts
factory method. If any one doubts this,
he has but to visit the institutions
themselves, or read their history in the
past. There have been no defalcations,
no moneys lost. and duties devolving
upon some of these boards have become
so large and intricate that 1T may be
we'll in the near future to provide more
definitely what their duties shall be.
The boards of trustees of the insane
asylums have given large amount of
time to their duties without pecuniary
compensation, and the condition Of the
asylums show the value Of their work.
This year the board for the eastern
asylum purchased some land out of
funds it had saved from its current
expenses. / do not know as any one
has questioned the. wisdom Of this pro-
ceeding; or claims that it was not for
the best interests Of the institution, but
when the accounts were presented to
the auditor general he held that there
was no legal authority for them to buy
real estate, and refused to audit the
account. The board for the northern
asylum at Traverse City did substan-
tiallythe same thing and with the same
result. 1t might be well to define in
specific terms what these boards may
and may not do; that they may make
the necessary repairs and conduct the
necessary business of their respective
institutions, but that they shall not,
without the express authority Of the
ell a,,1o he aoifx Of N,
institution. Great care should be ex-
ercised by the legislature not to curtail
the powers of a board as to work injury
to the large institution of which it has
charge. In the powers Of the other
boards there is also lack of definite
ness which it is desirable to have pre-
scribed by law.
1t would seem wise that some law be
passed to prevent boards from expend-
ing moneys, or making contracts for
buildings in excess of appropriations
made for that purpose by the Legislature.
If this practice of getting an appropria-
ton and then building to suit the taste
or inclination Of the boards is continued
there would hardly seem to be any use
of having legislative sanction at all. 1t
is unwise and unbusinesslike, and should
be prohibited in the future. All char
liable, penal and reformatory institu-
tons are prohibited now from making
contracts for buildings until after the
state board of corrections and chari-
ties have certified that in their opinion
they can be completed within the ap-
preparation. This provision does not
apply to educational institutions, but
believe some provision of this charac-
ter should be made.
In view of the vast amount which the
state has invested and is likely to in
vest in new buildings and improve
ments, the time is not far distant when
the plan adopted by the federal govern
ment, that of employing a supervising
architect, should be adopted This
matter should not be left to the option
of persons without experience in that
line, and there should be some uniform
fly adopted in relation to state build
ings and their plan and method of con-
struction. In saying this do not wish
to be understood as claiming that this
has not been reasonably well done in
the past, but the time is fast approach
ing when a change will become neces-
sary.
Conclusion.
In concluding this already long mes
sage, / desire 20 state that here are
many officials and many departments
of the state government, all important
in themselves, to which 1 should have
been pleased 10 give particular atten-
ton, but the nSmber of these subjects
to be treated, and the necessarily linn
tied space of a message, has rendered
such mention impossible. Had there
been anything which ! deemed de-
served criticism. it would have been
made freely, so that any who may feel
aggrieved by being omitted from spe-
cial mention may take it for granted
there was no special criticism to make.
The state Is constantly growing, the
demands of civilization are increasing,
and the position of governor has long
since ceased to be a sinecure, II the in
cumbent discharges the duties which
properly devolve upon him. 1t Is not
too much to say that all the departments
Of our state government, and all our
state institutions. are in as good condi-