The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-25

The auditors say they are aware
that they have no power further than
to look into the legality of the expendi-
lures, but as they dealt some in COM
mendations they believed it not amiss
if they should also make some criti-
cisms. They then proceed to do this
in very pointed manner, unhesitating-
ly charging the directors with unwar-
ranted expenditures and questionable
management.
SOME COMPARISONS MADE
They first take the expenditures for
salaries, services, improvements and re-
pairs during the past four years,
amounting to $166O00 and contrasting
it with the Sti9,O 900 spent during the
same period for the direct relief of the
poor, say that it appears to them the
paupers of the Scranton poor district
are getting 10-cent dinners with a 12-
cent service and they would recommend
that the directors hereafter adopt the
policy Of more dinner and less waiting
on table" In this connection they also
point out that the tax duplicate for 1896
was $76,452. The appropriation from the
state amounted to $22,666. OF the total
of 500, llS, only As per cent. found its
and care of insane.
In these hard times, the auditors go
on to say, the poor board should hesi-
tate to make expenditures for anything
except actual necessities and if the re-
duction of the poor tax is as they claim
out of the question they should see to
1t that the moneys be diverted to the
relief of the poor instead of to the put
ting uo of fancy buildings and other
improvements suggested solely by con-
venience or luXuriousness.
The erection of the chapel at this time
| is severely criticised. When completed
the auditors say it will have cost in the
| neighborhood Of $4,000 and this, they
| think, is an unwarranted expenditure
! when the stringency of the times is
! weighed in the balance with the mere
! convenience of a few infirm inmates
| l ne nall that is used at present thew
| say, is amply sufficient for all needs of
| the present or immediate future When
| there is so much suffering, this 10000
should never have been perverted thus.
| they contend.
PROPOSAL TO CHANGE ROAD.
Another measure which meets the dis
| approval of the auditors is the propQs-
| al to change the road from its present
| line to a point farther away from the
main building in order to give larger
area for a lawn and to avoid the an
| nOyance caused sometimes by people
| passing along the road. This means
grading, terracing, filling-in, extension
| of flag walks, the erection of a new
retaining wall the whole length of the
| farm and the moving of seven build
| ingS, all of which the auditors saw is
| an expense, unnecessary and at all
events, not warranted by the results
| hoped to be attained thereby, The
| road at present extends at right angles
with the main building. BY the pro-
posed change it will be diagonal. This
will, it is contended detract more from
the beauty of the surroundings than an
extended lawn will add. The question
Of annoyance is pooh -Doohed by the
| auditors.
An item for brussels carpets and an
other for pictures came in for criticism
and then the structure contained in the
opening paragraph comes in, with the
comment that these particular matters
are mentioned from among many to
show that the drift of the board is
| strongly towards extravaganza.
NEW INSANE HOSPITAL.
The auditors also serve notice that
they are adverse to the proposal to
erect a new insane hospital. They say
they do not see how the district can
he called upon to invest money for
the benefit of the state. Our own
building they contended is capacious
enough to care for our own insane and
there is no reason why we should go
to the expense of a new building or
to any portion of S uCh an expense
to care for state charges. If our in
stitution is crowded it is only because
there are forty or fifty state patients
| being cared for there. If the state
wants to impose the charge of its pa
tients upon US it should not expect that
| we VIII do it for nothing
Let the state erect a building and
we will contribute the land, the audit
ors say, and then if the state wants us
to maintain its inmates there and us
to care for them let them be paid for
| l.,- s,f1