Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1897-01-22

pA"N'"SAtIai GoHt!lSelcleS aIHouNIeN
to only $4,000 Of which sum several
hundred dollars had already been ex-
| pended, and 1t was manifest that there
| was not enough Of that appropriations
remaining to provide for any consider
able part Of the repairs absolutely in
dispensable for the maintenance Of the
| institution. 1t was, moreover clearly
matter Of economy for steps to be
| taken to preserve the yet standing walls
Which it was believed could be utilized
| IN rebuilding. The executive council.
feeling that an occasion had risen for
which adequate provisnons had ont been
made, unanimously determined to take
the responsibility of authorizing the ex-
penditure of $4,000 and afterwards Of
/ $l5,O0O more, In the work of rebuilding;
the same being thought to be impera-
lively necessary for the maintenance
of the institution and the preservation
! OF the states property. For this action
on the part Of the executive council
ask the approval Of the general assem-
bly,. special report Of the trustees Of
said institution and DR.. Powell, it's SUI
perintendent, is herewith submitted.
Fortunately, none Of the calamities
recited were attended with loss Of life or
even personal injury. This will be re-
garded as the more remarkable when it
Is taken into consideratiin the kind Of
unfortunates that are being cared for in
| the institution at Glenwoud.
| The state long since ceased paying
premiums Of insurance upon it's proper
| ty. Indeed, it never did pay out much
for such purpose. But, the need of some
I soht Of provision for meeting the contin-
gencies of fire and other elemental dis
asters becoming manifest, the general
! assembly began several years ago the
practice of making an appropriation for
| ''DrCvidential contingencies" I find
! that the amount thus appropriated.
| down to the present time, aggregates
| 1874 900, While there is total Of drafts
| on these appropriations amounting to
| $50, G7S.19, making the excess in amount
| appropriated over the expenditures &c.
621.Sl. Had the appropriations been
cumulative as the first ones were, the
unexpected balance Of each appropriate
| ton being good for succeeding terms.
| there would have been as appears
above a sum ample for making all the
repairs at Glenwood that could not wait
!! n the nesting of the general assem-
| Iy. In view Of the experience of last
. eat l submit thu. prudential consider
! h,ions require that the state should pur-
! :hasc insurance for it's property, or else
| that provision be made either for the
| establishment Of an insurance fund.- or
| for the adoption Of other adequate pro-
vision to meet extraordinary emergen-
cies.
l would also recommend considera-
ton Of the prOpriety of making all state
| edifices hereafter constructed substan-
| TALLY fire-proof. This while lessening
the risk would obviate the danger Of
horrors such as have befallen public in
stitutions. none Of them fortunately in
! our own state. " #.
A repott made to me by the auditor Of
state, which is herewith submitted,
makes an unpleasant showing Of the
finances. 1t appears that, owing to
drafts, amounting to $569,259.1S on the
special appropriations made at the reg
u!ar session of the present general as
sembly.i$there was a net floating in
dcbtedness on the second day Of the
present month of $40, $3.50, there being
$j93, $40 of warrants outstanding, with
! $196. $50. 40 Of cash in the treasury. The
| auditor estimates that the receipts for
the current year will be $2.137, 445.6S, and
that the ordinary expenditures wifi be
$1,723, 0S6.34, while there may be drawn
during the year $519 .96S.O7 or the re-
naming special appropriations made at
drawn, which, however, is not probable,
| the Indebtedness at the close of the
present year will be in the neighbor-
hod of $500,00C
In view Of this showing, / recommend
| ihai: all of last sessions special appro-
priations. any part of which. is yet I'M
drawn, be reviewed by the general as
sembly, and wherever the same can be
done without injury. the expenditure
might be made. with view to reduce
ton wherever practicable. Thus may
b. effectively inaugurated n movement
| which shall lead eventually to the cam
| collation. of all Endorsed warrants, and.
let me express the hope, to an aband-
onment Of the practice Of indorsing
warrants mot paid" a practice not in
conformity with sound business princi-
pies, even in the matter Of running into
debt.
On the 29sh day of June last, rcceiv-
ed the resignation of Hon. A. r. Me-
servey as a member Of the board of
trustees of the Agricultural college for
the Eleventh congressional district. Up
on being advised that the board had
| elected as Mr. Meserveys successor the
! Hon. Hiram G.. Wheeler Of the county
i OF Sac, I issued a commission to that
! gentleman to hold. as provided by the
statute, until the then next meeting Of
the general assembly. 1t is now in
cumbert upon you to elect trustee for
the remainder of the uneXpired term.
| 1t is unnecessary for me to remind the
| general assembly that the people Of the
| state are expecting the session to be OF
| brief duration, and I doubt not that you
| are. as their representatives, in full
| sympathy with that feeling. Permit
me to express the hope that your delib-
| erations will evertuate in code Of
laws that will give satisfaction to the
people, while it will anew commend the
legislation Of this great commonwealth
| to approval beyond our borders.
Il. M. DRAKE.