The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-29
/. S. AYRES S co.
A PAIRING OF SALARIES
GOVERNORS SUGGESTIONS TO TRUs-
TEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS.
Conference Held with Them Yestcr-
day-Different Prices Paid for Sup
pIies-Meeting of Boards.

Upon the invitation of Governor Mount
thirty-two of the thirty-eight trustees and
members of boards of managers of the var
ious state benevolent and penal institutions
met the Governor at the executive offices
yesterday morning to talk over the question
of expense of the institutions. The discus
sion was not public and was entirely in
formal. The Governor opened the meeting
by declaring that he had called them to-
gether in order that they might have gen.
eral exchange of views that would be con-
ducive to saving money in the conduct of
the institutions. In looking over the item
lied vouchers that had been filed in the
auditors office he had been struck with the
fact that wages or salaries for the same
kind of service varied in the different insti-
tutions and that prices for the same sup
plies varied considerably. If one institution
getting a certain kind of service or
a certain line of supplies cheaper than the
others he believed it would be a benefit to
the others to know how it was obtained.
He had no desire to indulge in petty cheese
pairing or to in any wise cripple the serv-
ice in any of the institutions, but he be-
lieved it the duty of all of them to exercise
an intelligent economy and to see that none
of the peoples money was needlessly
squandered. He desired that the trustees
should have a thorough knowledge of the
details of management in each institution
and not leave the matter entirely in the
hands of the superintendent.
The Governor went into the conference
with figures at hand to illustrate his argu-
ments in favor of a reduction of the ex-
penses of the institutions. He said that It
was his opinion that if the trustees use
the proper care and practice intellgen,
economy that they could save the State
from $35 900 to $4,000 annually. He said he
had examined the pay rolls of the instttu-
tons and had examined the institutions
themselves that were located IN ana about
indianapolis and found this to be the case.
He called attention to the fact that the
office of matron in some of the hospitals
is superfluous. He pointed out that the
work of the matron could be easily done
by the housekeeper and that at the Cen
trail Hospital for the Insane the wife of
the superintendent received salary OF ST.
600 a year as matron. The matron OF the
Northern Hospital receives 5000, but at the
Southern Hospital there is no matron. TIE
wife of the superintendent of the SOLDIER
and Sailors Orphans Home receives
salary of $40 a month and the wives of
the SuperintendentS of Deaf and DUMB In
stitute and the Home for Predetermined
Youth at Fort Wayne receive salaries as
matrons. He furnished the following pay
roll from the Central Hospital of the In
sane as sample of the salaries paid to
the employees of the hospital:
superintendent, 81 900 IA year; matron, ST.,
600 a year; five physicians at 500 month
each: housekeepers, from $25 to $50
month; steward, $500 a month; storekeeper,
$75; bookkeeper $75; secretary, $50; record
clerk. $35; druggist. $40; ushers, two at $40
and three at $25; butcher $40; florist, $50;
two assistant florists, $50 and $50; fifteen
night watchmen and policemen $50 to $25
a month: baker, $45 two assistant bakers,
$50; engineer, 800: assistant engineer, $40;
fireman. $50; electrician, $50; coaChman,
S25; gardener, $40: seven cooks and walters,
from $l4 to $40; attendants and employees,
So to $50.
The employees are furnished with board
and washing outside of their salaries.
The engineer of the Deaf and Dumb In
stitute receives $50 a month. the assistant
engineer $50 and the electrician $40. The
carpenter draws a salary of $50 and an as
sstant $50 while the florist is paid 5000 a
year 1t is suggested that combinations be
effected in these departments so that some
of the offices be abolished. The bookkeeper
of the Home for Predetermined Youth
draws $50 month and a stenographer 500
At the Blind Asylum the bookkeeper draws
500 a month and it is said that the work
does not occupy him more than two or
three hours a day. The Governor sug
gested that his pay be reduced to $50. The
Governor did not make any commands or
demands of the trustees, but simply made
the recommendations to them 10 do this
work for economy's sake.
After the meeting adjourned several of
the boards met separately and agreed to
follow the suggestions as closely as possible
at the next meeting of their boards