Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-14
Work Done by the State Solons at
the Twenty-Seventh Session
of the Legislature.
d COMPLETE LIST OF THE ACTS PASSED
The Board of Control Bill Is PrOba-
bly, the Most Important - Joint
Resolutions for New Plan of Rep
rerentation and Biennial Elections
-Miscellaneous Measures.
Prepared for This Paper.l

of the laws and joint resolutions passed
and approved by the governor at the
Twenty-seventh general assembly of
Iowa, which began January 10 and
ended April l. A digest of the most i'm
portant measures is also given:
The Board of Control.
s. F. POI. The board of control bill, pro-
viding for the appointment by the gov
ernor of three electors, not more than two
of whom shall belong to the same political
party, to have executive and administra-
dive powers over all the state institutions
except the educational in which its pow
ers are limited. The appointments are SUBJ
feet to the confirmation of two-thirds of
the senate, after the appointments have
been referred to a separate committee of
Mve, not more than three of whom shall
belong TO the same political party, APP
pointed by the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. The
appointments made during the present ses-'
zion are for two, four and six years, re-
spectively, the term hereafter to be six
years. The salary is $1,000 year for each
member. The board has a secretary at
$1,000 an architect at $1,000, a consulting
architect at $500, and clerks and stenog-
Eaphers as may be needed, with an Of
fee in the statehouse. The board is to or
game within ten days after appointment
and qualification, and before entering upon
the duties of the office each member is re-
CURED to give bond of $4,000. The board
In made subject to examination by the
joint legislative committee on retrench-
raent and reform as to the number of its
employees
The board is given full power after July
1, 1898, to manage, control and govern, sub
feet only to the limitations of the code,
the soldiers home, state hospitals for the
insane, college for the blind, school for
the deaf, institution for feeble-minded chill
-dren, soldiers orphans home, Industrial
nome industrial SCHOOL
both departments and state penitentiaries.
On July the boards of trustees and COM
r1fssioners now charged with the govern
ment of these institutions are to cease
their legal existence. 1t is made the duty
OF the board, by ITSELF or a committee
thereof, to inspect at least once in six
months the institutions named, investigat-
fng the financial condition of manage
ment of each, having power in aid of such
Investigation to compel the attendance of
witnesses. and also having the power to
punish for contempt, a district court.
It is also provided that witnesses may not
escape teStifying on a plea of eliminating
themselves. The visits to the hospitals for
the insane must be made monthly, and
the board is vested with the same pow
ers now granted visiting committees, ex-
Cept that the discharge of employees for
cause is left with the superintendent. The
report of the board must be made to the
governor and legislature, covering each BIZ
ennial period.
The board must keep a complete system
OF books and accounts of each institution,
showing every expenditure authorized and
made thereat, the amounts of the special
appropriations made by the legislature,
and every item of expenditure thereof. A
uniform system of books and accounts is
provided for the institutions, and similar
institutions are required to keep similar
books. To inaugurate this system of books
and accounts, competent and expert help
may be employed. Within six months of
the passage of this law, the board shall de-
Sermine the kinds and qualities of supplies
and provisions to be used in the different
institutions.
biennial estimates of appropriations nee
Sessary and proper for the different institu-
lions, including buildings and other i'm
provements, must be prepared by the board
for the legislature. 1t is also to report
to the legislature suggestions respecting
legislation for the benefit of the institutions
for the defective, dependent criminal
classes of the state. The board and it's
secretary shall on request attend meet
fngs of the legislative committees, to fur
.uish desired information. The board shall
prepare all plans for Improvements, bet
'terments or buildings for the institutions
costing more than $1,000, and the work
must be done by contract. After six
months from the creation of the board,
a consultation and conference of the su-
perintendents, wardenS or other chief eX-
-ecutive officers shall be held quarterly with
the board at it's office in Des Moines.
1t is made the duty of the board to APP
point the superintendent, warden or other
chief executive officers of the institutions
under it's control. The tenure of office of
such officers is to be four years from the
date of their appointment. The officers
now in charge of the institutions who are
holding office under election or contract
for a definite term are to continue until
the expiration of such term. All other
chief executive officers shall hold office
until January l, 1899. The superintendent,
warden or other chief executive officer
of any institution may be removed for
neglect of duty. incompetency or other
proper cause.
The board is to divide the state into
proper districts, from which institutions
are to receive inmates. The board is grant,
ed the power to investigate the question
of the insanity of any person committed
TO an asylum, and may discharge him If
he is considered not insane or can be cared
for without danger to others. The board
fs to collect information as to the latest
and most successful methods of caring for
insane, delinquent and criminal classes, and
shall publish bulletins of the scientific and
clinical work being done in the hospitals
for the insane and the institution for feeble
minded
Any member Of the board or any officer
or employe of an institution is prohibited
from exerting political influence on other
officers or employees to favor any particu-
lar person or candidate or to contribute
money or other thing of value for election
purposet failure to comply with this
section ~1iall be cause for removal from
office. The superintendent, wardens, or
other chief executive officers of the insti-
buttons are to appoint all institution guards
and employees, the number to be deter
mined by the board. Such appointees shall
be subject to discharge at the pleasure of
the chief executive officer Of the institution
where they are employed.
The board is to fix all salaries of officers
and employees In the institutions, except
such as are fixed by the general assembly.
The treasurers OF the institutions are to be
abolished July l. 1898, and all funds in the
hands of the institutions are to be placed
with the state treasurer. Once month
the chief executive officer of each insti-
tuition Is TO furnish the board estimates
OF supplies needed After these estimates
have been revised and approved by the
board. one copy Is returned to the insti-
tuition and the necessary purchases au-
<horized. The system OF buying supplies
xs an elaborate one. and exacts the strict
est accountability from the stewards and