Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-05
Is MAKING A GOOD RECORD.
Iowa's State Board of Control Very
busy at Present.

busy at Present.
DES MONIES, Oct. 4.--(Special.) )-Among
the very busiest public servants in the state
are the members of the Board of Control.
When not officially engaged elsewhere all
the members are to be found at their quar-
ters In the capitol, which is veritable hive
of industry. 1t is a hercuiean task 10 set in
motion the great new system of which the
board are the administrators. When they
took up the task they were confronted by
an appalling amount of work which re-
quired the exercise of large discretion and
the application of correct business princi-
Piles. 1t was theirs to direct the operations
of our great charitable and penal institu-
tions and to give practical scrutiny to a
mass of infinite detail involved in the sue
cessful inauguration of the vast system.
But Larrabee Kline and Cownie were
equal to the important emergency. All men
of wide experience and ripe intellect, they
grasped the situation at the beginning and
have never failed in the discharge of duty.
They have accomplished more than was
expected of the able men by those most IA
miliar with the requirement of the position.
! They are board Of control in the broadest
sense of the term. Not only have they es-
tablished control over the general admin
istration of the institutions. They have
mastered every problem of detail and every
element Of service for which they are re-
sponsible to the state Is under practical
control. Their system of bookkeeping and
accounting are the admiration of all who
have given 1t attention.
Evidence accumulates as to the value of
the new system to the state. 1t has been
grossly misunderstood. Many have as
suined its chief purpose to be the reduction
of state expenditure without regard to the
proper discharge Of state duty to it's
wards. Summed up in a sentence it's real
mission is to bring the business of the
state to practical business basis Intelli-
gently administered it will conserve the
humanitarian as well as the business in
terests of the people. 1t will provide for
state purchase ON sound commercial prin-
ciples. 1t will adjust the wage scale of
the employees of the state in accordance
with standards of the business world. 1t
Will bring the institutions in closer touch
with the people and neglect no detail in
volved in the proper care of our unfortu-
mates.
Under the administration OF the first
board the new system will easily Justify its
existence. The law will need a little read
justment 1t will be necessary to take up
little slack here and relieve tension else
where, but 1t will never be repealed. The
hors tne system is used the better 1t VIII
be appreciated.
/. The board is now employing more help
than 1t did, and is likely to find 1t neces-
sary to still further extend its pay roll.
The September pay roll calls for $44l.16
which is divided among ten persons, not
including the secretary. Some of these have
worked less than month and some OF them
are temporary employees. l.. A. Wilkinson
the head bookkeeper gets 800 month
but most OF the other employees. clerks and
stenographers get but $50 month. d.
, Wheeler Smith, who was deputy state treas
urer many years ago, has again established
connection with the state treasury and has
been appointed a clerk to the board. The
work is increasing and the members OF
the board as well as their employees are
very busy. The letting of contracts fol-
immense quantities OF supplies is now occu-
pylng the boards attention.