Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-08-12


bers of the board of control of state
institutions, says that he has been run
ming down the rumors of disaffection
among officers and employees of the
Iowa institutions of charity and cor
Iection, and he finds that there is
very little complaint, most or all Of
that coming from officials who have in
the past, in his estimation, been, over
paid, which belief is confirmed by the
fact that while they have been re-
duced they have almost invariably re-
NAMED in the service of the state at
the lower compensation. He said with
some humor that while the state board
had adopted long list of rules and
regulations for the government of the
institutions, it had at no time contem-
plated or adopted rule preventing
dissatisfied officers or employees from
resigning, and he gave it as his opinion
that the board would not feel hurt if
those who were dissatisfied would take
that method of lettering themselves.
He said the board was aiming to look
principally after the inmates, as they
were compelled to remain in the insti-
buttons whether they wished to do so
or not, while the officers and employees
were free to leave at any time when
they could do better.
Unjustly Criticised.
Mr.. Cownie thought the board had
frequently been unjustly criticised be-
cause of it's having made reductions in
salaries of officers, where, in fact, no
other course seemed open to it. The
legislature having greatly reduced the
appropriation for such institutions,
and the support fund already having
been cut down to the limit, he said
the board could see no other means
of bringing the expenses down to the
figure provided for by the legislature
than to cut some of the salaries; but
he said practically all the cuts had
been made on the higher salaries,
ranging from 81 600 up, those receiving
but $50 to $50 a month having been left
lnmolested or in some instances
raised
Caring for the Inmates.
In one of the institutions near Des
Moines, the head of which is reported
to have been quite outspoken in his de-
nunciation of the board, Mr. Cownie
cited the fact that the legislature had
reduced the support fund one dollar
month per capita, or $16O per month,
$3.50 annually, at the same time rails
+, ing the superintendent salary from
5000 to $1,000 year. AT the time of
recent visit made by Mr.. Cownie the
inmates were being fed for 81 cents
n nj T,,, Q l. g. g.. L I
considered it necessary to reduce 9TH
er expenses in order to better pro-
vision the inmates, and $500 year was
accordingly cut from the superintend-
ent's wife's salary of $500 and over q
year as matron, leaving the two sal
aries just where they were. With this
and few other reductions that have
been made it has been found possible
to greatly improve the table fare.
Employees Well Paid.
In some Of the state institutions the
legislature made reductions ranging
from $4,000 to $4,000, so it has been
necessary for the board to make great
| er inroads on salaries in those institu-
lions In order that the inmates might
still be decently fed and otherwise pro-
vided for. Judge Kline, another meme
Der of the board, who has just returned
from inspecting several institutions,
says that there is very little dissatis-
faction with the arrangement, SO far
as he can find, and he agrees with Mr.,
Cownie in the view thatthe employees
Of the state in those institutions are
now better paid, considering the fact
that they have their board paid by the
state, than they would be in ordinary
commercial pursuits.
Agricultural Society Report.
The Forthcoming report of the State
Agricultural society is ready for in
deXing and binding. 1t will be one Of
the best in recent years, and in addi-,
ton to the routine proceedings of the
state society and matters connected
herewith it contains a large number
of excellent pages read before farm
ers' Institutes in Iowa during the past
winter Besides these attractions the
volume will be embellished with num-
Der of half tone illustrations of Iowa
farming, which will add much interest
to Its contents, as well as make them
more attractive to the average reader.
On account of the fact that there will
be no state fair in Iowa this fall Sec
rotary Fowler expects to be able to
use very large number of institute
papers next year, and thinks that re-
port will be one of unusual value.
Good Revenue Producer.
The collateral inheritance tax law
as amended appears to be going to pro-
duce considerable revenue for the
state. County Attorney Howe says
that in Polk county the revenue from
this source will be between $10,OOOan
$4,000 this year, and that it may in
crease as other estates are brought un-
der the operation of the law. The trus-
tees or administrators of estates are
made personally responsible under the
new law for the payment of the tax, so
there seems to be little doubt that it
will be promptly paid in the future
and that there will be none of the
trouble about collecting it that has
been experienced in the past.
p. w. BICKNELL.
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