Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-01-05

date, and has a balance In it's favor OF
$685." Mr.. Editor, it was just sach a
statement in the asylum report that sur
prised every member OF the county
board. In 1895 anG SO the trustees
had exceeded the asylum appropriation
by $1,000 each year and what improve
ments needed at thu asylum and the
pay CT the trustees have always been
paid by direct taxation.
Now, Mr.. Editor, have not written
this article fer the purpose of kicking
or finding fault with the management
of the asylum, although there are people
who think the institution could be run
more economically and the patients re-
ceive Just as good treatment. What
the county board is "kicking" against is
the misleading statement in the asylum
report that We were out of debt and had
money to spare, or as stated on page 10
of superintendent report. 1.-The entire
property is now owned by the county
without a cent of cost TO its citizens"
The common people of Vernon county
don't understand the round about way
of figuring. What they understand
| by being out of debt is when notes,
bonds and mortgages are paid regard
less of what They may have made in
their business. / have tried to explain
the financial conditions of our county
asylum as it appears to myself and most
members of the county board ! believe
| it would be to the best interest of our
asylum to have it's financial condition
explained in way that every person
who reads the report can understand
the true situation. / have been asked
by number of persons why We appro-
priated money for the asylum when the
report showed us out of debt and sur
plus ahead.
Now word pc sonal. The Republican
editor asks why did not put in reso-
luton to adjourn the county board
Tuesday evening after the work was
done instead Of waiting till Wednesday
morning" L never considered myself
watch dog of the interests of the
people of the county or it's institutions,
although watch dog may be needed.
In regard to adjournment: The
board met Wednesday morning at 1880
a. M, and was in session and transacted
considerable business before 8 o'clock,
when it adjourned. 1t has been custom
airy in this county for some fifteen years
to count the day of adjournment in, to
Offset the day prior to the meeting of the
board for which the members receive no
1 no Inv nf
travel to the county seat. The day OF
adjournment is the day they return
home and nIany do not reach home till
after night. Jurors or witnesses who
attend court, if discharged in the morn
ing get pay for the whole day. I, re-
siding five miles from Viroqua, would
consider it an imposition on members
living % miles away If L were to intro
duce resolution to compel members to
adjourn at night before the work was
done and they be compelled to be on
expense over night and next day.
Mr.. Editor, [ have hesitated before
asking the CENSOR to publish this CON-
munication because [ had previously
asked it's publication in the Republican,
where it was refused. Why any paper
protesting to run public journal should
refuse respectful hearing on matters of
public concern / am at loss to know.
The editor of the Republican promised
me a hearing but later returned the
manuscript through the mail.
| Yours very respectfully,
CHRIS ELLEFsoN.