Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-01-26


ment of the annual per capita allowance.
but 1t will remain credit in the state
treasury until needed. The benefits of such
provision are many and obvious.
1.-THE state treasurer should be author
ized to dispose of all warrants issued to
the institutions, and which the state has
not the funds to pay. Our report indi,
particular reference may be made to the
arrangements of the institutions for the
feeble minded. the normal and industrial
schools.
1.-THE recommendations as to the reduce
ton of the per capita support are enti-
tied to consideration, for in no other way
has the legislature the power to limit ex-
travagant expenditures under q system
of making maximum per capita appro-
priations. The temptation to draw and
expend the maximum is ever present and
Much Of the discussion regarding the
merits OF state or county care of the in
sane Will be unnecessary under more
duce the per capita allowance for sup
port purposes. The failure of the state
to show a reduction in the support of in
mates. though it is evident that such a
reduction should be had in the last seven
years, may be taken as one reason why
many counties are building asyums to
house their insane. Thoroughly convince
the people and members of boards of SUI
pervisors that the per capita allowance
for insane Is not greater than Is required
and this question Of county care will
solve itself. for all must grant that the
state hospital is the place to either cure
or care for the insane The state must
not surrender entirely to the medical de-
partments of the hospitals the duty Of
1.-The statute should limit the number
of days service expected of the visiting
committee for the insane hospitals. II a
central or supervising board is created,
lived its usefulness.
1.-THE establishing of. a system of uni
form accounts which Is required of the
executive council by the terms of the new
code. is a great and much needed reform.
All the institutions. cannot have the same
kind of books, but institutions of like kind
mittee believes this matter of institutins
thorough and uniform system Of &C.
counts. is not fully appreciated. If a
central or supervisory board is created.
1t is a matter of much labor and great
detail.
1.-THE precendent of creating tax levies
for state institutions should not be fol-
agements and conditions a discretion in
expenditure that distracts too much from
legislative powers and functions.
The precedent of one legislature maxi
ing appropriations for a period longer
than two years, and which are to be ex-
pended after the succeeding legislature
convenes, cannot meet the sanction Of
him who is cognizant of the uncertainties,
dangers and abuses of thus anticipating
the needs and revenues of the future by
indirectly affecting the legislation of an.
other general assembly. The reflection
that al extraordinary appropriations
should remain in the state treasury un-
til expended merits in the judgment Of
the committee more than passing notice.
1.-The executive council. or other proper
body, should be granted the right to make
appropriations from providential fund
when the legislature is not in session,
This power has never been abused, and
prudence requires the restoration of the
privilege to the executive council"
Other Wrongs Beside Financial.
After disposing of the financial end Of
the question the committee says: From
every standpoint we are of the opinion
that change in the government OF many
but it is imperatively demanded. By
every prompting of business prudence,
economical Arrangements cannot be Sc.
cured by methods that are obnoxious to
every commercial instinct and usage.
There are sixteen institutions including
Cherokee insane hospital There are
thirteen separate boards. making about
seventy-fve trustees in ALL receiving $685.
900 in all in salaries and expenses in 1897.
During the biennial period closing June
80. 1897, the state expended for these in
situations S2259, 934.H for purposes of sup
port and maintenance and the sum Of
1854, 240 for betterments and new buildings,
making total expenditure during the
last. biennial period of s3,214 2O4.S5 which
lures of the state. The Twenty-sixth
general assembly at both sessions granted
$685. 99.15 more in extraordinary appro-
priations to these institutions than did
the Twenty-ffth general assembly. Such
appropriations were not within the in
come of the state
Discussing the trust system the com.
mittee says: LAS our report indicates,
many of the trustees betrayed in their ex.
animation before the committee a want Of
that information respecting the institu-
4. ~
known to any citizen. There are some ex-
ceptions to this rule. The committee met
two-thrds of the eleven trustees Less
than one-third of this number gave the
required time and attention or evinced tha
possession of information sufficient to
give valuable counsel, to say nothing of
actually participating In the direction Of
a business involving annually the expen-
diture of hundreds of thousands of dol
lars"
The committee then says in substance
that the. trustees may know how to con-
duct their own business. but they do not
fami.iariZe themselves with the business
of the institutions
mo state but Iowa governs its public
institutions by separate boards of trus-
tees without a supervising authority
lodged in the board of control.
wisconsin, Rhode Island, Kansas, Ne
braska and south Dakota govern their
one that has once provided for such
board has changed the system.
'The examination of the officers and
trustees indicates that only I'm few in
stances did we find a sentiment favoring
a law that might lessen the powers Of
tire managing officers. Too often did we
find disposition to regard the general
assembly as harboring n hostile DISPOSE
ton towards the institutions"
The intimation is made that resident
members of the legislature do not inves-
tigate alleged abuses for fear of effect
on themselves.
eff change Is thought proper by the
legislature, the boards should be given
administrative and executive powers. II
must not only have the power to advise
but the power to administer the gov
eminent OF the institution.
1.-The three great educational institu-
lions might be omitted. for their boards
of trustees, as shown in the report, are
exercising to a greater degree. the power
vested in them by law, and there is force
in the suggestion that the development
of the university as a seat of learning
involves considerations that have no APP
agencies of the state. The number OF the
governing bodies of the university and
agricultural college should be reduced to
five members and better results obtained
To retain a member from each con-
gressonal district on the board is to give
way TO fiction that is no longer, II It
ever was, useful.
1--WE are satisfied that 1t is within tho
ready reach of this legislature by proper
enactment to save ten cents on every dol
lar expended by the state. This saving
VIII be made by less appropriations and
the economical expenditures of those
made. In New York in 1898 law gov
hospitals saved 100000 out of total ex-
penditure of 50 600 600 The committee ia