The Saint Paul globe., 1899-01-05

not enter into the discharge CT their duties.
These are the highest ideals for either PIN
and it is needless for me To add tnat the
actual results Tan iar SSert OF me lue-i III
both
qhe dangers to which the separate board
rlan is Hable are that men with the dualifi-
cations indicated and who have the means,
50 that they can afford 70 devote the requisite
time tl TIE work required, without compen-
sation. are d-ficu.t to find, and that il prac-
tice political consderst ons frequently control
appointments 80 these positions. That as a
result the resident member becomes 10 all
ipterts and purposes the board for the in
stisutiCn, and that its man cement will BE-
given turn beneficial to local bus ness aad
pei tica, interests; that each irs itu ion thus
bee mes a separate factor, and the local
member or board becomes an advocate anu
frequently lobbyist, for its spec A. G--
vsncemsnt, without reference 70 the neeGs OF
the other institutions. or OF the oeSt lhles-
estS of the st.tc rs whole
This latter is pre- baby the most repI ehensl-
Bile feature cf our present system III THIS
state.
The dangers to which the central board Of
control is exposed. il seems to me, may be
summarized as follows: That the appoint
ments to them are as likely 10 take the po-
litical cong eXion as in the makeup Of the
separate boards. II ineiiicehcy or lack of
probity find place the resulting danger IS
greater because of the greater power. Tnere
is also greater danger OF stagnation. and
that a demoraEzing and bureaucratic spirit
may gain aScendency in the long run. The
single board p.an possesses advantages over
the Other in pciut Of economy. notwithstand-
ing the fact that its officers are salaried. Tho
expenses of the separate boards. which in
this state amount TO considerably over 5000
Per annum. with 4 small per diem allowed in
some Instances. would go far toward paying
salaries. and there is no question in my
mind hut that if all the purchases of our
state institutions were made BY one indlVid-
ual. or body efhclslt ana honest. great gain
would result. ana in addition TO this. the eX
ecuuve and the legislature would nave re-
POI Is upon the condition and wants of the dill
ferent institutions that would not be coloret
by locrl bias or interests. There would
be no strife between different boards and
institutions 70 which should have the con-
troll of certain classes OF the dependents as il
now The case. The question OF the caring for
the criminal insane and the erlieptics and
other classes would not then be I subject Of
controversy between boards and institutions.
Having thus summarized what l believe
10 be the strong points and she weak in each
plan. il is evident that each is capable of
good results with good and suitable men ap
pointed 20 the places.
change for the mere sake of change or
novelty IS a dangerous experiment. II is
safer 10 be somewhat conservative. The in
stituuons of the state are apt to be the
main the outgrOwrh. | might say evolution,
Of peculiar local conditions that brought them
into lslence We have Of course copied. but
We e also Differentiated from the system
in ott states. Our board OF corrections and
Chart while not peculiar TO this state.
has d, and IS doing exceedingly valuable
work, d J is exercising wholesome control
-AA-t--H%N-''-4|-
strengthening its hands and paying greater
heed 10 its recommendations we viii have
the advantages Of The best features OF both
ANALYzED ACCOUNTS.
What impressed me more forcibly in my
Investigation of the board OF control system
in Wisconsin than anything else was the
system there termed "analyzed accounts
which is kept Tor all the state institutions.
That system IS the natural outgrowth Of the
fact that the principal purchases are made
ana expenditures incurred by the board OF
control, but il can be equally well introduced
here Instead Of the steward reporting to the
board or trustees long list of Items pur-
chased during the month or quarter as the
case may be. and having the bill passed upon
in gross, is Is now the practice in our in
sttuuons, the aggregate sum only being
ported TO tAe board OF corrections anC char1-
ties. the entire account should be transmitted
in detail 10 this board and the items analy-
zed and grouped under the proper headings.
By this means il would be possible for the
board Of corrections and charities at their
meetings TO determine at a glance, not only
the aggregate expenditures under a given
head IN each institution. but the different
items under that head with the price paid.
II great discrepancies were apparent. they
would promptly be called TO the attention
OF the boards and stewards at fault
BY the Introduction Of this system any
member Of YOUR body or myself could step
into the office of the secretary OF the board
OF corrections ana charities II this building
and ascertain instantly the expenses. say for
butter, vegetables -four. clothing. house fur
nlshlngs or fuel, or any other item, in any
of our institutions in any preceding month
and this not only TO quantity purchased,
but prices paid. This We cannot do now.
The reports required and kept only deal
in lump sums.
The secretary Of the board OF corrections
and charities has, at my request. furnished
an est mate OF the additional expenses incideny
10 the Introduction OF this system. He is of
The opinion that an assistant clerk at a sal
ary OF 81 coo or Sl,200 per annum would be
able to do the work An appropriation of
81 800 for Clerk hire and other expenditures
incident to the Introduction of this system
is earnestly recommended This OF course
in the event that you do not adopt the plan
OF a central board of control.