The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11
STATE CONTROL IN IOWA.
A SATISFACTORY SHOWING OF THE
CONDUCT OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

The Now Law Modelled After That of Now
York - Political FRvoritism Abolished,
Better Food for Inmates, Large Saving
in Economics and Better Employees.
DEs MONIES. Ia. May 24-This State is now
enjoying the successful operation OF a New
York law enlarged and made applicable to
Iowa conditions. II IL the Board OF Control
law which was passed by tho Legislature in
1898 and went into effect July /. 1888 1t is
the result Of a long agitation. Iowa has three
large State hospitals for the insane and tho
fourth is nearly completed: two penitentiaries.
two industrial or reform schools. an institution
for feeble minded children. school for the
deaf and one for the blind. n soldiers orphans
home and an industrial home for the blind.
soldiers home and homo for fallen women.
state university. Il normal school and an agri
cultural college. Each one Of these was under
the management Of a separate board until last
July, when all but the educational institutions
and the home for fallen women were placed
under the absolute control OF q board COM
posed of three men.
Many abuses had grown UP under tho old
system. Each institution was obliged to main
tain moro or less formidable lobby during
tho sessions OF the Legislature In order to Sc
euro satisfactory appropriations. One winter
the Regents Of the state University spent
$1,000 in this way and there was always a sus-
picion that the trustees OF the institutions
were finding ways to divert the funds OF the
Institutions from their proper channels. For
the most part these suspicions were not
based on facts but tho loose manner OF
doing business left the institution man.
agement open to such suspicious and to Sc
we're criticism for extravaganza. The trus-
tees knew but very little about what
the institutions were doing. They met
once in three months and the most they did
was to approve what the superintcndepts had
done or proposed to do. The expenditure Of
funds was. In most Of the institutions. almost
exclusively in the hands OF the superin-
tendent. He bought what he pleased and
where he pleased and the trustees interfered
with him very little. 1t was exceptional for an
institution to buy anything on competitive bids
and many thousands OF dollars worth OF goods
were bought at retail In the towns where the
insttu lions were located
The office Of resident trustee" Of one Of the
large institutions came to be regarded as ex-
cecdngly valuable. This officer and the super
intendent were always in harmony. The
patronage of the institutions became to some
extent political plumber. and the trustees found
places for their friends and relatives. some Of
whom were incompetent. The cost OF the care
Of the States unfortunates increased. and as
the political influence OF the institution COM
bine grew. 1t was able to secure larger appro-
priations from the Legislature. 1t began to
result in a State debt as the appropriations
overran the estimated allowance and exceeded
the revenue provided.
Finally as the outcome OF controversy with
the trustees OF the Soldiers Home. Senator
Carney OF Marshalltown started an investiga-
ton OF the State institutions. At first he in
tended it to apply only to the Soldiers Home.
but il was made to include all the institutions.
The Legislature created a committee, OF which
Senator Thomas ID. lIealy of Fort Dodge was
the Chairman which spent several months in
making thorough examination into all the
affairs of each institution. The committee
found plenty to report on. Its report was made
to the Legislature in 1888. 1t was n strong
arraignment OF the trustee system for
it's utter want OF business principles and
its liability to corruption. The report
stated some OF the worst abuses in
language that left no doubt as to its meaning.
showing favoritism. reckless extravaganza. alb
sence.of records OF transactions or any check
upon those who handled the States property
or who bought or handled supplies OF all kinds.
This report. which was long and full of ex-
tracts from testimony proving all the charges
that had ever been made against the trustee
system. recommended the adoption of the
board Of control system. having one board to
manage all the institutions except the educa-
tional ones. One member Of the committee.
Frank F. Merriam. now Auditor of the State.
favored having all these included.
The report was strong enough to carry be-
fore it all objections to tho change. The de-
mand for reform in institution management
became universal in the State. The only ques-
ton was whether or not the proposed plan was
safe. Many people. especially politicians feared
that the board would become powerful polit-
zeal machine. with the vast patronage Of the in
sttutions scattered all over the State. each
one in a different town. To place in the hands
of three men all this power was BY many re-
garded as dangerous. Unless exactly the right
men were selected. men Of absolute honesty
exceptional ability and loyalty to the spirit of
the law. the new system would be infinitely
worse than tho Old. But tho ma
Jority IN both houses OF the Leglsla-
ture was very strong in favor Of the
p2n ham That Of wo S' niord Sy rs tine B @ny
went TO New York and examined thoroughly
into the workings OF the state Board of Chart
Carney visited Wisconsin. where a Board of
Control Jaw Is in successtu l operation Other
States where laws somewhat similar are beng
tried We're visited these two Senators. SEN
when he returned he drafted the bill which is
law, moirlled after the New York law
:. The Iowa law is more comprehensive than the
tions and OF a more varied character but il IL
the same system in the main, and to this fact
is attributed the success il has attained. A
very active and determined minority deN "iop"d
in the Senate. where the bill was first brought
up. and it was under discussion there for more
than three weeks. Every section. every line.
was subjected to the most searching criticism,
and when tho bil finally emerged. with good
to he obIectonahle or not applicable to the
conditions in this State Yet 50 carefully had
i been prepared 10y its author that i was hut
little changed from the first draft The House
attached a provision for the partial supervision
of the educational institutions and passed tho
bill in less than an hour. GOV. Shaw, though
doubling the expectancy Of the new system in
many ways. approved the bill. and by puhlica-
ton it became ii law Mt once. 80 the board
could be appointed and begin Its preparations
Tor the work.
Tho Governor appoints the three mem bers Of
the hoard tor terms OF six years each, the first
appointments being for two, four aud six years
and each receives $1,000 a year salary. His
first appointments were william IRrrab"e
former Governor Chairman. for two years; l..
g. Kline. Democrat, former Judge OF the SUI
preme Court four years. and John Cownie. one
Of the most prominent farmers in the state. for
six years The nominations were confirmed
promptly by the Senate. and the board began
i'm ed iutply its of control