The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-17

n the Times Here, as elsewhere Mr.
ferrr closed his eyes TO the many bet
emsnIs and necessary improvements OF
= ornament character which were made
~ :. tne steilacoom asylum during the last
nspupncan administration. These are fully
enumerated In the tabuinted statement
given In the foregoing. In brief, il was
necessary TO equip the hospital during the
Mesraw administration with a fire alarm
ss ,,s with surgical Instruments. furni-
and many other articles Of a permanent
ana lasting character. OF the total APP
propration for the asylum OF four years,
amounting 10 KS. $50. no less than sl2.sl2
was spent for these purposes. the benefit
OF which the institution obtained The
property thus purchased Is one OF the as
sets o. the institution. When Gov. Rog-
ers took charge of the affairs OF the
state the 6tcilacoom asylum was In per-
rect condition regarding efficiency of ad-
,ministTation and equipment Consequent
funds for maintenance was required dur
Ing the four years OF tho fnsion manage
ment by the board Of control 1 save for the
spsciai appropriation for the new wing, OF
which no account Is taken in figuring the
actual cost OF maintenance under Rogers
AT EXPENSE OF INMATES.
1t - true that the board OF control made
a cut here and there from the monthly
lnteilisencer conclusiveiy showed In its
account Of the condition Of the asylum,
were made at the expense OF the comfort
sna neaitn q the helpless inmates Of the
asyium. Thus the superintendent's sal
airy was reduced and one OF his assist
ants discharged. No physician familiar
with the needs Of the asylum at Stella
COON ana the conduct OF such institutions
VIII for moment countenance this act
on the part OF the board OF audit and con-
trol The efficiency OF the administration
~ Nm, me asylum was sacrificed for petty po-
ltical advantage and at great cost, as
hiterward developed, to the reputation Of
TIE board OF control for the asylum Is In
wretched AID depiorabie straits, as the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT has shown.
The board OF control cannot point with
pride 10 sne administration Of AFFAIRS at
t S.siIsacoom The facts are against the
policy was fitiy exempIified at steflacoom'
~ the beginning OF the Rogers adminis-
tration great show was made OF econ
omy at the cost OF the public services
When, eighteen months later, II was fo,Ina
necessary. 70 raise funds from state EN-
pioyes with which to effect the renomina-
tlon OF John r. Rogers. his board OF con-
troi raised the salaries of the officers and
employees at Steilacoom. and then the gov
ernor.s political agents demanded and re-
cefved good share OF the raise for strict
" partisan and political purposes This
omy" at steilacoom.
The expenditures by the fusion board a,
steilacoom have been so large that a de-
priation amounting 20 1900. IL certain. The
subjoned table shows the actual cost TO
the state OF four years OF fusion IMAM
agement at Steilacoom:
Western Washington Hospital for Insane. under
fusion administration. 1877 1901
April J. 1877, appropriation. two years Sis 90 90
Aprtl l. 1899. appropriation two years -. IT'S 40 %
Deficit 70 be provided Tor by special act 1900 %
Credits fw improvements made
from maintenance fund. isG-ss. 81. go 90
Total maintenance four years ........ .ssas 900 90
f0tfy vaar \ "a
Actual cost maintenance. four years :. .saa.sse %
April 1. 1883. appropriation two years -. soms %
Deficit TO Be provided for by special act 2oO %
Total cost msinsanance. four years 80. 5000 %
Lees money reverted to treasury March u.
1879 .-,....... ....-.... .......... i,Nf %
Net total ........... .-.... .........t 1859 81
At MEDICAL LAKE.
Table showing cost Of maintenance,
Medical Lake asylum. 1898 10 1897:
E.msn Washington Hospital for Insane. IsssaF-
Am r , ,s .pDropr.;,cn two years 'os go g
rptai cost maintenance ..... ......... .tss 90 20
Secretary Lister. IN his financial state
ment OF defense furnished the Times re-
latIng to tho Medical Lake asylum does
not refer to his oatmeal contract, by
which 2AThD pounds of meal was furnished
the asylum, enough to last Ave years,
and ordered fed to the inmates In place
claims q saving OF tio.ooo. but which Is
not credited 70 his oatmeal policy. He
overlooks the fact that the institution
win be In arrears nearly 10000 when tho
legislature meets In January. II the pres
ent extravagant monthly expenses are
maintained. IL the average cost OF main
tenance at the Medical Lake asylum IA
kept UP TO its present top notch mark. the
La x4aic t,tr xxr}n hA at b~x IA .kf
control 90 make a special appropriation
OF $4,000 10 tide the institution over I'M
I'll the regular appropriation 10 made.
As matter OF fact, counting In this
shortage. the administration Of the Medi-
cal Lake asylum has not been shown
saving 10 the people. while there. as else
where, the service was tempered with by
politicians whose sole consideration 10
favor by the state ADMINISTRATION was
loyalty 10 the Turner.Rogers machine
In the FIRST two years or the fusion
management OF the Medical Lake hospi-
tally, the storcs OF fuel and supplies which
the board OF control found IN the asylum
storehouses were used up almost To the
last pound. In order that the board In
lis report OF ISIS might make showing
OF economy The institution became dilap-
dated as 10 its buildings and apparatus.
The service deganerated because ineffi-
cient and inexperienced spniisMen were
put into places OF responsibility, All this
was for reform" at the beginning OF the
board ~ control management. and when,
later Il was necessary to furnish money
10 carry the Rogers boom through the
fusion convention Ia Seattle. the salaries
OF the employees were Increased and the
governors financial collectors called
around 90 gather IN the Increase, which
went 20 fatfen the Rogers campaign fund
The following table shows the exact
financial record at Medical isass during
the board OF control management:
rsatsra wsshinstSa Ho.risei for Inssue. -, 1911
Aprsl l. isE, apprvrttassan- ,wo Yeas - = ~
Aprl l. lse9 spiFepgissian two yesrs ~. see q
Aaa deecia 70 h. provided tor BY sFeil act lsss q
rstl ecst fusF yVaz ...-.......-........ txH.1e .