The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1900-08-31
EVILS OF SPOLATION
Institute for the Blind at Nebraska City
Crippled by IncOmpetency.
LOOSE METHODS ARE EMPLOYED
In Transacting the business of the insti-
sute-The Administration Severely Ar
raigned and Openly Impeached by
Fusion Officials Themselves.

To the history of mismanagement,
incompetency, party spoilation and po-
iitical preferment in the conduct or
site institutions under the fusion
administration, the Institute for the
Blind at Nebraska City furnishes an
unenviable chapter. This institution,
like all the rest, has been made an
asylum for those of the fusion party
who by reason of party service have,
in the eyes Of the fusion leaders, mer-
tied recognition to the extent Of nav
ing Their names on the pay roll.
1t is a matter Of common noIoriety
that j. e. Harris, the present super
intcndent, acquired this position
through a deal made on the floor or
the convention, whereby he was to
step aside as candidate for lieutenant
governor and give way to Lieutenant
Governor Gilbert, a free silver repuD-
lican. His eligibility and fitness en-
tered into the deal only as a second
airy consideration, Notwithstanding
that the position carries with 1t a
great deal of responsibility. But Har-
ris was in the way Of a tripartite ar
rangement and to remove the OBJ
struction, the head of Superintendent.
Jones went into the basket and Harris
was given his position, which among
other things, carries with It a salary
Of 81, 800 a year and board and lodging.
UNTITLED FOR SUPERINTEND-
ENT.
At one period in his life Superintend-
ent Harris was young and agile. That
was many years ago. Senility In its
irresistible pilgrimage has reclaimed
him from the paths of youth and has
bent his once tall and robust form TO
its will. The elasticity of step has
disappeared, and the visitation OF
time is indicated by a head white from
the frosts of many winters. IRE
spective of his mental qualifications,
age and physical deCrepitude COM
bined to incapacitate him for duties
incident to the SUPPLEMENTARY of
such an institution. Nor can it be
denied that age initiates against Mr..
Harris. The fact is that he does not
teach at all, though the custom, as
we'll as the rule, has always oeen FOR
the superintendent to teach one or
more of the branches.
When asked why he did not teach
Superintendent Harris frankly stated
that he was too old. He also stated
that before assuming the position he
informed Governor POynter that he
would not teach, yet despite this he
was appointed.
DISSIPATION OF FUNDS.
Few business houses in Nebraska
could conduct their affairs along the
same line of his institute without in
the end going into bankruptcy. In the
first place, only about eighty blind
children are in the institution all told.
Strange and startling as it may seem,
it is nevertheless true, as attested by
vouchers on file in the auditors office,
that the number Cf people on the pay
roll is equal to more than 60 per cent
of the number of inmates. The June
vouchers show fifteen teachers and
t~hirty-two other employees (see vouch-
ers B45994 and B45997). This does not
include the superintendent and his
wife, all of whom are on the pay roll,
making in all a salary list of fifty-one
people. The story Of this raid ON the
treasury is fully recited by the nu-
merous vouchers on file in the aud
itor's office and the consequent deple-
ton of the funds. The wife of the
superintendent has had her name on
the pay roll only a short time. and
the fact that it is there can be re-
garded only in the light of a testimon-
ial to fusion persistency, which knows
no adversely in the attainment of pc
cuniary triumph.
The school has upwards of fifteen
teachers on tie pay roll. at from $50
to S65 per month each. So far as the
pay roll is concerned, it reflects a most
prodigal spirit on the part of the adj
ministration, and strongly indicates
that the primary object of fusion
dominancy is to gather in the loaves
and fishes. Apply the per capita ex-
panse of education in this institution
to all other institutions of learning
in the state, making due allowance for
the character of the instruction, and
the state in a few short years would be
debt-ridden from one end to the other.
DIVIDING THE LOAVES AND
FISHES.
The n in which Superintend-
SuL I1dIIlS "dS dppOIuISu q DCSh
told. With slight modification the
story might be applied to nearly all
the employees of the institution. In
nearly every appointment can be seen
traces of political spoilation. The
damage done as a result of this
reaches a limit that is incalculable.
Nor is it to be presumed that there
have not been frequent changes with
out consequent decentralization. In
proof of this assertion all that needs
be cited is excerpts from the official
report. In the biennial report of the
institution under date Of December IA,
1898 (see page 34S). Mrs. Caroline Nc
Taggert evidences her lack of knowl-
edge of her duties by openly stating
in her report that: My experience in
the work is too limited to enable me
to say with any great degree of GER
tainty what pupils may accomplish"
w. B. Woods. another teacher, I'M
consciously throws the s~earchiight on
the eDhemarcy Of the tenure of