The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-06-15
The New System for the State
Will Take Effect
Oct. lie
CLOSING DOOR ON TEMPTATION.
Secretary of State Made the Clearing
House Oficial-TaIk of Success
sor to President Adams.

Scofield has been praised for some
clever work in lettering the state
finances, but this innovation, following
on the six months investigation of
Messrs. Baetz and Gilman, was most
radical, involving seventy agencies Of
revenue which contribute to the sup
port of the state, and Scofield's su-
preme stroke He had not been gov
ernor long before he wanted some in
formation and was surprised to find
that it was almost impossible to get
clear statement Of the financial con-
dition of the state. For a long time the
reports of state officers have been al
most meaningless. His comparative
tables of February, 1898, showing
where the money from S3.500,0OO to
$4OOO,O0O) comes from and whittier it
goes was excellent, but it caused him
so much work to get it up that he rec
commended to the legislature of 1899
that it appoint a commission to unity
and simplify the accounts.
Coalition Always known.
Their plan has been adopted. 1t en-
phasizes the secretary Of states func-
ton as auditor, reviving his early i'm
portance, and now all expenditures
must be approved by him and income
reported to him. All agents of the state
who spend money are provided with
a book of receipts and vouchers and
all purchases are checked under prop
er authority. In some Of the inStitu-
tions this matter of purchase and the
sale of products left an open door fer
crookedness. This system closes it.
Especially are the normal schools
brought into business touch with the
state treasury. Hitherto the local re-
gent kept his own accounts and occa-
sionally turned in a balance, if any,
to the state treasury. Hitherto the
payroll of institutions and depart
ments has been made up about the
Goth Of each month in order that en-
ployes may get their pay promptly.
The effect was that employees dis
charged between, say the goth and the
1st Of the month have not been eligi-
bile for their pay, and if a superinten-
dent or steward cared to pocket the
margin there was nothing to prevent
it. A steward unprincipled might even
employ and discharge his hands with
reference to this golden opportunity.
. How the Plan Is Operated.
These are but instances of the doors
which this new system will close. The
scheme Of bookkeeping recommended
involves new sets of books, receipts,
vouchers, etc, keeping check on every
dollar of income and OutgO, the state
treasury being the clearing house for
it all; the secretary of state with tho
receipts, coupons, vouchers, etc, at
hand being in position at a moment
notice to tell the financial condition OF
any institution of the state, and COM
polling cessation of expenditure
when the particular fund is ex-
hausted.
Accompanying the Plan Recommended.
IN addition, a statement was sub
united by the investigators, and while
this has not been given publicity, it is
said to be rich reading. The commits
sion found no corruption and INDUCED
lin no sensations, but they pointed out
a dozen extravagances and not a few
waysin which it would be very easy for
different state agents and officials to
line their pockets, if they were dis
posed to do So. The multiplicity Of
nv practice of each of perhaps twenty
departments of the Capitol carrying
mail to and from the pOStOtfice a num-
Der OF times a day suggest economies
that readily occur to one when he
stops to think of 1t. 1t is also said
that the glories of the fee system are
not wholly obsolete in state govern
ment The practice of officials carry
- TO &c
the public moneys until it, becomes
convenient to deposit them with the
state will cease with the new plan
which compels daily statements to
the state treasury.
The gentlemen entrusted with the
studying the financial system did their
work very thoroughly and pluckily
reported all that occurred to them. A
system of checks and balances will
soon be in operation that would seem
to prevent waste and safeguard the
money of the people from any dis
posed to encroach upon it. Even the
matter of transportation and travelling
expenses has been canvasSed and for
all I know it may come about that
every time a member Of the board of
control drinks a cup Of coffee at JEFF
let the pretty waitress punch his COM
mission from the governor or even
make out an affidavit before notary
Before Governor Sc6field.s finishes
his second term he will have seen this
most notable of his reforms effected
and then, with lucid statement of
what the different departments cost,
look out for movement toward re-
frenchment.
President Adams Health and the Sue
CesSi0n.
President Adams of the state uni
versity is at Battle Creek. Mich.
where he has been for two months
with Mrs. Adams. The condition of
his health has not warranted active
efforts in an official way for even a
longer time, and this, with Mrs. Ad-
ans condition, which has compelled
her frequent absence from Madison
for long periods, has naturally led to
more or less talk Of President Adams
retirement. He is not an old man. be-
ing So years of age, and he is said
to have an ambition to remain at the
head of the state university through