The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-12-11

Copies of the report of the Camden
County Insane Asylum have been shown
around this county the past week, and ref
erence has been made TO the report in at
least one newspaper, showing the fine
manner in which that institution is con-
Quoted, especial attention being called to
the small amount of money taken to main
tain the wards, the net sum being 27..cents
per patient per week There is one item
that is missing in that report, however,
that will be bound to appear in the first
report of the Burlington County institu-
tion-the interest on the bonds. This
item does not appear in the reports issued
by the several county institutions, nor do
the State Prison or the State Asylum mark
-ap anything in this line in the debit col
umn. That is no reason why Burlington
should not There have been issued bonds
to the extent of 800, 900 for the particular,
specific and only purpose of building the
new asylum. The interest that must be
paid off each year is distinctly an item OF
cost in running the place as is the purchase
of provisions or the payment of labor and
salaries. The new asylum will not be
completedIand furnished for less than $780,,
600 more than the original issue of bonds.
Whatever the entire cost, whether raised
by bonds or appropriation, it must be
charged up against the institution and
interest on the outlay must be considered
in computing the expense of running.
Otherwise we will never have chance to
discover just exactly the great saving
that is promised the county in conduct
ing this institution.
AT the last meeting of the Board of
Freeholders an item of $3.50 for milk in
the bill of the committee on court house
and grounds was objected to. The milk
had been furnished sick prisoner, but
the DIRECTORS feared the sheriff might have
charged for the regular days board in ad-
dition to the special diet. The matter was
settled by the withdrawal of the objec-
tionable item. The incident showed,
however, that the county fathers are on
the lookout for leaks, even though small,
at the same time keeping careful watch
for the interests of the public to the ex-
tent of purchasing few played-out turn
pixies at the small cost of $22, 000 We
will not complain of the objection to the
item for milk, for the principle is good,
investigation into county affairs is all
right. On the line of scanning the actions
of the committee on court house and
grounds we would suggest that the mem
bers of the Board make careful examin-
alton and criticism. If they will pay par
ticular attention to the expenditures of
that committee they will discover consid-
cradle reduction. The report of the past
year especially will bear inspection and
where 81, 1865 was spent in the year ending
May, 1899, they will notice that for the
year ending May, 1900, 1865 was the to-
tai. Further, if they will go into the de-
tails they will find that the new sheriff and
his new deputy are entitled to some credit
in this state of affairs. Let them look into
all the avenues of expense, gas and drugs
particularly, and there will be seen that
somewhat of reform has been instituted.
If little matter of So worth of milk for
sick prisoner is worthy of condemnation
surely cutting down of other expenses, or
more properly speaking, the adjustment
of certain abuses, is entitled to commend
alton.