The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-11-01
LIEN DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE.

AS bearing on the declaration that
the present fusion board of charities,
under the presidency of Mr.. Lien, had
shown much greater economy and bus
mess method than the former Republic
can board the Yankton Gazette printed
and the Argus-Leader copied an article
showing that the present board had
expended the $35, 900 appropriated for
the new rear center building at the
Yankton insane asylum and that the
building is only partially constructed
and is left in its half finished condi-
ton awaiting an additional appropria-
ton by the legislature. 1t Is shown
that only thirteen thousand dollars
have been spent on labor and that the
other $22,0 00 must have been wasted,
diverted or spent on material. The
latter is impossible as the material for
such a building would not cost half
that sum.
This is a pretty knotty question to
push before the man who is Boosting
yer his economical and business-like
administration. Mr.. Lien recognizes
that it is a body blow. His newspaper
attempts to meet it. And here is
where he falls into the trap:
Others than those who upon all
possible occasions glorify the Re-
publican party have had suspicious
concerning the expenditure of state
money for the material and labor
which went into this hospital adj
dition. AS 1t was nearly all ex-
pended under the direction Of a Re
publican superintendent, there is
no satisfactory reason why any
complaints or charges should be
lodged against the representatives
OF the fusion party. DR.. Mead, a
Republican, was superintendent of
the hospital until the 5th Of Au-
gust, 1899. After the appropriation
for the new building was made the
then Republican board placed him
in charge of the construction there
of, and made him purchasing agent
for the material.
When the fusion superintendent,
DR.. Ross, took charge of the insti-
tuition the building appropriation
was nearly exhausted and the
structure was nowhere near COM
pletion.
Now the public record shows that
this is clear lying. The facts are as
follows: The legislature appropriated
s35, 900 for this new building. The
fusion members of the board of chart
ties took Office in May, 1899, three
months before DR.. Mead was removed
AS they have full control of the
finances they are responsible for any
incorporation. But there was none
at that time or for several months
thereafter. Mr.. Mead was removed
about the first of August, 1899. On Au-
gust l there had been expended on this
new building exactly $4,827. and there
was left in the fund exactly S30,173,
which was expended later solely by the
~fuslonists. Moreover, DR.. Mead had
to show for his expenditure, rs per
cent Of all the material needed to erect
the structure. All of the %excavating
had been done. Out Of 1900 feet of
concrete to be laid he had completed
1850 feet. Out OF eighty-five cords Of
stone to be laid he had completed forty
cords. Out of 300, 900 brick to be laid
be had laid 6 1000. Out of II, 440 feet
of ASHER stone work ne had COM
pleted 2,440. He had moreover bought
all OF the steel and iron needed and
250, 900 brick.
With this work done and these pur-
chases made fair economy and business
ability would certainly have completed
this building within the appropriation
and the state would have before this
been receiving the benefit The failure
can be charged only to one spot, and
that is Mr.. Liens board.