The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-12-31

for any man to have to go to
an institution to end his days. these
veterans are entitled to all the care and
attention they receive. The present
efficient service leaves nothing to COM
plain Of, and is credit to the officers
and therefore to the people OF the state
who have made liberal provision for
them. Additions have been made
during the past year TO both hospital
aud barracks and the capacity OF the
institution has been increased about 20
per cent. In the Blind school new
Industrial work has been added for the
development Of the skill Of the sightless
children. This does not conclude the
re view Of all the departments Of admin
istration but the general statement holds
that there has been progress and re-
trenchment all along the line without
injury to the public service. In fact,
what THE JOURNAL has always claimed,
that there Was an actual improvement
to be accomplished in the public service
by closer business management, has
been accomplished in nearly every
department Of the state government at
Salem and in the institutions pamed.
Thero lie no inconsistency in the strictest
economy and good government In fact
they thrive together aud are not
objected to by any but those who thrive
by opposite conditions.
II a state administration is TO he
judged by the excellent moral and fl
nancial condition Of its several state ins-
titutions, surely the Governor and mem
bers of the several state boards are to be
congratulated. While the appointing
power carries with it the responsibility
Of disappointing several aspirants for
each place, and some Of these can always
be relieved upon to make unceasing war
upon whatever is done in the position
they sought to secure, there has been
less scandal and fewer sensational
charges made in connection with the
state government at Salem than ever be-
fore. The big asylum with its tremend-
GUS state farm adjunct, the Reform
school, the Deai-mute school, the Insti-
tute for the Blind, are ell doing their
work smoothly and well. Faithful ser
vice is rendered to the unfortunate wards
of the state. An examination Of the eI-
pence accounts Of these institutions
shows that they have never been man
aged with greater economy than at pres
ent. At no time in the past have they
been more free from criticism than now
What the JOURNAL likes and what 1t be-
lieves the people like is the purely bust
ness aspect OF these matters, as divorced
from mere partisan considerations fo'
political effect. At the city OF Salem
newspaper man hears all the complaint
and defects that arises in the manage
ment Of any department of the stat
government. One hears the worst eide
OF everything that happens. Viewed
from this standpoint, every newspaper
man in the city will say that there hat
never been cleaner or more wholesom
atmosphere surrounding every detail o
the government, or one which the peopl
would more gladly see continue. Tn
moral considerations involved in con
dueting Institutions for defective ele-
ments Of society have been keptin view
There have been no cruelties or sensa
tious at the asylum for the insane, n
inhuman punishments at the state pri
son, no A)ggings at the reform school
and none OF the abuses of the unfortu
nate that are sometimes read about !
the newspapers as happening in othe
states. The people Of Oregon can declar
with pride that in no state are the priu
ciples Of humanity carried to create
length in the care OF the unfortunat
than in Oregon. That a humane an
christian management is insured in ev
cry instance the public institution
ought TO count for something with III
: pride OF oregon's best citizenship. 1t
gratifying to the business interests (
the state that good management prevs
, in finances. The reduction made in Il
running expenses Of the state institr
tions is bound to make a reduction
state taxes II kept up. But the create
satisfaction comes from the knowledl
that there is absolute riGhteOuSne
in every detail of their mAnageme ment.
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