The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-09
Amount of Advertising
carried by the Twin City
Papers for September:
A Fine Showing.

The hrSt report or the state DOaru OF
control is document so full Of facts that
support the centralized system Of mana
ging state correctional and charitable in
situations, that they scarcely require the
connecting thread of an argument to
make them speak loudly for the new sys-
of the old decentralized system may as
we'll make up their minds that the board
of control is here to stay. No legislature
will dare to abolish a system that has
saved the state siO60O0 in one year, and
has covered into the general treasury an
unused surplus of $685. 900.
The results Of the first year Of the
board of controls work show that it has
already disproved every criticism leveled
against it in advance, except one. 1t has
performed it's actual administrative work
for less money than the old unsalaried
boards cost. It has purchased more sup
plies in Minnesota than formerly. and less
In other states. 1t has fed the inmates
of the institutions and clothed them bet
ter than formerly. 1t has raised instead
of lowered salaries of employees drawing
small stipends 1t has in all ways taken
better care of the institutions and the in
mates than was formerly taken, and it
has served the interests of the people
who pay never before were they served.
It is making plans for the introduction of
dietetic system that the old boards
never thought of and could not we'll have
carried out 1t is instituting system
of reciprocity in institution products that
is in itself great saving.
The one justifable, criticism originally
aimed at the boardwas that 1T would neg
lect he interests Of the towns in which
the various institutions are located. 1t
has bought much less from local mer-
chants than formerly. But in doing so it
has saved the people of the state large
sum Of money A minor interest has been
wiped out by a major interest. 1t is not
the mere saving in dollars and cents thus
effected that is the chief consideration
either. AS the board shrewdly points out
this elimination of selfish local interest
will have a profound effect on legislative
policy. 1t is undeniable that in the past
the legislature has been forced to consider
sectional demands rather than legitimate
requirements in distributing appropria-
tions. These appropriations came to be
looked upon as subsidies. If certain sum
was given to an institution in a certain
town, up would rise the representatives Of
another town and section and demand tina t
the legislature do as we'll by them. OF
course the most selfish and unpatriotic
log-roling resulted. With locality gain
ing nothing from increased appropriations
for a particular institution, the of6 habit
of balancing appropriations will pass away.
The board does we'll again to declare it's
unwillingness to exercise control over the
states purely educational Institutions and
to publicly acquiesce In the continued in
dependence of the university In the edu-
cational institutions financial management
and educational policy are too closely
united for general board to exercise con-
troll over the former and leave the latter
to a particular board. And a feneral
board is too much of a business organ
ization to be given power over education
as well as financial policy.
AS a paper that earnestly urged the CEN
tIttilAdtloti VI colllrol VI the Stdte S lnSr1tu-
lions that were apparently adaptable ia
such a system, T h g ourna1 takes
great pleasure in the amazing results
reached under the new system in a single
year. A bad executive authority can
make any system bad A perfect system
must be worked by capable men to get
superior results. The members of the
board of control are entitled to all the
sincere congratulations they. are sure tc
receive for their faithful stewardship