Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-02-24
PARKEK's ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
Likely to Result in Radical Reforms and
Saving of Money.

Springfield, Ills, Feb. "a. = Senator
Parker's committee on public accounts,
q new adjunct of the senate this ses-
sion, appointed for the avowed pur-
pose of reforming the financial and ac-
counting systems of the various state
institutions, las some important work
ahead of it, which, if properly eX-
ecuted, will result in radical reforms
and the savings of considerable rev.
enue to the state and taxpayers. Prob
ably the most important thing the COM
mittee will have to tackle is the pres
ent loose and unsatisfactory method
of reporting The earnings of the rari-
Gus state peual and reformatory insti-
tutions.
At the present time there is no in
formation at the command of the leg
islators, who require the facts, more
than Il mere report showing that GER
tain sums were received and turned
over to the treasurer of the institution
for expenditure. Appropriation bills
fail to show the amount earned each
year, and, inasmuch as these amounts
are expended for the maintenance, OPP
Grafton and Improvement of the insti-
tutions, the appropriation bills fall
short of the Intentions of the trainers
of the constitution, who thought they
had provided a means for determin-
ing the exact cost to the taxpayers of
running the renitentiaries and reform
atores.
The system is due doubtless to the
anxiety of treasurers of the institu-
tions to retain in their own posses
sion for as long a time as possible
the money earned by the inmates for
the state. The Chester penitentiary.
for instance, has annual earnings of
more than 100000. Yet the appro-
priatiOn bill now pending and that OF
the past two years show only $780,
900 appropriated for ordinary eX-
penses." As IL matter of fact the $780,
600 appropriated by the state and the
earnings OF over 100000 all went for
the operation and maintenance of the
prison.
1t developed on inquiry also that the
100000 was drawn from the treasury
in ten monthly installments, and that
the remainder of the money at the
command of the Institution was not
used until the regular appropria tion
had been exhausted. In other words.
the institution treasurer piled up the
earnings and held them till the last
minute. presumably for the interest
they brought his personal bank ac-
count
One reform that will be strongly adj
vocated in this line is the abolition OF
all special treasurers for the inStitu-
tons. Members of the legislature who
have looked into the subject say they
see no reason why state prisons, re-
formatores, insane asylums, and SIM
liar institutions can not send their
bills and vouchers through to the au-
ditor of state and the state treasurer.
as the other departments are required
to do. and not have Il special treas
urer for the institution. The usual
argument against it is that 1T is not
convenient" There is no point in the
state with present mail facilities that
can not reach Springfield i'm twelve
hours and get an answer back in the
same time.
Another .ceform to be urged is the
itemizing of every appropriation made
by the general assembly so that IL
will be apparent to the rank novice
even. just how state moneys are eX-
pended. All of these. reforms proba-
bills from the Parker committee on
public institutional accounts which is
now preparing to descend on every in
stitution in the state.