The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-12

, q B I-s . .
Issue orders; no patronage. no connection
with the political machinery Of the State,
but an entirely independent board, whose
function was criticism and advice. Moth
Ing more.
That Is the principle upon which all the
boards have been established, and in adj
dt!on to that, it is within our power
TO visit the county almshouses and other
places in which the insane, are confined,
and since the insane are sometimes con-
fined IN jail, 1t was given power to in
spect the jails and almshouses also. and
We made report on them. We had no
| power over private charities, however, as
| that was not conferred on us.
RECOMMENDED APPROPRIATIONS.
We had the recommending to tho Legis-
loture of the appropriations to be made
for the maintenance Of the different insti-
tutions. and also to give our opinion as
to improvements, alterations, enlarge
| nonts, and also our opinion MS to their
capacity, &c. spent nearly thirty years
of my life in this work.
The relation of such a board Is some
what peculiar. There are a great many
people who think that the board ought
to have executive power, but executive
power is conferred upon the Board Of
Trustees. The trouble with regard to a
local, board of trustees in most States U
know nothing Of Virginia, SO this is not
pcrsonaD is that they are made up of cit
liens of the locality, and that they place
the interests Of the institution beyond
tho interest of tho people at large. They
are generally made up of excellent peo-
pie, who do not know very much about
the subject intrusted to them and some
times don't take great deal Of interest
in 1t.
One of the best institutions I ever Wis.,
tied was an insane hospital Of Alabama,
under the management of DR.. Bryce. DR..
Bryce told me that his Board Of Trustees
came once year for the purpose of TAX
ing dinner with him and signing the an
nual report. and that he never saw them
cny other time. But he was such an ad-
nlinstrator that he did not need any
board. But If YOU get a superintendent
who is unable to act without advice or
control, lit Is. of course, very important
that the board should be efficient and ca
pHble. But in the administration OF the
government We have found 1t advisable
to institute checks, which are intended to
obvlate tho danger of official misconduct,
and it Is a common saying that no man
Is any the worse for being watched and
many times better. and two heads are
wiser than one.
BEST FOOT FORWARD.
A board OF trustees. If 1t makes mis-
takes to the Legislature or to the public
In making its reports it naturally puts
Its best foot foremost, but where you
have an advisory board with powers to
cri1cise, and In the exercise Of that pow
or or criticism to make comparisons. to
go on the outside and see how similar
institutions are managed, to tablish q
standard Of excellence to which those in
situations must conform, you will find
that the institutions become better from
day to day, and that the moral influence
OF such board Is enormous.
Reforms are not brought about by egs-
lation, but by the slow growth of public
opinion, and public opinion makes itself
1et in tho public press. and the govern
mcnt responds to public opinion. The
press forms public opinion and turns 1t In
| the right direction, and while the reforms
brought about by public opinion are slow,
| they are extraordinarily. wise and we'll
considered before they are put in opera
| ton.
| We never felt, MS board that we need.
cd any executive power. We were salts.
| fed that that should be In the hands
| OF the trustees. and that we should have
nothing to do but to judge of results and
report to the Legislature and Governor
We acted as q sort of intermediary be-
tween the Legislature and tho institutions
ana between the Governor and Institutions
BY degrees we got the confidence of the
public to such an extent that our SUCCESS
tons were taken without opposition.
had bill passed Involving the appro-
| Iriation of I,b00,000, through the Senate
IN fifteen minutes without dissenting
vote,
CUT OFF USELESS EXPENSE.
| Thus by establishing uniform system
OF accounts and holding the institutions
70 very high degree of financial respon-