Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-12
IOWA system PRAISED.
Governor Van SAINT Heartily
Endorses Iowa Board Of
Control System
IT WORKS WELL IN MINNESOTA
IT WORKS WELL IN MINNESOTA
Van SAINT Calls Attention to the Great
Saving in Dollars and Cents of Board
System Over Trustee System, Which
Is the Highest Indorsement Of His
Message.
Special to mes-Republican.a

the fact that the first state which has
copied closely after the Iowa board of
control system has made a great sue
cess of 1t. This is in Minnesota. Two
years ago the then state auditor and
two senators came to Des Moines and
made an exhaustive examination of the
Iowa board of control methods and pro-
cured all blanks and forms used and
familiarized themselves with what was
being done lin Iowa. They also visited
some of the state institutions to learn
OF the methods pursued. They returned
home and commenced a campaign for a
board of control in Minnesota and were
successful after a hard fight. Two of
the men who visited Des Moines were
made members of the board of control
and started it off along the lines fol-
lowed by the Iowa board. Now comes
the highest endorsement of the move
ment by Governor Van SAINT in his mes
sage. He calls attention to the great
saving in dollars and cents of the board
system over the trustee system. Where
as in the last two years of the trustee
system there was 4 deficiency each
year, the first year of the board of con-
troll resulted in turning back into the
treasury mere than s154,000. An eff
fort had been made in the legislature to
defeat the board OF control bill by
tacking on it some control over the
educational institutions, but this failed.
Now Governor Van SAINT recommends
fhnf hn n1, INC mi he
taken out of the boards nominal con-
troll. But the governors statement in
regard to the general success of the
board, which applies so we'll to the sit
uation in Iowa as we'll as in Minnesota,
Is extremely Interesting. He said:
AT the last general session bill
was passed now known as the board of
'ct .rtrol bill, and pursuant to its pro-
vssion q board was appointed and inn
nlediately Nentered upon the discharge
of its duties. The wisdom OF the adop-
ton of the board of control system has
been amply vindicated. A brief year
Of the administration of the board has
passed, and it's work has surpassed the
most sanguine expectations of its
friends. Prompted by the same abiding
faith that recommended its creation.
which has been strengthened hundred
fold by it's splendid work during the
past year, it is safe to predict that the
board of control system will be perma-
nently maintained. The success of this
system in Wisconsin and Iowa, coupled
with it's effective work in our state, will,
in my judgment, eventually result in it's
adoption by every state in the union.
pvSl,. - ca a. icfa n
in the state of Wisconsin that Governor
La Toilette used the following vigorous
language: Any party that goes before
the state with plank in it's platform
advocating the repeal of the law will
be buried, as it should be, in ignomini-
Gus defeat"
On another question, that of the
humanitarian side OF the system, Gov
ernor Van SAINT is also quite positive,
saying:
There seems to have been question
in the minds of some of the members
at the last general session of this legis-
lature and of many OF our citizens. as
expressed thru the public press. as to
whether the establishment of the board
of control could be justified from a hui
manitarian standpoint. II there is any
criticism that was made against the
establishment Of a board of control that
has been forever set at rest. it is the
one just suggested A careful perusal
of the report of the board of control.
showing, as it does, what has been done
along humanitarian lines, will convince
the most skeptical that the care of the
-. ~; ka- 1f 81,
tutions has received the greatest attenl
ton at their hands. 1t has given prac-
teal attention to the subject of dietary
at the different state institutions and
has employed an expert to visit the in
stitutions for the purpose of teaching
employees the proper method of prepar-
ing food and how best TO serve the same
to inmates. The same class of food is
purchased for inmates as for officers
and employees. All articles of food are
required to be pure, wholesome and
palatable, and the dairy and food COM
missioner visits the different tnstitu-
tions and examines the character of the
supplies, and sees strictly to it that any
food product unfit for consumption, or
failing to comply with the require
ments of the law, is rejected. Thus, the
intention of the board to protect in
mates from unwholeeome food products
is apparent. believe that the institu-
tions in charge of tha board of control
have never been in a higher state of
efficiency, and that the inmates thereof
are safe in the hands of the board, and
do not hesitate to say that the great
saving TO the state has been brought
about solely by the new departure in
the purchase of supplies and by en-
larged and improved business methods,
and not in the least at the expense Of
efficiency"
Governor Savage. Of Nebraska. has
also recognized the merit of the board
of control system and in his message to
the legislature delivered last week he
recommended its adoption In that state.
The board of charities and corrections
of the state of South Dakota in their
annual report just issued do the un-
usual thing in recommending their own