Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-09-18
LAN COMPLIED WITH
State Board of Control Making
Investigation of State Edu-
cational Institutions
MUCH INTEREST IN REPORT
Comparison With the Boards Findings
Of Two Years Ago Will Be Made to
Determine if Suggestions Made Have
Been Considered or Acted Upon
Conference Of superintendents.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Sept. 1S.-The prepara-
Ition of the biennial report of the stat
board OF control is now going on ahc
the report will be presented to the gov
ernor and be printed before the time
for the legislature to take up the worh
of considering the state institutions
One of the minor duties of the board
about which there has been some con-
troversy In the past has just been TAX
en- up. This is the examination OF the
state educational institutions. Judge
Robinson, Of the board, and A. 3. NC
Gown. the accountant, are in Ceoai
Falls making investigation into the ac-
co,,nts of the state normal school. Lat
er the state university and the state
college will be visited. The iaW pro-
yiding for the board of controi re-
uuires that the board shall make eA-
animation Of the affairs OF these thfee
institutions, and specifically requires
that the board shall inquire whether
tbara has been a faithful accounting
OF the money received from appropfl-
ations or otherwise, and as to Whetnei
or not persons have received per oleH
and mileage other than legal, ana into
the manner of letting contracts, ano
whether or not the institutions are con
dncted in an economical and business
like manner, etc. The scope the IN
vestiration is wide At the outset the
members OF the board on organizing
felt that this extension of their duties
ia a sami-supervision over the finances
II the educational institutions WAS su
perfluous and that 1t was a nnstake y
require the board to report on matters
over which 1t has no control Whatever /,
hut there was the law and the poaiu
had paught TO do but comply, hence
an investigation was made two years
ago this month and another is oelhe
made now 1t was over Inc IeportS
made two years ago that great nue
and cry was raised that the board OF
contpol was trying to decry the WORK
os the trustees ot the educational lnsti-
.f,ffions.~ 1t was said the board wanted
to be given charge Of these instluu :
tions. This was not the case, Dut II
served the purpo.,e Of those who desired
a sensation for time. 1t was also de-
clared that as 9. result of the critic
,sms made by the board in the line OF
us plain duty, and upon the evidence
az furnished at the educatlonal IN
stitutions, there would be a change N
the law. But The law was allowed
TO remain unoha nged. Now there VIII
be much interest in the next report for
comparison with the last and to de-
ternline whether or not the suggestions
made by the board have been consid-
cred or acted upon.
In the report on the state normal
school two years ago the state board
found much to commend and some
things to criticise. we found, said
the board, ..tfhat the persons holding
positions had faithfuhy accounted for
all moneys drawn from the state treas
ury. as we'll as all other moneys that
had come into their hands as such
officers, and that all appropriations
had been drawn in accordance with
law" While this general commenda :
ton was made 1t was pointed out that
on one occasion there was $50 pal ]
out OF the general contingent fund to
assist students In defraytng expenses
in the alumni association, and THAT the
institution purchased 125 banquet tick
cts at 81 each for an alumni banquet
that while an auditing committee gen
erally approved all vouchers 1t wa
found that fifteen had been paid with
I,of nj no
found to be unsigned by the presi
dent. that on one occasion the building
fund was illegally overdrawn $1,799,
that on another accession the military
drill fund was overdrawn smali
amount, that the trustees had improp-
erly paid the secretary 5000 year for
services as bookkeeper, which services
belonged to the position OF secretary,
and that not in all cases were the con-
tracts for buildings written, but con
sisted of mere acc eptances OF bids. The
board recommended the employment
of a secretary who should be paid fair
salary and have an ONCE in the college
and handle all the business. The re-
ports on the State University and the
State College were of similar character
and merely pointed out those little de-
feets OF mana cement which We're hand
ed down from past generations and
have never been rectified.
At the conference OF the superin-
tendents this week an interesting dis
cussion came up on a paper by Super
intendent McCune, of the College for
the Blind, over the question OF the
proper housing OF the superintendents
and officers of the various institutions.
Superintendent McCune took the
ground that superintendent should
live outside of the institution, that
there are refreshlnent and inspiration
!r getting away from the cares of the
institution, that there should be some
opportunity for q superintendent for
home and social life without being sub
jected to criticism, and that he is en-
titled to the relaxation which can
come only by getting clear away from
the institution. Chairman Cownie. in
discussing the same matter. said that
he had formerly held this view, but
now believed that the place for all of
flcers and superir tendents is right In
the institution, where they may be
ready for any emergency. AS to the