The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-12-11
STATE BOARD IS A SUCCESS
Oregon May Establish Similar State
Control
DUTIES OF COMMITTEE ARE MANY
PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES is GREAT
FEATURE OF THE BOARDS
WORK.
DUTIES OF COMMITTEE ARE MANY

The possibility of the establishment
of an Oregon board Of central has led
politicians of that state to inquire how
the Washington board of control is
conducted and what success it has met.
That the body has been a satisfactory
institution in this state is evidenced
by the fact that there is a decided
movement to considerably increase the
scope of the boards jurisdiction at the
coming session of legislature, states
one writer. When it costs but 80 cents
a day per prisoner at the penitentiary
and when this cost includes not only
clothing, food, light, heat and medi-
cal attendance for the prisoners, but
also the salaries and board Of the
officers and guards, it is of interest to
learn how these results are accom-
plished.
The Washington board of control
was created in 1901, succeeding a state
board of audit and control 1t consists
of three members, no more than two of
whom are members of the dominant
political power, appointed by the gov
ernor for six year terms and remov
able at pleasure of the governor. The
present board consists of Matt L.
Piles, chairman, of Olympia and Sc
attic, and J. H. Davis of Tacoma, re-
publicans; and H. T. Jones of SpO-
kane, democrat. This board has alb
solute control of the two hospitals for
fIo 70
soldiers home, state reform school, the
state school for deaf and blind and the
state institution for defective youth.
These institutions contain approx
imately 2700 inmates. The members of
the board receive $4,000 a year salary
each, which the coming legislature will
be asked to increase to $4,000 or $4,000,
and are each allowed $500 per year
travelling expenses. The board the
past two years has been allowed 5000
a year for clerical assistance and 500
a year for the two years for office and
incidental expenses. One member of
the board must visit each institution
every month, and the entire board
must n a body visit all institutions
quarterly. The board appoints super
intendentS of the several institutions,
who in turn appoint employees. Each
year the board makes up a list of the
employees allowed each institution and
the salaries that are to be paid.
The big feature of the boards
work is the purchase of supplies. The
law requires this to be done Semi-an-
nually after calling for bids. No
purchases may be made by the super
intendents except in cases of the
greatest emergency, and even in
these cases authority is usually asked
of the board before purchase is made.
Every six months the several superin-
tendents submit to the board lists of
supplies they desire for the ensuing
six months. These the board checks
over and such as are allowed are then
prepared on lists to be sent to all
bidders. Hundreds Of names of firms
throughout the state and adjoining
states are on the mail lists Of the
board and receive copies of all lists
for bids in their lines. When the
bids are opened the board examines
samples and awards the contract uni
versally to the lowest and best bid
der. There is always plenty of COM
petition.