Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-02-27
IS LOST
IN THE STATE SENATE.

Every one or the twenty-five insti-
|tions Of the state was visited and re-
ported on BY the committee and much
was brought out to show that the state
win be much better of with the con-
trol OF these Institutions in charge Of
one beard instead of d seperate board
for each. The report discloses start
ling variations In the prices paid for
supplies for the different Institutions.
prices for prunes ranging form three
land half cents for the psnitentIary
Ito nine cents at the Romney school
for the deaf. dumb and blind, there
being difference OF several dollars
lin the price OF -four per barrel. the
price of beef per hundred pounds and
the price OF other staple articles
bought for the different institutions
The placing OF the control OF the insti-
buttons In the hands Of three compe-
tent and honest men will remedy this
as the proposed board OF control viii
lido the buying for all the institutions
land can secure articles for one in
|stitution for the same price they will
have to pay for them for another. ex,
cept for any slight variation
there might be for freight. The
book keeping at the institution is
shown to be faulty In some OF them
there being no attempt made to keep
la complete system of accounts nd
which has resulted in about million
and a half dollars having been spent
Illegally in seven years. Fault Is
found In the manner contracts for.
construction work at some OF the In
|stitutions has been given out. These
as we'll as many other defects, arss
proposed to be remedied by the crea-
|tion of the new board the members
'pf which will be required to devote
their entire time to looking after the
institutions.
Thebill crs ating a boardof control
was drawn by the investigating com
mittee after 1t had acquainted Itself
with the deplorable conditions exist
ing at the Institutions. Such a bill
was recommended by the late Warden
Haddox OF the penitentiary in letter
TO the committee shortly before his
death. is~Ssx IL ~ u xs>
Though the committee has made a
report setting forth many things
which show that West Virginia Is bad
ly and sadly in need OF a change in
the management OF its public institr-
lions 1t Is understood that the com
Mite has much more Information con-
corning immoral and unlawful prac-
tees at these institutions. which In
formation was not embodied In the
report. Further developments are
expected hourly and It may be. even
II tbe bill creating board control
is made law, that there may be
some head chopping before that law
takes effect.
The report dealt severely with the
management OF the deaf and blind
school at Romney, and was followed
by the early arrival at the capital of
Dr. Rucker superintendent OF that
school. .s..f.--.4 -.f
Though the benitehtiary manage
ment has been ufider a heavy fire
from Delegate Moore the report Of
the investigating COMMITTEES shows
that institution to be the most syste-
matically and economically conducted
IN the stale. The committee found
that the system of accounting there
to be nearer complete system than
at any other place visited and in the
reports of prices paid for supplies ard
Tie cost OF keeping inmates the penI-
Tertiary is always found among the
lowest. On account of the investiga-
ton going on as result OF the Moore
charges the committee, however, did
not complete It's report on the peniten-
tiary.