Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1910-08-04
PAGE FIVE

* man would think of asking for such swor
Is statement as to his private bilis, and do II,
think anyone who has any business sense voul
N insist ON such sworn statement IN connectio
" with an account rendered, But II the Count
m Board insists on H. well and good, then the con
nittce ought 10 carry out the instructions OF III
a County Board whatever they may be.
The next suggestion thint, Is all right. Ever
II entry IN q bill ought 10 be itcmized aud ouqh
to he-as / said this morning presented mouth
e. ",
/ As 10 the item near the bottom of page ., 50 fa
D as am concerned, know nothing about cN
CceSiYc v, lsriuarY bills being presented, aud
z do not think there was any such bill presented
s 60 MS that was important. and do not Lnoy,
whether there were any animals reported a.
having died or not Again, TO the enlarge.
z mcnt OF the buildings, The impression was per
mitted to 40 out that II these Improvements
were made, We would get more STATE patients,
CnuScQ ucutly Increase the revenue. The nri-
mary object of this enlargement was to provide
quarters for patients that ought TO bc separated
FROM those who did not need special attention.
There are many patients in the institution that
are more or less violent aud Troublesome, aud
permitting them TO mnCle With harmless iu-
mates was very dcmorali1ing aud this improve
uieut was intended 10 take care OF such inmates.
do not recall that the matter OF chapel was
ever mentioned, although the superintendent
suggested that an audience room would bc very
desirable, bat do not think that our committee
took action on this item,
As 10 the charge that the superintendent ac-
| lively assumed the clerical, constructive aud
managerial official duties NOT defined la any
| way as 4 part OF his work, he likewise, Ia turn.
neglected the faithful performance of the farm
| work. matter SO essential Ia The financial wei
! fare OF this institution" ! will state that the
! superintendent did not assume such duties eN
! ccpt the request Of the trustees. II any fault
! attaches which do not believe rs true, Il must
] bc placed on the shoulders ot the board 81 ttus-
/ tees IL was physical irtpnsihity Tor the
\ board To- attcud 10 these things, because they
could not be present at an times In order 70 re-
ctipt for the funds and see that they were prop
( vtly deposited and credited on THE books OF the
/ county treasurer. Although 30 limit was plac-
I 81 10 nay knowledge on the a ne that the trus
tees should devote To the sup srvision OF the ia
Stituttuu, | take "a that " the spent very much
! OF their time, they would be severely criticised
! by the county board When thcir bills were be
! ing audited Ths know has becn done In the
| past, aud we had no good reason 20 believe that
| auy change of sentiment had been brought
! about In the board
As To the charge that In the discharge of these
| delegated duties by the superintendent, The
/ neglected the fsithtul performance OF the iart
work" Win an due Difference to the opinion
] OF the committee, Insist that this was uot true
/ tits ridiculous To charge that dcVotinR few
hours each month to clerical work on the part
/ of the superintendent would result "a neglect
| of his other duties ~ connection with the m
/ stitutton, Also IL seems TO me that the charge
that che assumed the clerical, constructive aud
managerial official duties" Is ridiculous sub
\ init that " hc has any duties al All to perform
/ IN connection with the Office, they are essential
/ ~ CLERICAL, Constructive aud MANAGER
/ tAl' 10 their character Any iair minded man
who has visited the Institution must conCcde
that the physical condition of the institution re-
/ flutes this charge most cmphatically. Insist
/ here aud now that Ia the opinion OF those that
| are competent 60 judge OF the conditions lea
/ Wisconsin, that there Is not an institution 10
] the state OF like character that has been better
OF even as wei managed as the asy lam OF Iowa
/ county, aud have never heard the charge be
! fore hy anyone, either officially OF unolhciallyy
| that the present superintendent ever neglected
[ his duties, and il Is plepostorous 60 charge that
/ a few minutes devoted every month TO attcud
| to the clerical duties OF the office, would result
IN his neglectlpg the supervision OF the ph}Sr
| cal conditions OF the asylum,
/ am not here Ia the capacity OF an attorney
iot the Superintendent neither do hold bret
/ Tor him He Is well able 10 take care nt him-
1 self hut / submit that the present condition
! of the institution, both as TO the farm ana
I buildings, are Sufficient vouchers 70 rcinto the
charge that there has been any carclcssness 90
| iucthCirnCy on his part.
As stated 10 the last part of the report, the rn5
ices are morally and legally responsible do not
thiui, that any member of the board Of trustees,
past OF ~ lstnt have ANY desire 70 shlth mus
"moral and ia 1i responsibility" Personally,
/ | have no hesitation Ia stating now aud here
| that viii be only too glad TO reimburse the
county Tor any loss thlt accrued dhuhg lhe
short time IN which | held oihcci that was
brought about through the careless neglect OF
duties.
As TO this great wrong" that has been
! "t1isted" upon the people, upon pernuihR s0rin-
what hurriedy, | can see No Justification ior
such charge against the trustees, either past 1r
present II a great wrong has been "io'stcd'
upon the people, II rs not All the laplt OF ihe
trustees. Their accounts were Annually audit
ed by a committee OF your board, and ior The
last twenty or twenty-five years, have never
heard an accusation from the county board OF
any OF It's committees that these men were neg
lectug their duty or that their accounts were
1 short. II might be claimed that the county
! board did not have the tlme to look into the ae
counts thoroughly in order To check them up AZ
! they ought tu have been. II the time devoted
! by the committee to audit these accounts was
too short, I, was the duty OF the county board 10
insist that the subcommittee to audit afcouuts
4 should devote as much time As necessary 10 or.
der that a thorough examination was Idado OF
| the books.
| la conclusion with all due Difference 10 the
( members OF the committee, Il seems 10 ne that
! the general tone OF the report is 81 such char
| acter that IL casts a reelection on the character
| of some Of the best citizens ~ Iowa county
/ which Is not deserved. do not care To De per
/ suual in this matter ] want 60 eliminate my
| self entirely from Cunsdcrat OF. FROM the
/ first installation Of the asylum, without eNcep'
| ton. the men whom YOU appointed as trustees
were men whose standing Tor honesty anh ~.
| tcgrity was above reprOdch. They were men OF
business, men that were devoted Co The duties oi
! tie office, aud they gave SUCH time az ui'y
| could afford 90 tHc conscientious discharge 81
/ tHeif duties. n is late in ufc day, ana mink
! comes with very bad grace 10 spread broadcast,
I as YOU nave done in TIE report the statement
/ tuat tHcy permitted great wrong 10 be
! "iuistcd' upon the people
! Ia looking over tHe statement nurrediy
there seems 10 have been discrepancies In some
/ figures aud statements submitted, WHICH unr
/ derstaud could easily have been explained "
/ the committee had been disposed To- be iair aud
/ rarry tucir investigation 20 sucH an extent as
| wouid include the time covered by tUe report OF
TIE trustees Many Of these men are gone and
/ are uuablc to be mere 20 defend Themselves, but
gentlemen. the record they ~ de IA TIE an
nails Of Iowa county rs Of sucH character ttat ]
DO not tHink that iusiuuations Of ms Kind
I would influence any fair minded citizen OF tax
payer OF this county 10 believe tlial tley were
dishonest or ueglcctfui A. 20 TIE living, l
nave 40 fears bnt thai tHey will be able to pro
tcct themselves Just word as 10 TIE two
members WHO are now on ne board and WHO
we're associated with me durinR my snort term
want 10 state tHat nave never come IN con
tact with men WHO we're more careful and
faithful Va tue discharge 81 tuc duties 81 tlte
once tuan Mr. Murphy and Mr.. billings As
tite other member, Mr.. Jackson, uis cHaTac-
ter aud standing iu Iowa county ~ sncH that
tire reflection aud limitations contained In the
report will not do rim q particle 81 injury IN
tte eyes OF THOSE WHO knew Him best
/ am very glad tHat tHis investigation Was
geld. and Have no fault whatever to ma wilH
mncH Of TIE recommendations contained in ~
think aucu an examination ought 70 b. made
urriodicaiiy by tie county board 81 supervisors
not only Of TIC asylum but also OF every brancb
Of tpe trenty government am hrmly o. tHe
opiuion that better business methods should De
Installed in keeping The accounts Of tbe asylum,
and am keartily In accord with the recon-
mrndations made by The committee along that
line.
Mr. Roethea You spoke about moneys 70.
crigcd from private patients aud sales. Do
. / YOU ever see book containing an itemihsd
! statement Of private patient money, Or salcH a.
No Sir told you tits morning never did
o. You say that when you were trustee you
I delegated power 20 the superintendent 20 handle
q NuFuN HHHI IA