Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-04-25
CHANGES IN STATE
HOMES To FOLLOW
GOVERNORS TOUR
Institutions Will be Raised to
High State Of Administrative
Efficiency.
FARMS TO BE DEVELOPED.
Executive Believes Maintenance
Cost Can Be Reduced by
Proper Efforts.

AS the result of the recent two
weeks trip of inspection by Governor
Lister to number of state institutions
1t may be safely predicted that as rap
idly as possible every institution un-
der the control of the governor win be
brought to high state Of efficiency.
He has declared himself positively
that not only will he demand and re-
quire the best of administrations with
respect to the internal workings Of the
institutions but in addition will In
sist that the outside surroundings be
such as to be credit to the state. This
condition was not found to exist In q
number of the institutions.
From the time Governor Lister first
became interested in the administra-
ton of the state government he has
beenu enthusiastic in endeavors, to
make the institutions self-supporting
so far as possible. 1t was under his
directions while with the board of
control that the start was made in
farm and garden work, making use Of
a portion of the available labor to be
found amongst the inmates. Under his
direction also clothing for the inmates
was manufactured and many other ar
ticles required by the institutions. not
ably at Fort Steilacoom where nearly
all of the beds required were manufac-
tured by some Of the patients.
One of his last oficial acts when
member Of the board was to unsuc-
cessfully urge on the state the pur-
chase Of the Shannon ranch on Mis-
qually bottom as farm for the West
ern Hospital for the Insane. Had this
purchase been consummated. it would
have accomplished what the state 10
now seeking to acquire at the Northern
Hospital for the Insane and by this
time under proper management would
have been q wealth-producing and mod
Ell farm.
Little along proper farm develop
ment has been accomplished during
the governors absence from the state
administration, but 1t is certain that
great development along these lines
will come now. The governor has ex-
pressed the belief that 1t will be possi-
BILE for the state to produce at its in
stitutions practically all of the fresh
meats. except beef, the hams, bacon
and lard, poultry and eggs, milk and
butter, and fruits and vegetables not
only for the table during season but to
be preserved or canned for use during
the winter months. This accomplish
ment alone will mean great saving in
maintenance cost.
In this connection the governor will
insist that the commercial end be not
the only one considered. He will in
sist that all the structures, fences and
the methods of cultivation be along
the most modern lines, instructive to
farmers and others engaged in similar
lines of work and show place to Wis
itors. He will insist that all of the
buildings, institutional and otherwise,
so far as possible shall be of modern
f1re-proof construction and maintained
in highest repair. He contends that 1t
is cheaper to keep buildings in repair
than to let them run down to the dis
graceful condition obtaining at some
of the institutions.
To secure the best men able and will
ing to carry out these plans is one of
the causes for the delay in announcing
appointments. A mere record of party
loyalty and party service in applicants
is considered by the governor decided
ly secondary to these other qualifica-
tions. He takes the position that he
will be judged entirely by the records
made by himself and his appointees in
carrying out his campaign promises Of
efficiency and economy.
During the governors absence from
Olympia on the East side reports were
circulated that he favored calling a
special session of the legislature. The
reports were absolutely without foun-
dation. The governor has always ex-
pressed himself as opposed to any spe-
cial session unless it is found to be
absolutely necessary and he has said
CONTINUED on page five.)