Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-05-21
MR. BENTsoN COMES AGAIN
Refutes Statements and Proposes a
Change of Plan in Operation


EDITOR CENsoR:-A great man has
said that circumstances may make it
a sin to keep promise. This came
to my mind when / read Mr.. Benefits
last article, and concluded to ask you
again for little space.
In my previous answer | showed clear
ly two things: First, that Mr. Fowells
report to the board of control of 81. 81
per capita cost did not agree with his
report to the county board. OF current
expenses. Second, showed by com
pairing the current expense report of
Mr.. Powell with the same OF our neigh
Dor, Riehland county, managed under a
different system, that outs under pres
sen management, is very expensive and
should give place to the much more eco
nomic system of said other county.
Mr.. Bennett has spoiled my argument
by giving the startling information that
Mr.. Fowell's current expense report has
some fake attached to it, and hence is
clearly unfit to base my argument on.
Mr.. Bennett gives Us to understand that
Superintendent POWELL had used twice
the amount for permanent improve
ments that he was authorized to use,
so it was necessary for him to report
about one half OF the permanent as cur
rent; thus the current expenses show
larger than they are. he thinks ne Is
justifable because legislatures use such
tactics. According to this explanation
the permanent Improvement of 1912 IS
81, 473 SO, instead of SIS reported II, lSO.
How does this agree with the statement
made two weeks previous by Mr.. Ben
nett, that practically all the perma-
- . ke, far
are made by Mr.. POWELL himself?' If
this is the kind of report we have been
getting in the past there is no telling
what the improvements at the county
farm have cost. | must say il is a very
convenient report. When you want to
show up the permanent side, switch
over a thousand to current, when you
want to show current reverse IL.
Mr.. Bennett makes long list of what
| have put in as current, which is perma-
nent. have put in nothing; have simp-
ly taken Mr. Fowell's figures labeled
current, except | have added his salary,
which / know should 90 in either as
permanent improvements or current ex
penses. Could not see that it was inn
provement, nor ought II u become per-
manent, so classeG it as current ex-
penses.
Now Just word on Mr.. Benefits
main argument-M Mr.. Fowelrs report
TO the board of control placing the cost
per capita at 81 "a week. This report
is no proof in itself; it is simply mans
statement, examined by nobody, verified
by nobody except Mr.. Bennett, who
says it is correct. To have any value
as a proof it must be shown that IL
agrees with the current expenses. In
this case there needs no arguments to
disprove it. A grain of common sense
with little knowledge of the present
cost of living will convince anybody
that people cannot be fed, clothed,
furnished fuel, light, supervision, medi-
cal treatment, etc. all at cost Of 81 "a
week. Mr.. Fowel's salary, alone,
will make more than this sum.
Mr.. Benefits comparison of Vernon
with Lacrosse county. with a city Of
80, 600 inhabitants, is out of all reason.
l am glad to have Mr.. Bennett admit
that the poor farm and house have been
managed by a common farmer. He
did not state the salary, but will state
it, it was 5000 This is jnst what pro
pose to turn back to, except we NAV
now have to pay 800; but do not pro-
pose to pay $500 to look after outside
aid; that can be done by the asylum
superintendent and board Of trustees
with very little extra cost; for super
vision no extra pay, and the farm work
done by the asylum force.
If Mr.. Bennett agrees with me In this
last, we will drop the sword and shake
hands. r. I. BENTSoN.