The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-28

OEHAA UA1lx 0IAI6
Bowman az to the lack Of wisdom in
establishing that institution and to the
criticism that the cattle and teams and
chickens and other equipment of q state
hospital farm were placed there before
the Institution was ready to receive pa
tients. We find that the board acted
wisely In pursuing this policy; that the
board acted wisely In getting prom
tses and equipment ready to make the
institution homelike before the pa
tients were brought there. We also
find that in its actions the board was
simply carrying out the plans made by
the legislature. and pursued the policy
outlined by the legislature in Chapter
Il OF the Session Laws OF 1913, making
appropriations for the building and
maintenance OF the Larned State hos
pital. as well a. Chapter ~ Of the SEES
sion Laws Of 1911 bearing upon this
same subject. We find that most OF
the cattle were merely transferred
from the Parsons State hospital to the
Larned State hospital, but for pur-
poses Of bookkeeping and keeping the
straight 1t was considered by the board
as a sale from the Parsons State hos
pital to the Larned State hospital and
We find also that most OF these cattle
were young heiferS which were ex-
pected to drop calves in the early
spring at which time it would have
been unwise and dangerous to have
shipped them and that it was both wise
and prudent to transfer them from
Parsons to Larned in the autumn.
We find also that the preliminary
expenditures to the successful MAIN
tenance of a state hospital farm at
Larned in the autumn of 1913 were
wisely made and that it would have
been imprudent and negligent for the
board to have waited until the spring
OF 1914 before these provisions for the
operation of a $50 acre farm were I'M
dertaken. A careful examination of
Chapter n OF the Session Laws OF 1911
convinces US that it was the intention
of the legislature that this institution
should have been ready for occupancy
by the early spring of 1912 and that
the policy of the present board In push
ing that institution to completion is to
be commended.
We find from the evidence and also
as matter of law that Mr.. Bowman
participated in the letting of the con-
tracts for the building Of this insti-
tuition of which he complains.
We find that in further pursuance Of
its policy to get the Larned State
hospital ready for occupancy at the
best care of the states investment
there and to utilize to the best pos
sible advantage the states investment
in the $50 acres of land then purchased,
the board deemed it wise to employ a
farmer experienced in irrigation who
could devote himself particularly. to the
development of this land in connection
with the irrigation plant which the
state was constructing on it's prop
erty. To do this work the board en-
ployed one E. H. Lyon, a former citi-
zezn OF Colorado, who had been an
experienced irrigation farmer. II. d.
Bowman and Stance Myers Of the board
OF control agreed to the employment
of said Lyon and fixed his salary at
SIS per month. It appears from the
evidence that in addition to this salary
of SIS month the said Lyon received
from the state the use of a house and
comm1ssary supplies for the mainten-
ance of himself and family.
Farm Well Managed.
1t is commended by Mr.. Bowman that
no agreement was made for the use
of the house and the maintenance of
said Lyon and family by the state as
part of this contract. 1t is contend
ed by Brooks and Meyers that this was
q definite agreement entered into by
the board of control with said Lyon.
1t also appears from the evidence that
SoAO Lynn 1laS proved HlmSGlI TO De
an experienced irrigation farmer and
has gotten excellent results for the
state in the management and develop
ment Of the Larned State Hospital
farm. and this committee finds that
the amount Of compensation given
him by the board Of control is not ex-
cessive in view of his proven merit.
We find that it does appear that the
said Mr.. Lyon is related by marriage
to the wife OF w. E. Brooks. and 1t is
claimed by Mr.. Bowman that this re-
harmony in the conduct of the
Larned state hospital. but the sworn
testimony of DR.. Hawk. superintend-
ent, is to the contrary. While the
employment Of a relative of a mem
Der OF the board is not contrary to
law. this committee is OF opinion that
such course is unwise and might
result in embarrassment at the states
institutions. although it appears from
the evidence that such methods have
previously been followed in various
departments of the state government.
We find that owing to certain or
ders made by Superintendent Hawk
OF the Larned state hospital, contrary
to positive instructions from the board,
there are some bills which it was inn
possible to pay out of the appropria-
pital for the fiscal year ending June
80. 1914, and that they must be pre-
scented as deficiency bills at the COM
Ing session Of the legislature. This
matter will need the attention of the
legislature but does not reflect in the
slightest degree upon the official con-
duct of any one Of the three members
of the board OF control.
We do find an irregularity in the
conduct of affairs at the Larned state
hospital not covered by Mr.. Bowman's
charges or the political documents
based thereon. There have been sales
OF milk and other products Of the
state hospital farm and the sums real
lied therefrom have not been turned
into the state treasury as required bv
law. These sums have been expended
TOT the Denefit OF the institution and
a full accounting has been made and
no one has profited therefrom. No
blame attaches to any one Of the three