The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-09-15


though the expense of administration
in dollars and cents had necessarily
increased, the per capita cost decreas-
ed TO S65.53. Mr.. Goodrich also used
tor comparative costs the per capita
costs of total maintenance. These fig
ures are not reliable for comparative
purposes, for the same reasons that
the other averages are not, because
in the sum total is included this fiuct-
uating per capita cost for administra-
ton, and expenses made for repairs.
which may be great one year or less
the next. When we took charge OF the
institutions they were in need of
many repairs and the demands for
these from year TO year have increas-
ed, and as the buildings get older Will
continue TO increase. The average per
capita of employees of our institutions
is equally yalueless for comparative
purposes, for such averages are ef-
fected in the same way and by the
same influences. There can be no
question but what the number of the
employees OF our institutions is great
er now than in 1908, and prior years.
u
creased and they have been manned
with the necessary employees called
for by the increase. In the comparison
used by Mr.. Goodrich are included
the new institutions not existing un-
der Governor Hanly. If, however, the
method of comparison of averages is
made in the per capita cost OF admin
istration or the institutions existing
during the last year OF Governor Han
ly's administration with the per cap
tia cost of administration Of the same
institutions under the last year OF
Governor Ralston's administration, il
will be found that under Governor
Hanly the per capita cost was $95.4SI
while under Governor Ralston the per
capita cost was S93.14, a Democratic
saving of 1924 per capita. Before
leaving this branch of the discussion.
| must take time to refer to one or
two other criticisms made by Mr..
Goodrich In reference to our manage
ment of the institutions. Mr. Good
rich gives examples of the different
prices paid for commodities by the
different institutions. That is one OF
the evils of having nineteen different
boards OF trustees purchase supplies
for our institutions. They purchase at
different times, in different markets,
in different quantities, and different
qualities. as the needs of the institu-
tons and their inmates demand. and
as a. result there are different prices
paid. Mr.. Goodrich cites an instance
where 1t costs one hospital for the in
sane $74.73 per capita for subsistence
and another S54.67. If Mr.. Goodrich
had wanted to be entirely fair to his
audience he would have told them
that the first institution was equipped
with a small farm and garden, while
the other had a large farm and was
thereby able to earn subsistence per
capita to the amount of S2195, max
ing the per capita cost of subsistence
about the same. A few days ago Mr..
Goodrich asked to have explained why
it cost the Northern Hospital for food
products, in 1908, $51.56 per capita,
and only $54.67 in 1915, while il cost
the Central Hospital S623S per capita
in 1908 and S7473 in 1918. Mr.. Good |
rich misstates the cost per capita in J
years. The exact figures are that in |
1908, at the Northern Hospital the per |
capita cost for subsistence was not |
$51.56 but it was S6632, while in 1915 |
it was not S54.67 but it was S76.64. or |
an increase of Is IL per cent, which |
is about the increase in the cost OF |
living. At the Central Hospital the |
cost per capita for subsistence was |
not S63.3S in 1908, but was S65.59. In |
1913 the cost per capita was not |
Stab as stated by Mr.. Goodrich but |
$3.50, or about an increase of 10 per |
cent. The difference of 3 IL per cent |
is accounted for by the fact that the
Central Hospital must purchase all OF |
its vegetables and other products in |
the Indianapolis market, where the |
prices are much Nhigher than in the |
smaller city of Logansport
The Democratic party has no apoli- |
gy to make for its management of the |
Benevolent and Correctional Institu. |
tons of the State. Its policy has been |
to provide all necessary buildings |
and grounds, to keep them in repair. |
to furnish all proper and necessary |
and clothing for the in
mates, to furnish all needed and nee
essary attention, and to use modern |
means in their care, education and |
relief.
Your Benevolent and Correctional |
Institutions are managed by trustees |
Of different political faith. and on |
every board of trustees two OF the |
hoy
These boards select their own super
ntendent and with him manage the
They pass upon and au- 4
-hcrize the expenditure of every dol
ar that is spent Your state officers
cannot and have not interfered liz any
way with the management of these in
situations. Their management has
been absolutely non-partisan, as is
evidenced by the fact that two OF the
OF the five insane
hospitals are Republican. Some OF
hem were appointed under Republi-
IAN administrations and have been
permitted to remain. Under the pres
,nt administration, Republicans In
one or two instances have been ap-
pointed to the heads OF our institu-
ions
We invite an inspection of the man
lgement Of these institutions during
)ur administration of them and a
comparison OF that management with
he last Republican administration
N this comparison we insist there
must be taken into consideration
.hese elements. That four new insti-
utions have been added. equipped
md officered, that two institutions
ave been completed. equipped and
that there are more than