Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-02-15
State Superintendent of Public Schools

State Superintendent Of Public Schools
AS bearing upon the question of ap-
NAL schools ask you to note that our
| two largest schools having already an
extensive territory of their own are
also caring for some pupils who ought
to attend the schools nearer home. At
Gorham there are twenty mine pupils
| from territory not naturally belonging
to that school. Pennington has sixty
nine, some of whom are properly there
for the special course in domestic
science. I recommend that pupils at
tending normal school out of their
own natural district be required to pay
tuition unless relieved by special per-
nit from the State Superintendent of
, Schools.
Augusta and Bangor State Hospitals.
In comparing the recommendations Tor
19l7-l9lS with the appropriations for main
tenance in l915-l9l6 remember that the
latter were net appropriations while the
present figures cover everything includ-
ing income. 1t is hoped that both these
institutions with the assistance OF the
Governor and Council can carefully check
up all cases of patients wholly main
tained by the State. The fact that 81
per cent. of the patients of both hospl-
tails are entirely maintained at public eN-
pense, indicates plainly that in many in
stances the relatives of patients must be
able to provide for them. Certain small
appropriations for renovatons and new
4 h,
list in the case of both institutions with
the idea that they can be provided for
out Of the general expense fund in the
maintenance appropriation and out of in
creased revenue from care of patients,
| following the suggestion made above. In
the case of the Augusta hospital sutii-
cient amount, probably $4,000 to complete
the furnishing of the two wings now II,
process of renovation, should be appro-
priated out of last years contingent fund.
Maine School for the Feeble Minded.
A careful study of the whole problem OF
the feeble minded in Maine should pre-
cede the expenditure of a large amount
of money at this institution. In the
meantime the urgent need of a remodele 4
heating plant should be met this year.
and the appropriation for new buildings
In 1918 should be conditional upon the APP
proval of the board of trustees and the
Governor and Council after a thorough
study of the situation has been made.
State Sanatoriums.
| In the case of these institutions it also
should be noted that the suggested APP
propriations are the gross amounts in
cluding income. The law should be
changed so that patients who are able
to pay will be expected to pay the entire
cost of treatment.
University Of Maine.
| In connection with the appropriations
| for maintenance it is recommended that
the tuition charge be increased s25 for
students living outside the state Of Maine
and $40 for those living within the State
except those in the college of agriculture
| You will find under APPENDIX ~ a
suggested distribution of the approprla-
tion for maintenance in the case of each
| of the State institutions. The items sug-
gested are as follows: Personal services
! food supplies, clothing. repairs and equip
that appropriations for maintenance OF
these institutions be made with the sub
divisions indicated. but with the authority
to transfer from one subdivision to an
other upon the approval of the board OF
| trustees and the Governor and Council
| You will note that this table shows the
| average population of each institution for
the years 19l5-l916 and the estimated pop
ulation for the years 1917-191S This en-
ables you and the public to compare in
telligently the cost of each of the items
| for the average individual in each institu-
| ton.
| 1t is an important function of the bud
get system not only to enable the LegiG;-
| lature to scrutinize all proposed public
! expenditures before authorizing any OF
! them, but also to make possible definite
fixing of responsibility upon all spending
officers of the government through a cost
system sufficiently detailed to permit ac.
curate comparison between expenditures
| for like purposes in different departments
| Appropriations for all State depart.
| ments should be made in the manner in
| dcated for these institutions. That is. !;
general subdivision of the maintenance
should be indicated but special individual
salaries should not be fixed. The detail;
| Of expenditures under each subdivision
| should be left to the discretion OF the
heads of departments under the control
| of the Governor and Council. Definite
comparison should always be possible be
tween expenditures for like purposes in
different departments in proportion TO the
amount Of public service rendered. For
example, it Is absurd that the head of q
| State department should be unable u
| change the salary of a clerk or Stenog-
rapher without an act of the Legislature
Only the salaries of responsible heads OF
/ departments should be fixed by law. AL
! other details involving personal service
| should be left to the judgment of the
/ head of department within his appro-
priation for that purpose and under the
general oversight of the Governor ana
! Council.
! 1t does not seem wise to suggest at thlS
; time all the changes necessary to INTRO
] d,1ce this scientific method for malntc'
nance appropriation in all departments
Recause the budget itself is new it has
seemed better to suggest beginning this
yyat y h