Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/794

 780 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

question with great candor, presenting with singular ability the argument for and against the change. He thought it beyond question that, if all the purchases for the institutions were made by a single agency, money would be saved, there would be no strife between the different institutions, and the reports from them would no longer be colored by local bias or interests. Members of separate boards were often lobbyists for their particular insti- tution, without considering the interests of the state at large.

The dangers of the board of control plan were thus summa- rized :

.... that the appointments are as likely to take the political complexion as in the make-up of the separate boards. If inefficiency or lack of probity find place, the resulting danger is greater because of the greater power. There is also greater danger of stagnation, and that a demoralizing and bureaucratic spirit may gain ascendency.

In the same message he said : "Our Board of Corrections and Charities has done, and is doing, valuable work, and is exer- cising a wholesome control over our institutions." In a public address given later he repeated this testimony in a very warm indorsement of Secretary Jackson. It may be well to say here that at no time in the discussion was this board adversely criti- cised. Mr. Dunn and the present governor both agreed that this board should continue, even if the board of control plan was adopted, but it failed in the legislature.

Governor Lind recommended as the most important feature of the Wisconsin and Iowa system the matter of analyzed accounts, so that a prompt and correct comparison might be made in the expenditures of the various institutions. This sug- gestion was approved by the legislature, and an additional appropriation to the Board of Corrections and Charities was made for that purpose. This was the entering wedge for the new method of management.

Mr. Dunn renewed his recommendation for a board of con- trol in his message to the legislature of 1901. Governor Van Sant also recommended the board of control in his annual mes- sage. The argument of each was chiefly the saving to be made in purchasing supplies.