2 3 » Anderson William Clark 



tions, gave advice, made recommendations, and made reports to 

 the governor. In these reports were found many complaints 

 concerning unauthorized appropriations, doubhng of weight of 

 groceries and suppHes, false classification of pay-rolls, unbusiness- 

 like methods practiced by the officers, extravagant and wasteful 

 expenditures, and political influences which retarded the develop- 

 ment of all charitable and correctional work. It was also found 

 during all these years that the state institutions were constantly 

 lobbying against each other in securing appropriations. At the 

 same time this board was powerless to make the necessary 

 corrections. 



These things led the legislature of Winconsin, after ten years 

 of such experience, to create an additional board known as the 

 State Board of Supervision, in the year 1881. To this board was 

 given authority to control reformatory, charitable, and penal in- 

 stitutions beyond the authorities possessed by the State Board of 

 Charities. This was a step in the right direction. It was soon 

 found, however, that the two boards clashed with each other on 

 questions of administration and supervision. The two boards 

 continued in existence for ten years until the year 1891 when, 

 because of jealousies and conflicts between them on questions 

 of jurisdiction, it was decided to abolish both of them. This 

 was done by the legislature of 1891 and the State Board of 

 Control was established. The Board of Control was a natural 

 evolution. It consists of five members, and was the outcome of 

 the centralizing tendencies which were first manifested in creat- 

 ing the State Board of Supervision in i88t. During all the 

 years following 1881 there was a gradual manifestation of a 

 tendency towards centralization until its complete realization 

 in a State Board of Control which puts Wisconsin in an ad- 

 vanced position among the states in the work of administration 

 of charities and correction. 



Many very satisfactory . results have followed the establish- 

 ment of this board. Under the old method, it was the custom 

 to disregard in great measure the fitness of superintendents and 

 other officers of state institutions, and to select men through 

 political influence. It is the common testimony of the people of 



376. 



