State Control of Charities and Corrections 23 



board. When the estimates are all in the hands of the board 

 quarterly, a schedule is made up for each institution of all arti- 

 cles estimated for. These schedules are sent, with printed specifi- 

 cations, to all bidders and wholesalers for such goods in the state, 

 and to many in Chicago, St. Louis, and other cities. When the 

 bids are received they are opened, and each firm's bid upon every 

 item scheduled, and the total of each bid footed. Samples are 

 required for canned goods, salt, and smoked meats, groceries, 

 clothing, dry goods and findings, cloth, stockings, and many other 

 articles. These samples are arranged convenient for inspection. 

 The quarterly meeting of the superintendents is held as soon as 

 these schedules and samples are ready, and the superintendents 

 inspect the samples and bids, and leave a written memoranduit 

 with the board indicating their choice. Awards are then made 

 to the successful bidders. Should the successful bidder furnish 

 an inferior article, the superintendent at the institution is di- 

 rected to return the goods. 



At the end of each month the pay-roll and all vouchers are 

 certified to the board, and when approved it is so indicated by 

 the board, and the secretary makes triplicate certificates, /Dne to 

 the state auditor, one to the state treasurer, and one to be kept 

 in the office of the board. The full amount of the pay-roll is 

 certified to be paid the superintendent, who disburses it to the 

 several employees. On receipt of the certificates and warrants 

 from the state auditor, the state auditor mails a check to each of 

 the other certified persons. 



The storekeeper is required to give bonds at each institution. 

 Quarterly balances and invoices of goods on hand are taken. 

 Occasional invoices of all institution stocks are also taken by an 

 expert appointed by the Board of Control, without previous 

 notice to the storekeeper. No goods are disbursed except upon 

 requisitions signed by the chief executive officer, and these requi- 

 sitions are in triplicate, one copy being retained by the store- 

 keeper, one by the bookkeeper, and the other returned to the 

 Board of Control. Duplicate storekeeper's books are kept in the 

 office of the Board of Control. 



379 



