State Control of Charities and Corrections 33 



the management of the state institutions. Their time is not wholly 

 given to financial matters, but in cooperation with the superin- 

 tendents they come into close sympathetic touch with the inmates 

 and reach intelligent solution of the problems relating to their 

 good. 



Fourth — It is urged that a state board of control can not keep 

 in close touch with the people and can not accomplish as much 

 as an advisory board in the enlightenment of public opinion. 

 This objection is perhaps as strong as any. Boards of control 

 have not fully solved this problem of securing sufficient publicity 

 as a means to the enlightenment of public opinion. No serious 

 difficulties, however, have arisen on this account, and we have 

 reason to believe that provision will be made in the future to 

 meet this objection. 



Fifth — It is urged that a state board of control will give little 

 attention to what is being accomplished in other states and will 

 take little interest in the discussions of the National Conferences 

 of Charities and Correction. We do not understand on what 

 grounds this objection is based. Members of state boards of con- 

 trol visit other states and seem to take as much interest in public 

 discussions of charities and corrections as do members on the 

 advisory boards. 



Sixth — It is urged that a state board of control can not impar- 

 tially investigate abuses at state institutions, because in doing so 

 it would be investigating itself. In Wisconsin, Iowa, and Min- 

 nesota, since the state boards of control were established, no 

 n^eds have arisen to make a formal investigation of alleged 

 abuses. This is accounted for from the fact that the board is 

 given authority to correct all abuses. This being understood, it 

 has served the purpose of preventing their occurrence. Pov;er 

 to make all needed changes and to enforce their recommendations 

 has had the efifect of securing better administration than was 

 possible under an advisory board. 



389 



