Guild: State Supervision of Charities IS 



For minor employees it fixes a graded scale of wages. Its 

 fiscal control is emphasized. It receives monthly estimates 

 from the superintendents and lays down laws and rules for 

 the purchasing of supplies, which it controls by estimates and 

 contracts, tho the actual buying is done by the heads of each 

 institution. It has also fiscal supervision over the affairs of 

 the educational institutions of the State. The board has full 

 powers of investigation, may summon witnesses, administer 

 oaths, and compel testimony. It is given power of visitation 

 and inspection over county and private institutions for the 

 insane, and over certain other private institutions, and in ad- 

 dition is given the duty of investigating the whole system of 

 State charities, thus combining with its administrative func- 

 tions some of the duties of the Indiana supervisory board. 



It is usual for boards of this type to appoint only the 

 heads of the institutions, allowing the latter to appoint the 

 minor officials and employees. There is often found a pro- 

 vision prohibiting the members of the board from attempting 

 to influence the superintendent in the appointing of the em- 

 ployees under him, in order to prevent the entrance of politics 

 into the internal affairs of the institutions. 



The Dual Type — Illinois.'*^ In Illinois there are two sepa- 

 rate boards over the charitable institutions, one a Board of 

 Administration, the other a Charities Commission.^' The 

 Board of Administration consists of five members, appointed 

 by the governor, who have executive and administrative con- 

 trol over all State charitable institutions excepting the pris- 

 ons. It resembles the Iowa board in many respects. Its 

 fiscal power is emphasized, and one member, styled Fiscal 

 Supervisor, has special charge over the finances of the insti- 

 tutions. He inspects the books and provides a uniform 

 method of accounting, examines the condition of the buildings 

 and grounds, and supervises the making of repairs. Acting 

 with a committee of the superintendents, he has charge of 

 purchasing supplies by contract. The superintendents suh- 



"Laws, 1912, p. 66. 



'^'^ Theye is a Commission on Prison Industries, but each institution is under separate 

 management. The committee on Efficiency and Economy of the Illinois legislature, re- 

 porting in 1915, recommends a single board over all the prisons and reformatories. The 

 original bill for the dual system in 1909 provided for the prisons under the other two 

 boards, and Dr. Fairlie, director of the Efficiency and Economy committee, believes that 

 is the ultimate solution as far as administration by boards or commissions is concerned. 



