APPENDIX
ture of the moneys contributed by the state, so that it may be known that these funds are actually required and are applied without extravagance to the purposes for which they are intended. It is unfair that the burden of investigation should be imposed upon the committees upon appropriations of the senate and house to be completed during the brief periods of the sessions. No matter how long and late they labor at the task, the results in the nature of things must be imperfect. The time is insufficient and only interested parties appear before them. The efforts of members to secure these appropriations for institutions in the districts they represent are a hindrance to and interference with general legislation. A plan could be adopted which would not in any way interfere with the visitatorial powers of the Board of Charities, and perhaps the most effective way would be to increase their powers and agencies.
An earnest effort has been made, in which all the heads of departments have participated, to reduce the bulk of the departmental reports which had gradually grown to unwieldy proportions, and thus to reduce the expense of printing. The report of the Factory Inspector, which in 1903 covered 1,206 pages, in 1904 was reduced to 190 pages and gave practically as much information. The volume of laws for the session of 1903 covered 661 pages, as compared with 1,013 pages of laws for the preceding session. During the last year the expenses for printing have been reduced to the extent of $107,168.44 from those of the year before, and to the lowest figure, with one exception, in nine years, notwithstanding a great increase in publication owing to the increase of departments and the growth of public work. The statute, which regulates our public printing and established the existing schedules, was passed in 1876. Since that time there have been many changes in type-setting and the arts of typography and book-binding. The schedules are inadequate and obsolete. Much of the work necessarily done is not provided for in them, and, therefore, is paid for at special rates. The last contract awarded four years ago was let at a rate 88.01 per cent below the schedules, which is an absurdity. It is hoped the legislation on this subject will be revised.
The Department of State Highways, provided for by the act of April 15, 1903, has been organized in compliance with the terms of the act, and is making satisfactory progress. There are at present completed, under construction, and approaching construction, in forty-five counties of the state, 127.42 miles of roads.
Beside the work done by the state, a number of townships, under
