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NON-PARTISAN CONTROL OF STATE
INSTITUTIONS.
In considering the best means for
managing state institutions , caring for
the dependent , defective , delinquent
and criminal classes , it is well to have
in mind the magnitude of the work
undertaken by the several states in this
respect.
Figures.
The figures of the United States cen
sus of 1900 , have not yet been given out ,
and I am compelled to rely upon those
furnished in the census of 1890. From
them it appears that there were in the
United States in that year 106,485 per
sons who were insane , 95,609 persons
who were feeble-minded , 40,592 persons
who were deaf and dumb , 50,568 per
sons who were blind , 82,829 persons
confined in prisons and penitentiaries ,
14,846 persons confined in reformatories ,
111,910 persons supported in benevolent
institutions , such as industrial and re
form schools , etc. , and 78,045 persons
who were paupers and supported in
almshouses. This makes an aggregate
of 575,884 persons. It is said in the re
port that there are at least 500,000 per
sons who are defective in intellect , hear
ing or vision , and a million more who
are sick , deformed , crippled or other
wise physically disabled. If we add to
the 500,000 defectives the prisoners , the
persons in reformatories , those in bene
volent institutions and almshouses , we
have a grand total of almost eight hun
dred thousand people.
Dependents are Increasing.
Statistics show , that in the case of
most of the above classes of people ,
there is a steady increase , so that it is
fair to assume , that today there are , at
least , one million , two hundred and
fifty thousand of these people requiring
some kind of care or assistance. It is a
fact that many of these defective , de
pendent , delinquent and criminal
classes do not become domiciled in state
institutions ; it seems safe to say , how
ever , that the several : states now have
more than a million of these people to
take care of.
When we consider the vast sum in
vested in lauds and buildings , and per
sonal property , used in the care of these
people , and when we compute the enor
mous sums expended , annually , in their
maintenance and care , the figures ore
appalling and justify every citizen in
insisting upon an answer to the inquiry ,
"Can this great work be carried on
more efficiently , and at the same time
more economically , than under the
present systems ? "
Political Management Expensive.
Now , how , if at all , does the system
of political management of our institu
tions for the maintenance and core of
all of these unfortunates , militate
against the best cafe for inmates , and at
a less expense ? Every right-thinking
man and woman desires that the stand
ard of care shall be elevated so that , so
far as practicable , by means of medical
treatment and nursing , by education ,
moral , literary and industrial , or other
wise , inmates may be fitted for useful
and productive citizenship.
A Question in Economics and Sociology.
The problem of attaining these ends ,
is one of the most important that could
be committed to the people of our
several commonwealths. It presents
itself in two phases ; First , the proper
and humane care of inmates ; and ,
second , it is a question of economics.
The situation is rendered more diffi
cult , from the fact that the insane ,
feeble-minded , epileptic and other de
fective classes , are , in most states , per
mitted to marry , and reproduce their
species , without let or hindrance.
There is also another view of the
question , which deserves thoughtful
consideration. It is the fact that a mul
titude of good citizens , who ought to
make the proper solution of such ques
tions their special concern , seem to feel
that , having paid their taxes , and borne
their share of the financial burdens ,
and exercised the right of suffrage , they
have absolved themselves from any fur
ther duty , and the matter of the proper
and economic conduct of state institu
tions has been especially committed to
certain officers , appointed for that pur
pose.
Proper reformation in the manage
ment of these institutions , will be slow
to attain , until the citizen can be made
to feel that what is the concern of state
officials , is also a matter to which he
must give some attention.
Present Methods.
The present methods of controlling
state institutions , of the kind we are
considering , are :
First. A local governing board ,
usually called a board of trustees or
managers. These trustees are usually
selected , either by the governor of the
state , or by the legislature. Usually ,
their selection is determined by politi
cal considerations , and such places are
filled by those to whom the appointing
power , or his , or its , political friends
are supposed to be under obligations for
political services rendered. Occasion
ally , a governor insists upon appointing
men , especially fitted for such places ,
but , hi the great multitude of cases , the
payment of political debts , is the first
and all-important end sought to be at
tained. In some states no citizen of the
city , where such an institution is sit
uated , can serve on such a board , as it
is presumed , he might be prejudiced in
favor of the institution , unduly. In
other states , one member of the board
is always selected from the institution
town , because it is believed he will be
more fully conversant with the needs of
his institution , than one coming from a
distant part of the state. Sometimes , it
is ordained by law , that the board shall
be composed of representatives of both
political parties , and where such is the
case , and the power of selection rests
with the legislature , the selection is
made by the party caucuses. These
boards usually meet about four times a
year , though , in some states , they are
required to meet more frequently. The
members are all supposed to be present
at these meetings , but , in fact , a full
board seldom visits the institution.
They are expected to thoroughly ex
amine the institution in all its parts , its
books , accounts , dietary , condition of
buildings , and the care given inmates.
Most of these examinations are superfi
cial , and many matters are not looked
after at all. Often no examination is
made.
Evils of Present Trusteeship.
Most of these trustees are men act
ively engaged in looking after their own
business , and are anxious to get away
from the institution as speedily as pos
sible. Hence , in most cases , they give
their attention to interviewing the
superintendent , as a rule , approving , as
a matter of course , all that he has done ,
as well as all he wonts to do in the
future. Perhaps , they make a hurried
trip through that portion of the institu
tion which the superintendent wants
them to see , and. they are hustled off
to the train , after having dined sump
tuously with the superintendent. They
have visited the institution , and , except
in a general way , they know no more
about it than they did before they made
the visit. In a great majority of the
cases , the so-called inspection is a delu
sion and results in the superintendent
getting all he wants , and being author
ized , in the future , to do as he pleases.
No other result should be expected ,
when we take into consideration how
the board is usually selected , and the
further fact , that , usually , only mileage
and a small per diem is allowed mem
bers for their services.
The result is , the duties devolving
upon the members of the board , are
subordinate to the convenience and
private business of each of its mem
bers. The members , having been
selected from political considerations ,
and , as a rule , having no especial
knowledge or fitness for the work , and ,
often , no particular interest in it , prove
inefficient in the discharge of their
duties , and , often , indifferent , to the ex
tent of frequently absenting themselves
from the board meetings.
I do not say that this is a faithful
picture of all of such boards. I am
glad to say that in one state , at least ,
the governor stood up against all party
clamor , and appointed the best men on
these boards , but , where one man is
found , who can , or will , resist the pres
sure of political friends , there are a
dozen who find it is easier to succumb
to the pressure , than to successfully re
sist it.
Appointing Power Abused.
A personal visitation to many institu
tions , in a dozen or more of the leading
states of the Union , warrants me in say
ing that , as a general rule , the conditions
are worse than I have stated. Usually ,
under the system I am now considering ,
the chief executive and other officers
and employes of the institutions are ap
pointed by the governor , or the board of
trustees ; if not so , then the superin-
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