" - - * 1 _ * _ ' _ . . " . * . V . 'A..V ' ' ' / -ML , ! . - ' t
'Cbc Conservative.
tendeut is vested with the power of ap
pointing all subordinates. Oases are
not infrequent where the governor of the
state , directly and indirectly , has
dictated the appointment of all officers
and employes , including scrub women.
This has resulted in changing all officers
and employees , in removing existing
officers and employes , and putting in
their places inexperienced persons of the
same or of another , political faith.
A multitude of cases , might be cited
where men have thus been appointed at
the head of insane hospitals , institutions
for the feeble-minded , prisons , schools
for the deaf and blind , homes for
orphans , who had no knowledge what
ever of the duties , who had never set
foot inside of such an institution , who
had had no training or experience , either
in private or public life , for the duties
devolving upon them.
In case the power of 'appointment
rests with the board of trustees , under-
officials and employes are often given
places as a reward for political or per
sonal service.
When the superintendent is vested
with the power of appointment , such
power is generally nominal , as tlie
suggestions , requests or demands of the
board , or the power appointing the
superintendent , as to till appointments ,
must be complied with by him if he
would hold his position.
/ Defects in Appointment System. <
There are two fatal defects in this
system of appointment of subordinates :
First , it results in placing in position
persons wholly unfitted for the duties of
the place ; and , second , persons appoint
ed by the governor or by members of
the board , or at their request , know thai
they hold their places by virtue of a
power other than the superintendent ,
that he is powerless to discharge or re
move them because they can appeal to
the appointing power to keep them in
place.
Under such a system , carried out as it
invariably is , the natural , if not the
necessary , tendency is to fill the various
positions to suit the controlling power ,
regardless of fitness or efficiency. If
the chief executive officer has been select
ed by the legislature , he finds , when he
enters upon the discharge of his duties ,
that his ante-election promises are as
numerous as the places he has to fill.
Under this system of selecting chieJ
executive and other officers and
employes , the effects are deplorable. K
tends to debauch the public conscience ;
to fill institutions with unnecessary
employes ; to prevent proper discipline
among employes ; to render proper ac
countability on the part of subordinate
officers and employes to their superior
officers impossible. If the subordinate
officer or the employe holds his place by
virtue of influences beyond the contro !
of the chief executive ; if , as is too often
the cose , he is independent of the super
intendent , we may expect him to follow
the instructions of the superintendent
only when it suits lu's fancy or con
venience. It is a system which , instead
of commanding respect from subor
dinates to those in authority over them
breeds contempt for superior officers ant
tends to confusion and insubordination
It is utterly subversive of proper and
economic management. Under it skill
experience , faithful and efficient service
too often count for nothing unless the
applicant chances to have the aid of
some powerful politician. As a result
the innocent inmate suffers , and is offeree
up as an experiment for the novice , and
the state is disgraced because it has
cherished , built upand perpetuated a
ystem which regards politics and
jolitical spoils , in her public institutions
is more important than the proper ,
efficient and humane treatment of the
nmates.
Extravagance of Public Funds.
The system also tends to create an uu-
iccessary expenditure of the public
iuuds. It presents an over-present
jemptatiou to employ help , whether
needed or not , to make places for polit-
cal favorites , to deal in the purchase
of supplies. with those tradesmen who
represent personal or political interests ,
and the institution is indeed fortunate ,
f it does not pay far more than it should
'or supplies , as political influence is apt
; o be on expensive luxury when paid for
in cold cash from the public treasury.
Humane Care Paramount.
The paramount consideration in the
management of these institutions , is
the proper and humane core of inmates.
No right-thinking tax-payer will ever
object to any expenditure of money
which is reasonably necessary or proper
to accomplish that end. He does , how
ever , properly object to a wasteful or
unnecessary expenditure of the public
funds. He has a right to expect and to
demand that , in the conduct of the busi
ness of the state , and in the operation
of its public institutions , the strictest
economy shall prevail , consistent always
with maintaining the highest standard of
care of inmates. It is a matter of the
utmost indifference to the great majority
of the citizens of the state whether John
Jones or William Smith hold positions
in a public institution ; they do not now
nor have they ever demanded , that
political debts shall be paid at the
expense of the state , or to the detriment
of its wards. What they want is
honesty , efficiency and economy in the
administration of such public trusts.
It must be conceded that any system
which tends to impair a high standard
of care for the unfortunate wards of the
state , or which induces wastefulness or
an unnecessary expenditure of the pub
lic funds fails to meet the demands of
this enlightened age , and should be
speedily superseded by something prom
ising better results.
Mode of Control Objectionable.
Manifestly the mode of cpntrol under
consideration is open to both objections.
It does not require an expert in the care
of the" defective or criminal classes to
know that inmates will not be properly
cared for under any system when , to
satisfy political considerations , there is
a change in the management of an in
stitution every few months. Such fre
quent changes and wholesale removal of
officers and employes of an institution ,
serve no useful purpose. Why should
we look with complacency on a system
which , at every change of party ascen
dency , demands the official scalp of
every opponent holding such a place
and spares not the skilled physician or
nurse who ministers to the sick , the
chaplain , the cooks and the domestics ? It
would be as reasonable , and quite as
consistent to remove all institution
officials at every change of the moon
What greater moral crime can a politica
official be guilty of , than placing the life
and health of one whose reason is de
throned in the hands of one who is
innocent of all knowledge or experience
relating to the more serious rnenta
ailments ? No one claims that such acts
are proper , but many seek to justify
them on the ground of political neces
ity. Has it come to such a pass that
party supremacy must be maintained
at the expense of proper and humane
care of these unfortunates ? Will not
; he millions of people of our great coun-
; ry , whose sympathy goes out to the uu-
'ortunate ' and the suffering , call a halt
to this practice of making the conduct
of our public institutions to depend upon
; he political fortunes of some man or
party ? Shall the public institutions
continue to be used as a political foot-
mil , or shall they be removed entirely
from the domain of politics , and placed
upon the just , enduring , and humane
foundation of efficiency and economy ?
The reader will say , how can such a
change be accomplished ? First , people
interested in such a reform must awaken
a public sentiment which will insist
apon such a change ; then -needed legis
lation must follow.
Suggestions for a Change.
Keeping always in view the maintain
ing of a high standard of care for in
mates , the same rules and principles
should be applied in the management of
such institutions as the successful busi
ness man or private corporation follows.
In the selection of officers and employes ,
let the only test be ability , experience
and efficiency. Enact a law in each
state placing all institutions for the care
of defectives , delinquents , dependents ,
and criminals under one board of not
over three persons. Give them ample
authority , and hold them to the strictest
accountability. Permit them to appoint
no officers except the chief executives.
Allow the chief executive , at each insti
tution , to appoint and remove his em
ployes at his pleasure. Make it a crime
for any member , officer , or employe of
such board to exert any influence what
ever on the managing officer of an insti
tution , in the selection of his officers or
employes. Moke it a crime for any
member , officer or employe of the board ,
or any officer or employe in an institu
tion under its charge , to exert his in
fluence in any manner to induce another
officer or employe of the state to adopt
his political views or to favor any person
for office , and also make it a crime for
any such to contribute money or other
thing of value , to any one for election
purposes , and for a violation of the
above , remove the offender from his
position. Also make the one who collects
money from such person for political
purposes guilty of a crime. Do you say
that it cannot be done ? Such has been
the law in Iowa for almost three years ,
and such the method of management of
her state institutions. It has been a
success from every point of view. The
inmates have been better cared for than
ever before , and at less cost.
Banish Politics.
Having investigated this system
thoroughly , the legislature of the state
of Minnesota has just passed a law
similar to the Iowa statute. Politics
have been eliminated in Iowa from the
management of her institutions , with
the result that the standard of care has
been improved , and the .character and
efficiency of officers and employes show
a great improvement. A like system of
control exists in Wisconsin , where * like
results have been obtained.
The proper limits of this article yill
not permit of a more elaborate discussion
of this question. It is of great impor
tance. It should command your
thorough investigation. Let us banish
politics from these places. Judge L. G.
Kinne , in The World Keview , April 20 ,
1901.
