The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-06-28
ASYLUM MISSES

II is one of the unpleasant. not to
say derogatory features of the states
eleemosynary institutions, that there
must always be "a row on hand be-
tween authorities in control thereof.
OF course, in nine cases out of ten
the fuss is of a personal character,
originating in the disappointed aSpi-
rations of men, or in jealousy at the
unexpected success Of those upon
whom the management most de-
wolves. Two gentlemen are aSpirantS
for the honor of experimenting one
of these Institutions; the one is sue
ceSSful, and the other becomes, in pO-
litical parlance, an out War be-
tween tie outs" and the ''ins" is as
certain us that the officer draws his
salary first last and all the time.
There, in fact, is ther Take away
the perquisiteS of Office and rows of
this sort would be recorded alone in
the dead letter book; they would
soon belong to the forgotten past, and
an "out" would not agree
to superintend them for oceans
full of honor. When the
"out" sees the IN living in apparent
ease and contentment, filled with the
good things that MAKE human rO-
tundity delightful to contemplate,
when the in" moves along the streets
of. the capital, leaning back in broad
cloth, as a lord, while a "tiger"
draws the reins over the backs of
fry steeds, proud of their dependence
upon sovereignty, the ''out"
feels internal qualms, and
straightaway he wretches, and
bile is poured forth as
freely as water escapes from
one of Mathers' bursted mains.
1t is emitted in every direction and
falls everywhere, stinks and polutes
the atmosphere of the capital and the
public is Disguised with filth. A good
many years ago good man, and said
| to be a competent one for the charge
confideu to him, was contracted with
| to Superintend state institution.
He attended to his duty, did not
starve himself into a shadow at the
states expense, and finally after con-
Quoting the institution for seventeen
years was removed on hatched-up
charges and an incompetent Superln-
tendent, but otherwise most worthy
gentleman, was given the place as a
reward for political service.
Though the charges brought
against the long-term incumbent
We're heinous, he was at once de-
manded by one of the most noted in
situations of the country, and there
he closed his days in professional, not
political, labor. No sooner was the
"out" in than the usual war beganand
after-a while a strange succession fol
lowed, and then again came the black
est charges, made in the interest OF
weary place seekers. Such is the his
tory of all these institutions. Com
potency may play no part
in their superintendent. One may
be we'll fitted for uperintendence
but personal or political preferences
prevail, and an incompetent is often
sent into the front door of an asylum
while q competent man steps out
the back door, loaded down
with charges effecting not only pub
lie integrity but personal honor. AS
long as One-man power controls Stu
lions, circumstances attending these
charges are painful to contemplate, the
purest malice and personal prejudice
causing removal and substitution, and
the almost inevitable spOliation OF
institutions. A few years ago very
competent superintendent, as the re.
suit of a splenetic fit OF personal
favoritism, was removed from one OF
these institutions, and in six weeks
thereafter seventeen newly made
mounds attested the fact
that the states charges haG
paid the penalty Of q play il
favor of controlling county primaries
Under one-man power the tendency
is to disruption of these institutions
and il is fortunate that the tendency
of popular government is to place
the control of the asylums in thu
hands of boards, composed of mum
Der Of men independent of executive
influence. Of course, individual mem
bers of boards may attempt to direct
their management into personal anC
revengeful channels, but majOrities us
ually act with discretion, and pain
full results are obviated. But alb.
sence of individual control in re
movals and nominations is ne
guarantee against the disJ4rbers OF
the peace and quiet of asylum
management, and it will not be, sc
long as our state government does not
follow the example of the little AL
pine republic and have its public ser
wants serve without pay. Peace anC
brotherly love will never reign SUI
preme among the ''outs and ms" unit
salaries and perapsites of Office cease
to be the reward of the successful
contestants; and since this is impossi
BILE, we may become resigned to this
never-ending, never=ceasing crimina
ton that seeks to make every off.
cial occupy the position of public
thief.