The Indianapolis journal., 1889-09-09

Statutory law Which Escaped the Attention of
Trustees Cullen and Riley.

The trustees of the Institute for the Blind,
who live in Indianapolis and are controlled
by its politics. will not overturn six years
Of good management at that institution
without exciting some opposition. Trustee
Cullen has already heard some thunder, and
there is more to follow. In an interview in
Saturdays News he says, among other
things, 1.-The manner in which employees
of the institution are selected, is
by nomination of the superintendent
and election by the trustees. As
an example of the freedom of the board
from any desire to favor political friends.
/ may state that we have left the appoint
ment of the men about the place. such as
engineers, gardeners, etc., entirely in the
hands of the superintendent, as he can
judge better of the fitne IS of the men en-
ployed.n
THE trustees of such place. said gen.
tleman who is well acquainted with the
institute, should be men of the standing
of President j. H. Smart. President David
Jordan, President Stott, of Franklin Col
lege-men of high culture and with souls
above political small beer. That's most
astonishing statement of trustee Cullen
to say that Professor Jacobs is competent
to Judge of the capacity of the gardener
and engineer, but not the physician and
teachers who are of much greater impor-
tance. take it that Professor Jacobs-Su-
perintendent Jacobs, mean-is better fit
ted to employ the physician and teachers
than these men who know nothing of edu-
cational Matters This gentleman called
the reporters attention to the law on the
subject. why" said he. this whole diff
hculty is controversy between the super
lntendent and the trustees. arising from an
M on no RI nf ha frx,o nxy;r>
late the law. The superintendent should
stand on his rights. and he cannot afford to
compromise himself or the institution by
doing otherwise"
Section 2774, Revised Statutes, reads:
The superintendent, with the approval of
the board, may appoint such subordinate
officers, secretaries, assistants, physicians,
barbeIs attendants and employees as may
be necessary. But the board shall prescribe
the number to be employed and provide
rules for their government and control and
fix the amount of compensation for their
services"
tinued the gentleman. that gives the trus-
tees the right to make the appointments.
Probably Trustee Cullen has never read the
statute. He appears to think that the
trustees have both the selection and cleo
tion of the physicians and others, and all
that is lett for the superintendent is to
submit. That may be the way to treat bell
boys and porters, but not superintendent,
pTOttCttu Dy law. AQOLQef sentence, or
two, from the statute reads: The super
intendent may, for good cause,
discharge any of such subordinates and
employees, and appoint other competent
SNAIL continue only until the next meeting
of the board. at which time the superin-
tendent shall report all such changes and
the cause therefor, and the board may con-
firm such appointment, and If not con-
firmed he shall make other suitable ap-
pointments.. subject to the affirmation of
| said board"
Il should think" continued the gentle
man. that ought to be sufficiently plain
| for Trustees Cullen and Riley, if they will
read 1T. understand that Superintendent
Wright, at the Hospital for the Insane, has
read that section to his trustees, and has no
trouble with them at ali. The boards of
none of these benevolent institutions have
the power, under any circumstances, to re-
move an officer or make an appointment"
Trustee Cullen. in his interview. said.
concerning DR.. Stone, 81 suppose he is a
| physician of ability. but he makes no
speciality of treating diseases of the eye.
We felt it necessary that a doctor should be
employed there who has given especial
attention. to the eye. Many. of
and P some ars 1os cases "hGy sbeyr ORs eRss
| are capable of Improvement by proper care.
proposed DR.. Frank Morrison for the posi-
| tiOn because he was highly recommended
by the leading physicians Of the city" The
| few cases at the institution, at any time,
! requiring the care of an oculist, and that
these few prefer to select their own physi-
clan. Some of these have been treated by
| DR.. Thompson, others by DR.. Stillson, and
| others have gone to Cincinnati before COM
ing here or during their stay here. The ex-
| pense of such treatment is paid by parents.
or friends. or by counties. There are too
many contingencies for difficult or danger
| ous cases to be undertaken in the lnstitu-
| tion. and none such are there. There are
| not more than half a dozen children in the
| institution at any time whose eyes might be
| benefited by treatment, and each one of
these half dozen is at liberty to select his
| own physician. DIR. Stone is called in as
| general physician for the complaints that
| are incident to everybody, what is called
| family practice. He does not live in the
| institution, but does live near by. There
are often times when. for four or five days
| together, there is no call for him. 1t is un.
| derstood that Hon. j. b. Stoli, of South
| Bend, is to return in a few days, and when
he does he will probably read the riot act
| to the indianapolis contingent. In the
| meantime it may be that Prof. Jacobs will
| get tired. and the institution will have to
| look out for another superintendent.