St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-06
GOV. MERR1AM's CHANCE.

GOV. MERRIAM'S CHANCE.
Gov. MERRIAM has an opportunity to
distinguish himself, and we hope that
he will pardon our seeming Otficious-
ness in pointing it out to him.
He can distinguish himself by inau-
gurating a civil service reform in the
administration of the state government.
and the investigation of the Rochester
asylum scandal furnishes the oppor-
tunity to begin the good work.
1t has already been sufficiently DEM
onstrated that a serious trouble at the
Rochester institution was that the SUI
perintendent aspired to be more OF a
political boss than an asylum manager.
And we have reason to believe that
about the same trouble exists in the
arrangements of all of our state inSti-
tutiOnS.
We know that partisan politics cuts a
big figure in the management of the
saltwater prison, and we have have had
pretty good evidence that political
favoritism playS part in the offering
of all the othLf state institutions, in
Guiding the state university. the normal
schools. the institutions for the deaf,
dumb and blind and the several insane
aSylumS.
We do not undertake to say that the
same conditions would not exist if the
Democrats or the ProhibtionistS were
in control of the state government. On
the contrary, we are inclined to the
opinion that they would have done just
what the Republicans have done.
1t is not, therefore, for partisan adj
vantage, or to score a point against a
Republican administration, that the
GLOBE has entered upon discussion of
this subject, but it is purely in the in
terest of good government and to secure
a pure and efficient administrations OF
our various public institutions.
With these Introductory remarks, we
will now proceed to point out to Gov.
MERRIAM how, in our opinion, he can
render an important public service and
at the same time make for himself an
enduring fame. 1t is simply to adopt
the policy of wedding out all the pro-
fessional politicians from the manage
ment of the various state institu-
tions, and to fill their places with
men who possess peculiar adapta-
bility for the work that they
have to perform. Let it be Off
cially announced that active parts an
ship will not be tolerated in either the
directory OF the management of any
state institution, and let it be known
that the display of such partisanship on
the part of superintendent or any sub
ordinate shall be ground for immediate
removal. With the announcement of
this doctrine and the manifestation of a
purpose to enforce it will come purer
and more satisfactory administration of
our various institutions. Another SuggeS-
ton that we have to make in this con-
nection is that in his next message tine
governor shall call the attention of the
next legislature to the Importance of
fixing the official tenure of the superin-
tendents of the various public institu-
lions so that they can only be removed
for incompetency. malfeasance, OF other
good cause, and shall not be subject to
the changeable conditions of our capri
cious politics. AS long as our asylum
superintendencies and prison warden
ships are made footballs for the sport of
each changing state administration, just
so long will there be an incentive to the
superintendent and to the wardens to
give more attention to politics than to
the duties of their respective stations.
We realize how difficult it is for an
active politician, and especially one
who is ambitious of political prefer
ment, to view this matter i'll the wholly
disinterested light in which it is seen
by the masses. The temptation to con-
tinue to use these institutions as they
have been used in the past, for political
stepping stones, is very great We are
fully conscious that any attempt on the
part of the governor to inaugurate the
reform we have indicated would be an
tagonized by the machine politicians,
and it is even possible that the next
legislature would scorn his recommend
atoms. But, for all that, he would have
performed heroic duty, which would
be gratefully remembered by the body
of the people, and in time they would
find substantial way of expressing
their gratitude.
Gov MERRIAM, it is condition, and
not theory, which confronts you.