The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-12-27
APPOINTMENT OF ASYLUM 81
PERINTENDENTS.

/
the subject of the appointment of super
intendcnts of asylums have heretofore,
even since they were on the statutes of the
state, been totally ignored and violated,
we have collocated all the laws on that
subject.
In 1888 the legislature, with view to
removing the various institutions from
political influence as much as possible, en-
acted law for the government Of the asy-
| lums amending article 6S as to tenure of
| office of the trustees rs follows: 'The
governor shall appoint for the lunatic
| asylum and each branch thereof board
| of managers consisting of five members,
who shall hold their terms of office as fol-
lows: Two shall hold their Office for two
years; two for four years, and one for six
years or until their successors are ap-
| pointed and qualified" Article IS was
| amended so as to read as follows: The
board Of managers of the lunatic asylum
| shall elect medical superintendent of
| their respective asylums who shall hold
| their office for two years"-the qualifica-
| tons required of this medical superinten-
dent were: "He shall be married man,
| skilful physician, and good executive
! officer, and he shall also be experienced in
| the treatment of insanity. He shall have
had special advantages and practical ex-
| pcrience in the management of hospitals
| for the insane and in the treatment of in
| sanity"
For the deaf, dumb and blind asylums
the same provisions were enacted as to
| tenure of office, and the qualifications
were to be as follows: Each of said SUI
perintendents shall have had special adj
vantages and practical experience in the
management of persons committed to their
charge by virtue of his appointment"
This is the law as it stands on the
statute books today. Act 1883, pp 103,
100.
| 1t has been suggested that the excuse
rendered for ignoring the law is because
of that article of the constitution which
limits the tenure of all offices to two years,
unless otherwise provided by the constitu-
ton. The law which established the
state university puts it in charge of
board of regents whose tenure of Office
extends to eight years, and the A. & NJ.
college is provided with a board whose
tenure of office extends to six years. The
power of removal is vested in the various
boards in the same statutes.
1t will be seen that the appointing
power is taken out of the hands
of the governor, and put into the
power of the respective boards.
This is not written for the benefit of any
man, but with n desire to have the con-
duct of the asylums return to the letter
and spirit Of the laws, which have been
ignored by every governor since the laws
we refer to were passed. The governor
has no right to take these appointments
from the respective boards, even by the
= appointment Of new board which would
be subservient to his will. That would
be lodging the law and beneath the dig
. nifty of the governor of any state.
The emergency clause attached to this
| pct is in evidence of the fact that an ex
lpIienced man must be appointed. 1t read
= as follows, towlt:
~ Section 2. Whereas, the time for cleo
r ing n superintendent for the asylum a
Austin as arrived, and the blard of man
ayers are unable to find a man in tn
state Of Texas Hho is eligible under exist
ing law, and at the same time otherwis
. / hln. op,1 u-bn - &c hnl;a1-n
that competent men can be found in tn
state of Texas, and the insane properl
- cared for, without importing n superb
! tCndent from another state, therefore n
imperative public necessity exists justif!
, irg the suspension of the constitution;
:. rule requiring bills to be read on thrC
several jays, ard it is enacted that IL
:, rule be suspended, and that this bill tai
effect from and after its passage.
u -O-
IS The st. Louis Globe Democrat, one {
Ig the ablcst and fairest Republican new
re- papers, admits that the Republican SEN
rs tors did wrong the other day in refusir
If to vote for the repeal of the differcnt
rs tax on sugar and intimates that they d
Of it because they wanted the glory i'll $50
Is 90 of downing the combine" The Glol
re says the Republican senators ought
a have hit the trust last week when thu
ne had chance. AS we remarked yestC
ne day, partisanship is doing great damat
III to the country. But for partisanship Il
id Republicans in the senate would not ha
id prevented the Democrats from "downil
,y the trust" when they had chanC
or Think of the millions it will cost the cou
ne try to crafty the partisan ambition
Ill the Republican party in waiting from fl
he to six years for relief from the trust me
at strosity'