The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-25

ION OF the acton or the caucus In resolving
20 take the appointing power from the Gov
ernor. With a single exception they were
all opposed to the caucus action, and in
the case of the exception, the argument in
favor OF the caucus Is almost, IL not en-
tirely, counteracted by his statements in
regard to the right of the executive to
appoint. These views are given in full be-
low.
John l.. Grimths.
The investigation in 1887 of the Central
Hospital for the Insane by legislative COM
mittee of which was member emphasized
the imperative duty OF placing the benevo-
lent institutions of the State on nonparti-
san basis at the earliest possible moment.
A condition of things was revealed SO rot
ten and revolving that the people of Indiana
demanded the wiping out of the system
which tolerated such outrages. 1t was dis
closed that the employees were selected with
out regard to fitness merit, but simply
as reward for real or imaginary political
service. The welfare of the inmates was a
secondary consideration. The scrub women
were compelled TO contribute of their scanty
earnings to the campaign fund or suffer
dismissal. Power necessarily implies obli-
cation. The Republican party in Indiana
has the power to enact such legislation as
IT pleases on this or any other subject but
what of the obligation IN view of It's high
standard of morality and oft reiterated
platform promises? The insane, the deaf
and dumb, the blind and the feeble minded
are. in a peculiar sense. the wards of the
State and entitled to the most advanced,
thorough and conscientious treatment which
can be bestowed upon them. 1t is not a
simple matter ITO minister to a mind
diseased 1t is not at all obvious that
man can do it because he happens to have
pull in his ward. The instrument at
xected Is too delicate for inexperienced or
clumsy handling The institutions in which
our unfortunatess are domicfsed must not
longer continue to be the football of politics.
The appointing power naturally resides
in the Governor and should not be taken
from him. This has been the Republican
contention. Consistency is not always a
Jewel, but inconsistency without a sufficient
motive Is certainly deplorable- If the Gov
ernor should stand in the way of the re-
form of our benevolent institutions, as it is
inti.nated he may, let all the good people
of the State know that he, and he alone,
is responsible for the failure to have their
wishes carried out. and his condemnation
and Republication will be swift and ample.
The appointing power is not so vital, in my
Judgment, however. as the requirement that
all who seek employment in the insttu-
tions should be subjected to a searching.
qualifications. If this were done, ii we had
a corps of attendants resembling our
trained nurses--angeis Of mercy and love,
receiving suitable compensation and assured
of certainty Of tenure or at least of appoint
ment for f1xed period the shocking stories
of neglect, incapacty and brutality with
which we are all so familiar would soon be
thing of the past. and an era of intelli-
gent. scientific and sympathetic supervision
would be ushered in. Whatever the lam
guage OF our last platform on the question
may have been is immaterial. The proceed
ing declarations are sufficient. The temper
of the people cannot be misunderstood.
They are In favor of a nonpartisan admin
istration of our benevolent institutions in
tho largest sense of the phrase, and will
not be put off with the shadow of reform
where the substance is lacking. Nothing
more important or far reaching i'll its re-
suits can come before this Legislature than
the uplifting of our benevolent institutions.
Let the reform be not only efficient, but
sufficient. The opportunity presents itself
to provide for the management of these in
situations on so high plane that no poit-
ical party would ever dare to degrade them
to their present low estate. VIII the Re
publican party rise to the level Of the OPP
portunity? ! have faith that it will
Addison c. Harris.
1t is an outrage to attempt to the
benevolent institutions for partisan advan-
tage, which, as a matter of fact, is in
consistent with the highest party good.
The appointing power belongs to the ex-
ecutive functions OF the Governor by vir-
tue of the common law which fore
fathers brought to this country along with
their other views of good government The
spirit of the States Constitution is in line
Ian \ fS axyido tn
my mind that the makers of the Consti-
tuition intended that all officers for whose
selection that instrument did not otherwise
provide were intended to be appointed by
the Governor, and the Supreme Court, in
the cases in which 1t decided against this
proposition, could find nothing better than
a perversion of usage to base their opin-
ions But II the caucus is afraid to
trust the appointments to the Governor
for fear that the present management
should continue, it could find a way out
by providing that the boards should
sist of two Republicans and two Democrats.
Each side would then find the other strong
enought to thwart any partisan action.
Benevolent institutions, least of all, no
places for craftsmanship. believe the law
ought to require superintendent of these
institutions to establish training schools for
the development and instruction of attend
ants and that certificate from one of
these should be necessary to enable the
young man or young woman to secure en-
ployment. Then his or her place should
be certain except for bad conduct or in
competency trial. Whoever asks the
politics of trained nurse he employs?
Who wants to know the politics of his
physician? This sort of work ought to be
made a profession. with fair compensation
and steady employment as its rewards.
byron II. Elliott.
While under present decisions the Legis-
lature has the power to elect these trus-
tees. and, under Judge Coffey's decision to
delegate the power to boards of State Off
GERS, 1t still remains true that the action
of the caucus, in my opinion, is radically
wrong. As a question of right and politics.
think the Legislature ought 10 adhere to
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