The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-02
TO REVOLTTIONIZE THE BENEvO-
LENT INSTITUTIONS.


The consideration of that portion of
the appropriation bill relating to the
management of the benevolent institu-
lions in committee of the whole House
brought out some facts which are not
only interesting. but of practical value.
The ways and means committee has
reduced the amount asked for the main
tenance of several of the hospitals.
Chairman Allen. of that committee,
called attention to the fact that Indiana
pays $50 per capita more for the support
of patients in its insane hospitals than
does Ohio. The reason. he said, lies
In part in the fact that Ohio employs
one attendant for fourteen patients,
while in Indiana there is one for every
nine. 1t is not probable that in Ohio
less attendants are employed than are
necessary to care properly for the
patients, as the tendency in all public
institutions is to employ more than are
necessary. If seven attendants to each
one hundred patients are ample in Ohio,
then eleven to each one hundred in In
diana are four more than are needed
This means fifty more in the Central
hospital than would be employed in an
Ohio hospital with the same number
of patients. This further means an ex-
penditure per month for the wages and
board of the extra attendants of 50, 500,
or $4,000 year. If there is such an
excess of attendants over the number
employed by similar institutions in Ohio
1t is fair to assume that there is a sim
liar hberality in the filling of more de-
sirable positions about the hospitals AT
any rate. these statements fully sus-
tain the ways and means committee in
It's 10 per cent. reductions.
This waste of public money in the
payment of wages is the direct result
Of the marrow partisanship under which
these institutions are run. In the Cen
trail hospital it is safe to say that if
person is employed who is not a Demo-
crat OF the friend of Democrat who
has pull it is because of Democratic
influences. The three trustees are APP
pointed because they are Democrats,
with the understanding that none but
Democrats will be given employment.
Five times as many persons as can be
employed are clamoring for these places
through Democrats who have influence
with the trustees and other officers.
Under this constant pressure more are
appointed and paid than would be if
the institutions were operated upon
business principles and in the interest
of the people who pay taxes Holding
these subordinate positions because of
the influence of party men. some in
efficients are retained and others are
cor 10 tI,~>
Of their hackers to keep them in their
positions.
1t is time. both in the interest of hui
manity and the taxpayers, that this
system come to an end. The trustees
should be selected from business men in
both parties. and not because many of
them need the small salaries. These
trustees should make thorough over
hauling of these institutions. The
efficient and the faithful should be kept
and the inefficient and worthless dis
charged. The employees should be re-
duced to the number actually necessary
to do the work, just as if they were
employed in a private institution. No
person should be taken into the service
without careful examination as to
character intelligence and fitness. and
every official or employee, from the high
est to the lowest, should be made to I'M
derstand that intelligent and conscien-
tious service is the only thing which
can hold them in their places; that as
long as they are able to render such
service they will be retained and that
efficient service will insure advancement.
Abolish the extravaganza of officials
in sumptuous furnishing and entertain
ing and in special service, put the en-
ployment on a business basis and on the
merit system. and there will be such a
revolution in the management of the
benevolent institutions that two years
hence the ways and means committee
can report reduction of much more
than 10 per cent for maintenance COM
pared with the expenditures of the past
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