The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-14
CONTROL OF THE STATE INSTITU-
TIONS.

In view of the unanimity of the Re
publican State conventions for ten years
past in regard to placing the benevo-
lent and penal institutions of the State
under nonpartisan control, the delay
of the Republicans in the Legislature
in getting together on that question has
been surprising. The Journal be-
lieves that this is pre-eminently a
case in which honesty is the best policy,
and that good politics as we'll as good
faith with the people requires that the
party pledges in this regard be carried
out according to their plain intent and
meaning, and in the most straightfor-
ward manner.
Beginning with 1886, two Republican
State conventions have declared in IA
vor of placing the institutions under the
operation of "A wisely conceived and
honestly administered civil service law"
three conventions have demanded that
the institutions be placed under nom
partisan control, and one demanded that
they be controlled by boards composed
of members of different political par
ties, appointed by the Governor. Con-
strued together there is no mistaking
the meaning of these pledges They
mean that as far as possible the State
institutions shall be taken out Of poll
tics, not by substituting Republican
boards or officials for Democratic nor
by dividing the patronage of the in
situations pro rata between the parties,
but by discarding politics altogether
and substituting business methods and
the merit system for partisan control.
1t will not do after all these pledges
for the Legislature to say in effect that
Democratic control of the institutions is
partisan, but Republican control is nom
partisan. Neither can they go before
the people and defend a division of the
spoils policy as nonpartisan control.
The only, thing they can defend is an
honest effort to place the institutions
on a basis under which the welfare of
the inmates and the honor and interests
of the State at large shall be looked
after irrespective of politics or Of pres
ent or prospective party advantage.
The Journal believes that the most
direct way of reaching a desired result
is the best, and in this case it is of the
opinion that the best way is to place the
institutions under the management OF
boards to be appointed by the Govern
or and confirmed by the Senate, not
more than two of the members of any
board to be of the same political party.
This is the principle on which the Civil
service Commission and the Interstate
commerce Commission are constituted.
All the boards under our city charter
are SO constituted. 1t is the principle
which governs the appointments of in
stitutional boards in Ohio and other
States. The truth is. the appointing
power of these boards properly belongs
with the Governor. and the Republican
party is strongly committed TO the policy
Of leaving it there. There is no pro-
priety in placing it in the hands of a
board of State officers to be named either
by the law or by the Governor. Such a
method would be an anomaly in govern
ment and distinct reputation OF party
pledges repeatedly made during pre-
vious controversies concerning the ap-
pointing power. The same objections
lie against placing the appointing power