The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-24
STUPIDITY
That Has Prevailed in the
Management Of
The State Insane AsyIums
From Time to Time
For Many Years, Severely ScOr-
ed by Attorney Gen. Boyle.
A CIVIL SERVICE LAW
Needed to Do Away With the
Constant Change
Of Attendant and Doctors at
the AsyIums.
FARM HANDS CHOSEN
In Many Cases and Inexperienc-
ed Women as Nurses,
Who Know Nothing of the
Duties Required of Them.

The proposition to place the state
charitable institutions under civil SER
vice rules is gaining favor with the lead
ers of all parties regardless OF political
affiliations. Attorney General Boyle is
an enthusiastic supporter of the move
ment, which he believes to be the only
method by which the institutions can
be properly managed and the best re-
suits obtained.
Under the present system of man
agement there is bound to be more or
less brutality and incompetency, no
matter what party is in power,'' said
Mr.. Boyle today. st have advocated
the civil service plan all during the
campaign. The state institutions should
be placed in charge of competent men.
men who have had experience in caring
for the sort of people that are placed
under their care. The idea of picking
up a country doctor and placing him in
charge of a big insane asylum is ridic-
ulous. If I had the power to manage
that thing 1 would secure the best man
possible in the country for the place.
I would get a man who has made the
study of mental diseases and insanity
a life work OF course the salary of the
superintendent would have to be in
creased over what it is now, because a
good man could not be secured for
81 500, but what is a few dollars to the
state of Kansas as compared with the
proper care of the unfortunates of the
state.
IF the right kind of a man for the
head of a state institution could not
be found in Kansas would go sOme-
where else for him, to New York, or
even to Berlin if necessary. The idea
is to care for our unfOrtunates in the
best manner possible, and to give them
proper treatment for their recovery If
the state is to care for them at all it
che criNr
after 7 had found the best possible
superintendent could I would give him
entire charge of the institution He
would be a far better judge of a
good nurse than a board of charities
can be, and he would understand all
the practical workings of the institu-
ton. He would be responsible for it.
and his reputation would rest upon it's
success. What does a girl just out OF
the kitchen know about taking care of
and nursing insane people, or what do
some of these great strapping young
men know of caring for the. insane. All
| they know is how to overcome the in
! mates by their brute force whenever
they are unruly. What does a youne
man who has followed the plow all his
| life know of treating insanity? The
| attendants ought to be persons who
have made a study of mental diseases
and who try to find out the characteris-
tics of each patient.
| The nurses ought to come from
! training schools and ought to under
stand the care of the people with whom
/ they have to deal 1t might take some
! time to bring about such a system, but
! it is what ought to be done. Then
/ when the institution once has good off1-
| GERS and employees they should be kept
| and not turned out to reward political
| workers"
Every citizen of sense and judgment
| will endorse the above views of AttOr-
! ney General Boyle. A civil service act
| should be passed by the next legisla-
| ture. It makes no difference whether
| the Republicans are thus enabled to
| fill the offices or not. The people de-
! mand that the skilled attendants be
| retained in their places, no matter how
| often the administrations change. If
| DR. Eastman is again made Superin- =
! tendent of the insane asylum. he should
| be permitted to select all his own as
| sistants, without the help or hin1rance
| of the board of charities"