The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-02

their own pockets. They used 70 take out
the choice cuts OF meat for their own use.
paying therefor the cost OF the whole car
casa per pound. leaving the undesirable
parts for the inmAsen. Al such things
n this are absolutely prohibited No OF
deer or empioye Of the beard or OF any
institution Is allowed 20 receive gift IN
any way from any concern THAI sells goods
10 an institution IL used TO be the Gus
tom fer nrms that got coed contracts from
Institutions TO remember the officers in .
substantial way ~ Christmas time, II not
In other ways. and 20 send presents for
al the inmates This Ia no more.
All the super.ntendenfs except the war
d<ns Of the peni;entiarie< are elected by
the beard. The wardens are elected by
the legislature The supeTintendeuss ap-
point all their assistants. officers and en-
ployes, and the board has nothing 60 say
ABOUT If, and IL is misderneAnor for any
member Of the board or officer thereof 70
attempt 10 influence the superintendents
in any way in the selection Of employees or
assistants. The salaries and number Of
these employees and assistants are fixed by
the board.
Politics has not been permitted to enter
the institutions. The Law makes II an Of
Tense punishable ey removal from Office
for any member or officer OF the board Of
control or any officer or employee of an m
to influence other officers or employees Ut
the state to adopt his political views or 10
favcr any candiate for office, or who shall
In any manner contribute money ar any
other valaa bic thing for election purposes.
This provision has been entirely effective.
The reforms instituted by the board Of
control are numerous. and new ones are
constantly being begun. All the officers
and employees will be uniformed July l.
1859. The chief benefit OF this system. how
ever, has been the introduction of bust
neas methods in ali the institutions, the
doing away with every form OF favortism.
and the general Improvement In the serv-
Ice rendered by the employees. besides the
enormous saving In the cost OF MANAGE
msn;. while the quality has been raised all
around. The results already manifesting
themselves, the high standing of the men
composing the board and the testimony OF
the superintendent themselves as 10 im-
provements over the old system. have cen
WINGED many Of those who at first opposed
the introduction q the system, and II ID
nrmly established in Iowa
The care OF the insane il the problem
that will next be discusser in the state
and there Is some danger that Iowa may
have 10 pass through an experience some
what similar to that Of New York Several
counties have built large asyiums for the
care of their incurable insane, and are
demanding their return from the state
hospitals. asserting they can be cured far
cheaper and just as well in the county
houses. The board Of control has refused
to give up these insane persons to county
care without the approval of the commits
sioners of insanity. the relatives Of the
patient and the superintendent OF the hos
piial where the patient nov is. Heretofore
counties have secured the return OF their
insane upon the demand Of the county
board OF supervisors. regardless Of the
wishes OF the patients relatives and
friends, or OF the opinion of superintend-
ents Of the state hospitals. Many of these
patients have not been well cared for.
have received no treatment and have been
confined In verftzbie Warehouses;.
Tho board does not intend TO allow this
to SO any further. II say: that II tne coun-
ties are allowed to take this class Of pa
TENTS from the state hospitals. /: vi
greatly increase the cost of operating
them. because these patients are able to
work. require little care, and help to re-
duce the cost OF caring Tor the acute or
violent cases. The state hospitals, II Is
shown. can care for them much moro
cheaply and better than the county asy-
iums. IL the item OF medical attendance is
not considered This IL what constitutes
the difference between the state hospitals
and the county asyiums. The problem will
De discussed by the next legislature.-New
York Sun.