The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-24
DOESN'T HIT HARD
HOuseh0lder's Civil Service Bill
a Weak Measure.
1t is Slight improvement ever
the Present
METHOD
OF Running the State Institu-
tiOns,
But VIII Not Prevent the
Throwing Out
SCANDALOUS METHOD
OF Attendants to Make Place
For Farmhands and Heelers.


| the senate in committed OF the whole, will
scarcely accomplish the reforms which
1T contemplates, because 1t does not re-
move the board Of control from the
domination of the political party which
is in power; but 1t will be pretty thor
oughly debated and has some points of
interest.
Under the proposed law the board of
control shall consist of four members,
no more than two representing one po-
htical party, the governor being ex-
of1cio chairman of the board. This at
once places the board under the control
of the political party electing the gov
ernor. One member is to be appointed
for one year; another for two, one for
three and one for four years, at that
time the vacancy being filled. or the
board membership being completed by
appointments in rotation, making the
full term of each member four years.
Under this proposed law the board of
control is to establish headquarters in
Topeka, but is required to visit and in
Spect each institution monthly. All ap-
pOintments upon the board are to be
confirmed by the senate. No member
can be appointed from the county in
which the state institutions are located.
The board is authorized to make all
appointments of officers and employees
for the several institutions under the
following provision which appears in
the bill:
But no political test shall be required
or allowed in any appointment by the
board nor position in any of the insti-
buttons under said board, nor shall re-
mOvals be made for political reasons,
but the board shall. according to the
best Judgment of the members thereof,
be governed by qualifications, character,
integrity and personal fitness of the
candidate, to be determined by proper
examinations by the board in connec-
ton with the superintendents of the re-
pose of this provision to prevent change
for political reasons in the management
of the charitable and reforInatory insti-
tutions of the state.''
This is a. lofty ambition, but Kansas
has never yet had a governor who could
rise above craftsmanship, and until these
institutions are placed under civil SER
vice rules there is nothing in this meas
IRE which will prevent a shaking up and
wholesale turning out of officers and
employees with every change of admins
tration- Tt is claimed the proposed law
would remedy this, If with the right
kind of a governor. The law is aimed
in the right direction, but Kansas gov
ernors so far have demanded political
patronage and a flexible measure like
this one will not put an end to the ex-
listing evils.
According to the bill, the administra-
ton and enforcement of the laws re-
lating to the insane of this state and
their treatment in or out of hospitals
or asylums is intrusted to the state
board of charities and corrections, who
shall have power from time to time to
make rules and regulations on the fol-
lowing matters SO far as the same are
not inconsistent with any existing laws:
''First-The licensing of all houses or
places in which any person can be law
fully detained as insane or of unSOund
mind and the withdrawal of licenses
granted by them for cause shown
'Second-The forms to be observed
relating to the commitment, transfer of
discharge q lnnariCS
in conflict with the provisions of this
act.
'sThxd-The visitation and inspection
Of all private asylums, houses or places
in which any persons are or may be
detained permanently or temporarily as
insane. and of all persons detained
therein"
The board is also empowered 'to thor
oughly investigate from time to time
the poor houses of the state, ascertain
ing how many persons of each sex, how
many insane. idiotic, deaf and dumb
and blind, and how many poor children,
are supported in each; at what cost
and under what circumstances affect
ing their health, comfort and morals,
and what provisions are made for the
care and education of such children; to
collect statistics of the number and cost
of support, and other important facts
concerning the poor, who are main
tanned or relieved at public expense out
side of poor houses; to inquire to what
extent the provisions of the law in re-
gard to binding out poor children are
complied with; and in general to collect
such information as may throw light
on the adequacy and efficiency of ex-
listing laws for the support and relief
of the poor, and the causes operating to
increase or diminish pauperism in the
state, or to place the burden of relieving
it where it does not properly belong
The bill provides for an annual junk
citing trip in section 43, as follows:
THE members of said board of trus-
tees of charities and corrections are au-
thoriZed to attend the annual national
conferences of charities and corrections
and to take up the actual necessary
expenses of their office; provided, that
such expense shall not exceed four hun
bred dollars
The superintendent of public instruc-
ton in the several counties of the state
are designated as visiting agents, to
pupils of the Industrial schools and SOL
diers' orphans home. 1t shall be the
duty of each visiting agent to visit as
often as twice year. and at such time
as the superintendent of the industrial
schools and the home may request, all
pupils of the schools and soldiers or
phans' home who have been indentured
to persons residing in the county. He
snail inquire into the condition of such
pupils, and make such other inVeStiga-
tionS in relation thereto as the board of
charities and corrections may prescribe;
have private interviews with such pu-
pills at any time, and shall have the
power to administer Oaths-
When any visiting agent is of the
opinion that an indentured pupil is not
properly provided for he can order them
removed.
The board is authorized to appoint a