Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-01-11

the soldiers home, which is under the
control of a special board, and TO me these
visits were filed with intense interest.
Nowhere else can one get so close TO the
innermost life and purpose of the state.
Here and there in the management of
these institutions, i found men and wom-
en- at the post of duty and responsibility
doing the work before them with splendid
fidelity and efficiency. In some instances
they were heroically contending with diff
ficulties and embarrassments that are very
trying. but were pushing forward with
tact and courage.
Here and there / found others who did
not impress me SO favorably, but rake
them all in all, / believe there Is a fairly
good order of ability and faithfulness en-
ployed in these institutions. The two
most prominent defects which are appar-
ent In their management are the follow
ing:
emily clear and well defined limits as to
the scope within which a given educa-
tional institution is confined to its work,
AS a result, there is a growing tendency
to overlap and TO work at cross purposes:
a constant temptation on the part OF one
TO enlarge its plan so as to receive stu
dents, who more properly belong 10 the
other. This condition should not exist
between institutions which belong alike
to the state and which are maintained by
taxes imposed upon all the people.
Each institution should be given strong
support In the work IL Is designed TO do
and built up to the highest point OF Eff
| fciency, but there should be a clearly
marked line fixing the limits within which
IL is to perform that work.
l am looking at the matter with perfect
impartiality and with a desire to be Just
and fair to each institution. and ! submit
that IL will be better for each and all of
them to have their several courses OF
study and lines of work SO clearly defined,
that each win perform its functions in the
most acceptable manner TO the state with
out overlapping the work of another. and
that hey be held strictly to the channels.
and the expenditure Of public funds in
their aid be kept strictly within the limits.
prescribed by law. Great care. of course,
should be used in fixing these. limits so
as not TO impair the usefulness of each,
but they should be made clear and specific
and when made. should be strictly adj
hered to.
~ and insecurity among many who are
connected with these institutions. which
grows out of a fear that, regardless OF
merit and faithful service, their tenure of
position IS In constant danger from politi-
cal intrigue and partisan politics; and that
merit and faithfulness must yield TO fa-
voritism, and the political pail" There
should be no ground for concern on this
account. The time has come when II
should be made clear and emphatic that
the fixed and permanent policy OF the
/ state is to place the management OF these
| institutions entirely above all questions
OF political expediency and favoritism. A
rule OF civil service should be applied 10
tons OF the state. They are maintained
by taxation upon all the people and their
patrons and beneficsaries come from all
political parties. , purpose OF the state
should be declared SO emphaticaIly that no
ssfaithful and cfffcient president. superin-
Il tcndeEt. professor, or emplQye need have
any fear Of losing his place through In