Mexico weekly ledger., 1911-09-07
THE MERIT SYSTEM
AT INSANE HOSPITALS.

HHf
At INSANE HOSPITALS.
THE Senior Editor Of the Mexico
Ledger WHO. fo5 thirteen years,
has beer a member Of the board
Of directors Of Hospital No. !, at
Fulton. ITO has always beer in
favor Of the Merit System in the Sc
leciion Of officers and employees Of
the state Hospitals. The longer he
Il connected with an institution Of
this character the more firmly he
becomes convinced along this line,
and cordially endorses the action
OF tie Missouri State Medical
Association az the 1911 meeting.
when the committee on Public
Health and Legislation presented as
one OF its recon nendauous the
following;
1T Is the sense OF this Associa-
ton that a merit system should be
established in the selection Of the
onioem and employees for the
State hospitals OF Missouri.
The Committee on Public Health
and Legislation win assume the bur
den Of the preparation and promulga-
ton Of a proper bin to attain this
end to be presented to the next
legislature for IT'S consideration"
The report Of the committee was
unanimously adopted, committing the
State Assembly definitely to the
support of a merit system,
In the Journal Of the Missouri
State Medical Association DR.. NJ. A.
Bliss. an eminent neurologist of
st. Louis, referring to the above
says:
Il is worth while TO call attention
TO the desire of the Association in
the management of the State hospit-
ais. It is, in short, the removal of
a hospital employees OF Missouri
from the ~exigencies Of politics, TO
make appointments dependent on
special fitness and merit, not upon
opinions holly ~irreyelant and related
to the care of sick people, as the
tariff, free silver, corporation con
troll, etc; to appoint by reason OF
experience and skill in a special
line OF work and not because the ap-
pointee has delivered a certain mum
Der of votes at the last preceding
election; to attain a method Of ex.
animation and investigation which
viii not only select for the service
of the state good employees, but
which will constantly, by further ex.
amination and careful records. Sc
cure the pick of such employees reh-
dered more valuable by training in
the work.
In adopting a merit system, we
do not have TO defend the whole his.
tory of civil service, Most civil ser
vice laws have been compromises tbs
grudgiDg gift of the politicians who
have only relinquished inch by inch
The spells system. None Is ideal.
none so perfect as to be above eriti'
cism. But however Imperfect, the
civil service rules are superior to
the spoils system and with constant
revision will meet in a pragmatiC
way the needs of the nation, the
state and the municipality.
Insane asylums, especially. need
trained supervision and alert, in.
t%elligent control, and help In ey.
cry department must be trained in
humanity and self control, for insans
people are often exceedingly trying
even insulting and abusive or dan
gerous.
That retention and promotion in
the service must be made TO depend
on the record Of each employee, goes
without saying, and compensation In
The different grades should be an ad
equate incentive to good work. W.
may no hope 10 attract or keep goo
employees unless they are properl!
compensated; but a part of the at
traction of the service should be ten
ure during good behavior and prom
ton for merit from n institution
20 another, or in some cases in tn
same institution.
Super'ntendents should have had
least three years experience aboy
she grade of intern. and first assist
ants at least two years residenc
and experience in a large hospita
for the insane.
Attendants of record should be 3
immediate charge of halls, and me-
recruits should be closely supervise
and carefully trained.
Trained nurses from general no
pitfalls should be a part of every for
for insane people are often sick {
general diseases and need speci'
care.