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 228 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

do in those new lands. " The customs governing appointments, removals, and promotions in these state institutions are, unfortunately, under the principle that ' to the victors belong the spoils,' and not in accordance with the fitness and qualification of the party. When there is a change in the politics of the administration, there is a complete change in all these places of public trust." Another writes of state institutions: "The test for appointments is somewhat political. There is no competitive examination. It is thought best by those most inter- ested in these institutions that they should be removed from political influences as far as possible."

THE PACIFIC COAST. CALIFORNIA.

The only state on the Pacific coast for which our correspondence furnishes evidence is California.

Professor Carl C. Plehn expresses the judgment :

Almost all appointments in California outside of the university and the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Institution are made for political reasons. It is, how- ever, not often that this method of appointment is so abused as to result in

serious harm No local sentiment on the subject of appointments has

ever been given expression to my knowledge during the last five years.

Another person in good position to know the facts speaks very strongly of the unfit appointments in several of the state institutions, and declares that the partisan politicians have prevented the organiza- tion of a state board of charities, lest it might uncover the abuses. " As for town and county jails, and lock-ups, they are very, very bad, and contrast unfavorably with those of eastern states."

A correspondent says of a city and county hospital :

Since the members of the board .... owe their positions to one or the other of the political parties, they are expected to consult the wishes of the

political managers in making all appointments In case a political

appointee is flagrantly unfit for the position given him (which not unfre- quently happens), he may be removed, and his placed filled by an appointee chosen by the board with reference to his professional fitness and not his political influence. While the present board may have backbone enough to thus ignore the politicians, previous boards have not had such independence, and consequently the hospital was under the complete sway of the spoils- men. Disputes between the administration and impertinent, often igno- rant, politicians seriously interfere with the discipline and effectiveness of the staff. The patients must suffer.