Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/249

 POLITICS IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 23 I

We will add the following opinion from P. Caldwell, superintendent of the Industrial School of Reform at Louisville :

The sooner all of these public institutions are taken out of politics, the better. General fitness should alone be considered in selecting men or women for this work. The spoils system in state institutions should be rele- gated as a thing of the past. It will take time and hard knocks to change this villainous custom, but at least it is a service to get people to think about it.

TENNESSEE.

Political appointments are also the rule in Tennessee. Directors, trustees, etc., are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. "Appointees are generally (we surmise that it is uniformly) of the same political faith. Politics enters into a great majority of appointments. A competent observer says that politics or favorit- ism, seldom merit or fitness for the place, determines the selections. There axe no tests or examinations in competition. The sentiment of political leaders favors the existing conditions."

There is one hopeful feature in the situation. In 1895 a Board of State Charities was established, and is composed of representative men. Not more than four of the six shall be of one political party. The influence of such a board will be wholesome toward the formation of a sound sentiment on the subject of the management of the state institutions.

NORTH CAROLINA.

There is no civil-service system in the state. Very little influence has been exerted by politicians in partisan appointments heretofore, except as regards the offices of steward and engineer. A strong public opinion has insisted upon the retention of superintendents and assistant physicians who had shown themselves effective and trustworthy. Recently an attempt was made to displace occupants of offices in state institutions, but the court decided cases against the legislature.

In regard to the state penitentiary, the system of appointment as a reward for political services has gradually gained entire control, with the exception of the position of architect and warden.

County officers and employes under control of the commissioners are invari- ably elected for political reasons, but there is a reasonable attention paid to qualifications and general character.

The State Board of Public Charities reports defects in manage- ment to the governor, and if admonitions are not heeded by county