Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/83

Rh cient service. The selection of directors is the thing of most vital importance in the creation of an institution. The selection must be removed from politics, and be such as to secure intelligent men. To remove the selection from politics, all opportunity for financial gain, either by salary or in awarding contracts, must be removed. To secure intelligent service, appointments must be for long terms, and the board must be a continuous body. A brief notice of the appointment of boards of directors, their salaries, if any, and the appointment of officers for the several state institutions has been reserved for this place.

The boards of directors for the several state institutions are usually appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate. In a few of the southern states, however, the (nominal) consent of the senate is not required. In Nebraska the members of the boards are elected by the general assembly. In a few of the western states certain of the state officers serve in the capacity of a board of control. The boards of directors are, with two exceptions (not including the salaried state boards of control, which will be discussed in a subsequent paper), unsalaried, or have salary only sufficient to cover expenses. In Georgia the trustees for the asylum for the insane receive $300 per year, but this is in lieu of all expenses. In Colorado the trustees for the school for the blind and the deaf and dumb receive annual salaries of $150, while the trustees for the hospital for the insane receive salaries of $600. Fortunately no such flagrant case of salaried boards, such as Indiana formerly had, now exists. The provision that members of boards shall not be interested in any contracts awarded is almost universal, and in many cases penalties are attached for its violation, but it is doubtful whether such legislation is, or can be made, effective. Continuous boards have become quite the rule.