220 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
governor, who was of opposite politics. He emphasizes in his veto the hin- drance to efficient work by the legislature that was caused by the selection of these boards and the fostering of partisan spirit ; but makes no mention of its effect on the administration of the institutions. Under this law a part of the directors went out of office each two years, and succeeding legislatures being Republican, a goodly proportion, perhaps all, of the members were Republicans by 1889. The newly elected Democratic legislature then, desiring to make a clean sweep, held a party caucus, nominated candidates, repealed the old law, and enacted another, almost the same, over the veto of the governor, who was of opposite politics.
In l8g3, aften ten years of legislative election, the governor was again given the appointing power, both executive and legislative branches being Democratic. The greatest of all forward steps was taken in 1895, the legis- lature being Republican and the governor a Democrat, when non-political management was enjoined on the boards of these institutions by the law, and it was further provided that not more than nine of the total of eighteen mem- bers composing the six boards should be of one political party. In 1897 a slight backward step was taken by the victorious Republicans in permitting as many as twelve of the eighteen to be of one party. A much more radical change by political leaders was only prevented by a most earnest protest from all the friends of non-partisan management throughout the state.
The School for Feeble-Minded Children, the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, were at the first under non-partisan control, both being under one board. As with the other state institutions, their trustees were elected in 1883 by the legislature. In 1885 this was changed, and politics have since not been in the boards. The Reform School for Boys has from the beginning been man- aged in a non-partisan manner.
Rules of administration adopted by boards of directors. Extracts from regulations for the Northern Indiana Hospital for Insane, at Longcliff, near Logansport.
Non-partisan employment.
The board shall not consider political belief in the employment or dis- missal of the superintendent, nor in the confirmation or non-confirmation of the employment of others by the superintendent. In the engagement of all officers and employes only merit, fitness, and character shall be considered. (See Acts 1895, p. 302, sec. 7.)
Selection of officers and employes.
It shall be the duty of the medical superintendent to select and employ any such assistant physicians, clerks, attendants, skilled workers, and serv- ants as may be, in his judgment, necessary to enable him to properly per- form the work with which he is charged, subject to the confirmation of the board. A refusal of confirmation, however, on the part of the board of any
