POLITICS IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 21 3
could only be taken from an eligible list, were induced to join political asso- ciations and become more or less active political workers, under threat, I suppose, of removal
County Jails and penitentiaries. — Mrs. Lowell writes:
In regard to the jails of the state I have received no response to my inquiries, but it is well known that they are generally in a deplorable condi- tion, owing to the fact that the sheriffs, who have charge of them, are elected as members of one or other of the political parties, and that they have no salaries, but make their money out of the board of the prisoners.
Attempts have been made from time to time to change the system and place the jails under the charge of salaried keepers, but in vain. The sheriffs have a single term of three years, and are, of course, nominated without regard to their qualifications for managing a prison.
I have been equally unfortunate in obtaining information in regard to the county penitentiaries.
The failure to show an interest in this important subject on the part of officials and members of reform organizations of all kinds has been very dis- couraging, and has convinced me that the people of the state of New York are far from understanding the tremendous evils that grow out of politics in public institutions.
From the manager of a state insane hospital, May 3, 1898:
The party machines, both Democratic and Republican, in the counties of the state are, I am assured, as corrupt and as fully charged with the pur- poses of rule or ruin as were ever the corresponding machines in New York city. The demagogues in the rural districts are very apt and ready scholars, and quickly fall in line with the plans and methods of the political bosses in your city. There is the same method of packing conventions with dele- gates chosen by a self-styled caucus of three or four men seated at a table in a drinking saloon ; the same sort of control is exercised over the organi- zation by the district or county chairman, who appoints the temporary chairman, who appoints the committee on credentials, who names the mem- bers of the convention, regardless of any regularity or irregularity in the choice made by their constituents. So that the county or district boss controls the organization of the party, and thus attains despotic power in the councils thereof.
He describes an attempt to place certain hospitals in the hands of incompetent and subservient managers :
With four Republicans and three Democrats in the board, the Republican machine thought they had control, and laid down and openly announced their programme. The treasurer was to be forced to resign, and in his place was to be put a man who would by intimidation bulldoze about one hundred employes
