The Indianapolis daily herald. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1865-1868, 1865-12-13
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

TUESDAY, December II, 1863.
The CLERK called the House to order at
o'clock \. VI.
On the motion of Mr.. MILLER. Mr.. Hen
ricks Was requested TO occupy the chair in the
temporary absence Of the Speaker.
COMMON PLEAS.
Mr.. MILLER. from the Committee on Organ
izatiOn Of Courts. returned Mr.. Upson's Hos
eiusko Common Pleas bill, No. 30, with a re-
c0mmendation that the same do pass.
NORTHERN PRISON.
Mr.. GRIFFITH. from the Committee on the
Northern Prison, submitted a report on the
reports Of the Board Of Control, and the super
intendent of Construction of said prison. which
had been referred TO them, asking for an APP
preparation of Sy1.Il4 for the completion Of
works already commenced on said prison-the
Committee recommending items of appropria-
ton for said works, amounting 10 S62, 500, and
recommending an order that no further con-
tract be made by the Board Of Control To d-
vert any part of said appropriation from its
specific object, viz: the completion Of works
already COMMENSURATE submitting consid-
erations governing the action OF the Commit
tee.
Mr. GRIFFITH moved that the report he
concurred in, and that il be referred To the
Committee on WAYS and Means, with instruc-
tions if they deem il expedicnt and proper to
incorporate the appropriation recommended
into the Specific Appropriation bill. When
he came here, at the beginning of the session.
he hardly expected any appropriation for this
prison. But he found that, having this insti-
tuition on cur hands. and 10 save what we
have already appropriated, and make the
prison Efficient. II was best 10 complete the
works already commenced. Therefore the
committee had unanimously agreed To the
amount recommended The committee had
heretofore reported hill for adding another
tier Of counties 10 the Northern prison Di>-
trict. and that was a decisive consideration IN
favor Of completing these works. The Board
OF Control had asked for ~. 90. whilst the
committee, economizing in the light of the
best information they could obtain. had agreed
10 recommend an appropriation Of only Sf3,-
>pl.
Mr.. BRANHAM thought we were gOirg
eNtravsgsntly into the expenditures for the
prison. and expenses were increasing. lie
wanted 10 know where We were going TO stop.
We made an appropriation for offices and
cell house. and the Board ~ Control had pro-
cetdcd. A. II would seem. To- the completion II
the entire pri>en structure. They might have
made the cell house smaller. and their work
not liable IL decay. He preferred that the
House should determine this matter, aud leave
nothing 10 the discretion # the Committee on
NaN> aud Means.
Mr.. III RN ELL said: ~ a member of the
Committee on the Northern Prison. h. could
not sustain the report: becaU>e he was ithout
information upon which L. make up hi mind
l. 20 how much should be appropriated i'm
this direction; nor did he believe that deter
minaiion could To- reached intelligently with
Ont visiting the prison.
Mr.. RIioApS. Ima>much - We have already
approx Tiatcd about S.tN. 900 towards this pri~-
On, unless Ne carry il on 10 completion. much
II this money viii be- thrown away. He said
this. rrsrettins that the Prison had been COM
menccd.
Mr.. BRANHAM said shcy wanted So. 90
for Kitchen. Would the gentleman 70 10
work and complst, the Prison On that >cal,s
Mr.. RiioAID>. No. lie wanted dollhouse
outhousts and auppurtcnancc>.
Mr. lltGt fN>. Father we n4u>t abandon
ihi> institution. orr make appropriations 10 keep
Il mp New orb had three prisons AT an ex-
pensc 81 about Eight millions If dollars: and
the states Il Ohio and Illinois. each had more
expensive prisons than We. He rccited the
history, origin and progress II thi> Northern
Prison: and especially the reasons for ncreas-
Ing the expenses % the offces above the ap-
propriatons for that purpose. Hcmade state
meiits al>o with reference 10 the expenses Of
the wall. the towers. the dollhouse and guard
house. cur prisons were fa-t filling up. The
southern prison, be WAS told, was about full
crime was on the increase, and We must in
crease our prisOn-roOm. He did not think
money had been squandcrcd. and trusted that
the report would be- c0ncunr'd in.
Mr.. COWG1LL did not like the manner Of
cxpending money on this prison. The very
first contract thereon was not authorized by
law: and Vet appropriations were Subsequent
" made u save parties 10 that and other un-
authorized contracts. Now the gentleman nom
Laporte Mr.. Higgins had told Us that che last
Appropriations have not been applied 10 the