Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-05
THE ST. PAUL DAILY WEDNESDAY MORNING. MARCH 3 1879

ought to prevail. He was convinced that
change in the management Of the institution
would be beneficial, and he thought the Senate
bill was very proper one indeed. He
was sorry to see the attempt made at the caucus
the evening previous to commit the Republican
party to the maintaining of those men in office,
against whom there was suspicion of dishon-
esty or irregularity. He had helped to organ
ize the party down in Massachusetts,, and this
was not his idea of the principles of that great
party. He would not obey the dictum of
caucus that did violence to his sense of Justice.
Mr.: Chamberlain opposed the motion. He
declared the Senate bill to be an assault upon
q lot of honorable gentlemen who were leeis-
lated out of office l., the most summary man
ner, without giving them chance to be heard
In their own behalf. 1t was practically q con-
viction for crime without trial
Mr.. Bohan said the Senate committee had
given the matter very careful consideration,
and had made an almost unanimous report. 1t
was his opinion that if private corporation
had been concerned there would have been a
change long ago. The trouble was that the
board had been too long in office, and had con-
Quoted the affairs very irregularly. He hoped
the motion would prevail.
MIR. Denny appealed to the House if it was
fair to legislate these men out of office. The
investigation conducted by the Senate COM
mittee was partisan measure, conducted on
partisan grounds wholly. Now tho Senators
who had passed this bill were threatening to re-
fuse to pass the local bills that came from the
House unless this Senate bill was worked
through 90
Mr.. Bean hoped the House wouldn't agree to
pass the bill. It was an infamous bill. The
St. Paul GLOBE had wilfully, n,alicioualy and
damnably lied about the management, and he
would give the reporter of the GLOBE fair
warning that if he didn't change his course he
would wake up some fine morning in place
where they burn long wood.
Laughter followed, but when it subsidized he
became SO much confused that he was obliged
to postpone the conclusion of his remarks to a
more convenient season.
MIR. Jones said he had the greatest respect for
Mr.. Bean, and was sorry he had been inter-
rupted in his remarks. He cared nothing for
MIR. Kerr, but he thought his attempts to ac-
count for the deficiencies in his accounts was
too peurile to be accepted by any man of in
telligence. MIR. Kerr claims that the accounts
of his predecessor were short some $1,000, and
IN order to make up the deficiency he (Kerr)
paid the amount out of his own pocket, but
couldn't remember anything about it. Does
any man of common sense believe that a man
could pay So, 600 out of his own pocket and not
know it? The pretense is contemplate and a
lie, and the deficiency charged against Nr. Kerr
is q downright steal. AS to the management
of these trustees who are SO sacred as to be ex-
empt from removal, he wished to call atten-
ton to the fact that while the estimates of the
architect called for the expenditure Of S25O00O
to complete the whole building, over $5OO,OOO
had already been expended and the buildings
yet lacked a wing with 1875 rooms in it. A
quarter of a million dollars gone-where?
Mr.. Hicks said the man who would mali
ciously misrepresent the gentlemen composing
the board of trustees of the insane asylum for
partisan purposes deserved no consideration
This he claimed the Senate committee Of the
Senate had done. These were honest men
nine of them-occupying high political and
social stations, and they were arraigned, charged
with crime, with no opportunity to defend
themselves. Their accusers were discharged
employes-the meanest and most despicable
of witnesses with the single exception Of the
discharged convicts and prostitutes who were
sworn on the State prison investigation. The
malignity of partisanship could go no further
than to convict lot of honorable gentlemen
such as these without giving them the
benefit OF a hearing. The cruelty
that had been charged was shown
to be due to the acts of subordinates, and the
State had every reason to feel proud that but
two persons had been shown to have died under
the severe treatment they had received. Ex-
IRENE punishment was sometimes necessary in
these institutions, and the Minnesota asylum
has had less of it than similar institutions
elsewhere. There was no charge of cruelty
employees.
MIR. Jones retorted that he did not charge
Kerr with theft. He, himself had admitted
it. As to the trustees not having had hear
ing, the accusation was false. They had ap-
peared before the committee, and had besides
printed an elaborate defense at the expense of
the State, and scattered copies on the desks of
all the members.
Mr.. Amundson wished to resent the insult of
MIR. Hicks upon the witnesses before the COM
mittee. He knew every one of them to be re-
spectacle citizens.
Mr.. Bohan thought there was no reasonable
doubt but cruelty had been proved as we'll as
extravaganza, and the bill of the Senate ought,
therefore, to be adopted.
Mr.. Gilman stated that this was the first at
tempt within his recollection to legislate a
board out of Office, and there ought to be some
good reason for this extraordinary measure.
The trustees are body Of men who have been
dom and honesty in the discharge of their du-
ties The evidence ought to be more than cir
cumstantial to warrant such action. They
were honest men, and ought to have the benefit
of every reasonable doubt.
MIR. Jones-If they sre honest men they are
in very bad fix.
Mr.. Kenney said he had come to the conclu-
sion that the trustees were set Of honest men.
and he hoped they would be sustained.
Mr.. s. l.. Campbell was obliged to differ
from many Ct his friends. He thought the
charges were grave, and argued at some length
against the bill before the House.
MIR. Donohue thought that if after eleven
years of hard work Kerr had not been able to
cover up steal of only $4,000 he ought to be
kicked out of office.
Mr.. W. NJ Campbell thought the whole ac-
tlon of the House was blow at the chair man
of the Senate committee, who was Dem oc rat,
and for that purpose only the substi tuition
had been made. He did not think it bccomi ~
in any member of the House to impugn the
motives of the honorable Senators.
Mr.. Keysor had long been acquainted with
Mr.. Kerr, and did not believe he could be
capable of a dishonorable action.
vote was then taken on the motion of Mr..
Jones to substitute the Senate bill, and it was
lost, yeas a. nays 81.
The bill was then recommended to pass and
the com mittee rose and reported.
On the question of the adoption of the re-
port. Mr.. Jones demanded the yeas and nays,
and the report was adopted-yeas .25 nays g.,
as follows:
Barrett, Drew, O'Hara,
Benson, George, Oppenheim,
Bohan, JONES' Russell,
burns, Kauphusman, Schroth,
Butler, Langemo. Smith, J. Jr.,
Campbell. w M Lutz, Thornton,
Cooper, McOarty. Weyl,
Denlson, Moores, Wroolie-25.