The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-04-03
OHIO LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDING,

OHIO LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS
MARCH 24.-Hoase-The committee which
investigated The CHARGES aga INST the L,ug-
view Asylum officials, submitted their
report, gned by Messrs. Estill and Quinn.
In presenting the report, MIR. Estill
said the investigation had been made
with closed doors to prevent intimida-
ton of witnesses, and because 80 many
people were intesested. 1t would have
been necessary to hire large hall to accom-
modate tnem if the doors had once been
opened. The report says fifty witnesses
were examined, large number of whom
are now employed at Longview, and that
the committee are compelled to report that
the chargea of inbuman and cruel treat
ment of inmates are sustained by the evil
dence; also that there was testimony as to
ducking, kicking, beuting and other marks,
of cruelty and over.working OF weak
patients, and that vermin in. large numbers
have been allowed to accumulate upon the
person, bedding and clothing of patti nts
Testimony was also addueed showing that
the dissecting room was fitted up without
the knowledge of the Directors. The
Committee state that the decision that the
Superintendent has been guilty of gross
neglect CT duty has been forced upon them,
aud also that he must have had knowledge
tha. various cruelties we're practiced. The
committee recommend that some notion be
taken by the Legislature to ameliorate the
condition of patients at Longview. Rep
resentetiye Paine signs a separate report,
declaring that the testimony was auch as to
demand, for the honor of the State aud
justice to the Longview authorities, the ap.
poiptment of another committee to act with
the Senate Committee to more fully investi,
a. ~lo 10 20 10 poA
in the journal. ...... . -
MARCH 25.-Seaate-A communication
was received from the Governor, trans
mittins the denomination of Isaac G. Pee
try to be his own successor for term Of
five years as Director of the Ohio Peniten-
tiary. number of reports of committees
were received, and bills ordered engrossed
for third reading. Mr.. johnson called up
the res s11ution offered by him on yesterday,
directing Committee to inquire
into the cause of delay In making
Inspector. The resolution was adopted.
Considerable time was spent in discussion
of the bill introduced by Mr.. Jackson. of
Perry, for the suppression of tramps. The
bill proposes q penalty for vagrancy OF a
fine of one hundred dollars, to be worked
out by the .yagrant at seventy i've cents a
day. Mr.. Richards offered an amendment
to the bill that any tramp refusing to work
his fine shall be kept in confinement on
bread and water until he will work. The
amendment was agreed to and the bill
passed-yeas, 22; nays, 2....... House-The
Senate amendment 10 the bit to provide
for publishing Sherlff's advertisements in
German newspapers was disagreed to-
The Senate took up the special order-the
Senate joint resolution to make sundry
amendments to the Constitution. Mr..
aE 1dyT1e IN q
resolution to submit further amendment
to the Constitution. giving to every county
a Representative in the General Assembly.
In support of his amendment, Mr.. Hitch.
cock said that, owing 10 decrease in the
relative population Of some Localities,
there would be six counties in the State
that, after the next census, would be de-
| Legislature. These counties are Carroll,
| Geauga, Harrison, Henry, Ottawa and
| Paulding. The motion gave rise to some
| discussion and was defeated, reccnsi dered
and again defeated. The House then voted
| IN the adoption of the resolution, and il
| was lost->yeas 81; nays 34- 65 v-tes being
necessary for its adoption. The Senate
| amendments of the bin to reduce the feel
| of the county officers were taken up anC
discussed two hours, and all important
Senate amendments disagreed to. Th'
| House bill fer the relief of the sureties o
| the late Treasurer of Van Vert Coz nty
Peter F. Feigert. was passed.
| MARCH 26.-Hyase-Mr Paine, of Jack
/ son, asked for leave to offer resolution
providing for committee to investigate
Longview, in company with the Senat
Commi tee, insisting that the gravity # thu
| charges made it due to officials and patient
that further investigation should be made
Dodds urged further Investigation, say
ing if the officials were guilty., as the lorna
c,mmittee suggested, then they should b
indicted and sent to the Penitentiary; bu
he did not believe fair investigation
would prove them guilty. Meuser asked j
Dodds's idea was to have another committe
to prove ttat the former committee ha'
reported falsefyF Dodds replied tha
that was about o what he meant
because he thought 8 fai
and open investigation would show differ
ent state of things. Mr.. Sextro said he di
not favor a new committee and thought tn
former committee did right in not allowin
lawyers to be present to bulldoze witnesse
4 in the interest of Asylum officials. Th
House has made its record on this matter
now let the Senate do as 1t pleases. Towr
send favored another committee. Tn
House by vote of A to Sc, refused to su.
pend the rules to allow Paine to introduc
his resolution. C.E
/
the laws relative to county officers and proI
erty were passed. Senate bills providin
that action against Mutual Insurance ION
pauies may be brou- ht in counties wher
the suits originated, and to exempt the r,
gala, working tools, and books, of secret O
ganiz ltions, from sale on execution, passe
Mr.. Lord Introduced q bill providing ths
any religious, educational, charitable, o
other association, shall not encumber q
ALLEVIATE the property in any way, withor
the written consent of the association, an
to provide that where legacies are left
j such associations, for the improvement Z
purchase of any property, and has alread
been devoted to the purposes OF such pu
chase or improvement, any debts again
the es ate of the 1egator shall not col
stitute lien upon such legacy, except
the same proportion which the beque
bears to the entire value of the propert.
....... House-A communication was +
ceived from the Directors of Longvie
asking the Legislature to investigate Il
charges against them, which was referrt
to the Committee on Asyiums. Bils we
introduced: To incorporate Tree avenl
companies; to authorize the admission
children of INDECENT soldiers into Il
Orphans Home, and to repeal the Ollie
tionable sections in last years Law
to declare it libel to make any pictur
or write or print any article tending to e
pose any one to public ridicule or hatre
or to viiify the memory Of any dead perso
and to punish the same by fine of fl
; thousand dollars and one year impriso
ment in the county jail. Senate joint res
luton 55, by Mr.. DUNCAN, proposing q
. amendment 10 the Constitution by fxil
the compensation of county officers, can
up by special order, aud after some discu
sion was lost by 46 yeas to As nays.
MARCH 2S--Senate--A number of loc
bills were passed ,..... Homse-H. B No. IS
by Mr. B hi, providing for the dispositit
oilife insurance policies payable to the wi
of the insured in Ger ain cas4s OF divorc
| was, af er some discussion, ref, rred back
the author with permission to report at al
. time. A motion 10 reconsider was laid I
the table On motion ef Mr.. Oslevee, Il
use of the hall of the House of RepresSn,