The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-08-18

brought Unusual ability and Taithfulness to
Tue -iscnarge CT their duties. Their Work
81 eaks for lt<eif AID reflects credit upon them
selves and The party which selected them for
their responsible duties.
THE HOUSE OF REFUGE.
Next 20 the benevolent institutions the House
CT Refuge at Plainfled occupies the most
prominent position of the State Institutions.
nile offenders, and now contains $50 boys from
all parts of the State Being n member OF the
Board of Control. shall not institute a COM
paTison of expenditures with former admins
trations, but will merely state that for two
years in succession $1,000 of the appropriation
has not been used, and 300 has been saved
and returned to the Treasury. | have main
tanned ever since L became member OF the
Board that the same economy should be prac-
a prudent business man would use in his pri-
vate affairs, and 1 think l may ay, without
stitution is conducted on that principle.
THE FEMALE REFoRMAroRY.
While a member of the Board of Visitors of
his Institution. 1 recommended to the Gov
ernor in NV report, that the Female Reform
sively by women. The law& vas changed, and
am happy to know that the change was
wise one, and that the Institution il econOmi-
assisted by excellent lady officers. There is
no politics In this Institution, and L hope
there never will be.
THE SOLDIERS ORPHANS HOME.
The legislature at the last session, provided
that this Institution should gradually be
Children. Institutions of this character are in
successful operation in many OF the States,
and the Legislature acted wisely in providing
for this unfortunate class in our State. Tue
Institution was opened In November last, and
is now In succe siul operation. The same
Board appointed by the Governor controls the
Orphans Home and the Asylum Tor Feeble
Minded Chi idren. There was saved of the ap-
preparation for the Soldiers Orphans Home
last year S4l4. 81, but the Superin endent says
i'm his report that while the average expenses
are apparently as large as in former years, yet
So COO was expended In the construction Oh an
extension of the main building, for cisterns
and other Improvements, mich COWS, etc. and
when this amount is deducted a fair reduction
In actual expenses is shown.
THE STATE PRISONS.
The Legislature makes appropriations for
both prs ms. and all the earnings are required
to he paid into the State Treasury. The reports
show that the amounts paid into the Treasury
as earnings about equal the amounts drawn
out, so that in point OF fact the prisons are
self sustaining. Judging from the reports the
prisons are well managed, and have efficient
boards and officers. AS a citizen of the state /
very much regret that the excellent law for
the government of the prisons, introduced by
Senator Winterco.ham and passed by the last
Legislature, did not become a law. IL was
presented too late to the Governor at the reg
ular session, and the biannual squabole about
the Prison Board prevented its passage at the
special session. The Governor appoints the
Boards for all the other institutions in the
State, anc this prison bill gave him the power
TO appoint the Prison Boards, which 10 my
Judgment, would be a great reform, and or
dinarily secure better men for this position. |
would not have you draw an inference that
the present Boards are not composed of good
men, for know some of them personally, and
know them TO be well qualified and honorable
gentlemen.
STATE EDUCATIONAL INsTIEUTIO S.
Terre Haute, Purdue University at Lafayette
an Agricultural College, and for the State Uni
versily, are appointed by the Governor, and
the gentlemen selected have all been QNalt1ed
for the positions, and these Institutions are
well managed and doing q great work Tor the
people Of the State. The only point that de-
miniStrat.ons they have increased IN pro-
ficlency, ana are credit to the State.
INCREASE OF SCHOOL FUND AND COMMON
SCHOOLS.
The people of the State are proud of QUE mag.
nificent school fund, and The number ana
proficiency of four common schools For seven
years the fund has steadily increased, and Is
now IS ,06S 5Sl %. In addition to the interest
DERIVE from this fund, every County in the
state has been liberal in levy ing special taxes
for school purposes. and last year this tax
amounted to Sl,ll3,2O3.U2.
II is gratifying fact that while there has
been an Increase in the number OF children
attending the schools ana i'm the humble OF
days taught. the per capita cost of comLnt n
school education in this state has for several
years been decreasing No better evidence
can be produced 10 show that the common
schools OF the state have been in safe hands
for seven years.
There still a very few persons In the
State who have never eDj yed the benefits OF
common schools, and who charge that the
Democratic party uoeS not favor edu9@-
tion- TO enEghten these and to crafty
those who take an interest in the
progress of our school system, have
collected the following facts, by which 1T can
be seen at a glance that there has been an in
crease In attendance, in school houses and
teachers, in number of tchOsl days and in the
value of houses, grounds, ETC., since 1872.