The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-04-13
Another Veto Message.
Governor Porter, on Saturday, sent tn
following veto to the Senate bill No. l76:

Governor Porter, on Saturday, sent the
following veto to the Senate bill No. 176:
GENTLEMEN oP THE SENATE respectfully re-
turn to the senate, with my objections thereto
Senate bill numbered l76, entitled "An act TO
amend the first section OF an act entitled An act
to- amend an act regulating the adoption of heirs
approved March ?, 1850, approved February q,
1875"
The act of 1872, with respect TO the adoption OF
heirs, as amended by an act of 1875 provides that
any person who shall desire To adopta child shall
Tile his petition therefor in the Circuit Court OF
the County in whichsthe child resides. 1t requires
petitioner and the child, aud stating II has prop
erty. shall also state whether the child has father
mother living. and IL SO, where they reside;
and the fifth section of the act which is referred
TO in the title the fist section of the act of
1870, provides that the Court shall not order the
adOptiOn OF child II IL have father or mother
living unless The father or mother appear in open
Ourt and give consent thereto. Provision, how
ever is made that If the petitioner shall show by
two competent witnesses that the residence OF the
father or mother is unknown, or If the child be
in the House of Refuge for Juvenile Offenders
the Reformatory Institution for Women and
Girls committed 10 these Institutions By law for
other reasons than the conviction of crime or
incorrgibility. the Court may order the adoption
upon terms therein provlned, Notwithstanding
the consent OF the father or mother may mol have
been obtained.
In the bill under consideration the clause of
the existing law is omitted, which provides In
substance that in case where the child Is not an
inmate of the House of Refuge or OF the RefOrma
tory Institution for Women and Girls it shall not
be adopted when neither father mother ap-
pears in Court, unless tbs shown by two cOmpe-
tent witnesses that the residence of the father or
motler is unknown, and IL substitutes tor that
clause these words:
Provided, that where the father or mother do
not appear, the child shall not be adopted with
out the consent In open Court of the Trustee OF
the Township where such child resides"
The rules concerning adoption, prescribed by
the bill now returned, Is in the following terms:
such persons shall not adopt such child II 1t
father or mother appear In open Court and give
consent thereto; provided, that in all cases
where the father or mother do not appear, the
child shall not be adopted without the consent In
open Court, OF the Trustee OF tie Township where
such child resides; and, provided, further, that
hearing such petition an inmate of the House of
Refuge for Juveline Offenders, or of the Indiana
RefOrmatOry Institution for Women and Girls,
committed thereto by law for other reason than
the conviction for crime or incorrigibility, such
petition may he filed in any Circuit Court or Su
periOr Court of the State and upon the falling OF
the written consent of the Board OF Control or
the Board of Managers of such Institution to sucn
adoption, then such Court may adopt such child. y
1t seems to me that under the provisions of this
bill il would be competent for the Court to order
the adoption of child upon the application OF a
petition. If the Trustee of the Township should
consent in open Court, Notwithstanding the
parents of the child might be well known, might
be able to support il, might be ignOrnt OF the
pending of the application for adoption, and
might be within easy reach of the process of the
Court.
Ii is believed that the bill has been passed with
out due consideration, and that no member of
either House would be willing to confer u power
so dangerous upon any tribunal.
ALBERT G. PORTER.