The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-21
TIE NEW INSANE ASYLUM.

The Senate spent the greater portion OF
Yesterday in considering the bill proposing
the establishment of an Asylum for the In
durable Insane. A number of amendments
were offered to it, the most important being
those providing for additional asylums of a
like character at Fort Wayne, Logansport,
Richmond, South Bend and Elkhart. There
seemed to be a general disposition in favor OF
the Evansville proposition, but from the ami
mus of the discussion it became
evident that the passage of the
original bill would be endangered
by the various amendments suggested.
Some sort of a compromise was necessary,
but it was found extremely difficult to ar
rive at one, as the various senators were so
importunate regarding their respective local
tiles. Finally, after much discussion, on
motion of Senator Bell, the whole matter
was referred to a special committee, consist
ing of these senators most interested, viz:
Messrs. Rahm, Magee, Foulke, Bell, Voyles,
White and Campbell, with instructions to re-
port a compromise bill as soon as possible.
BY permission the COMMITTEES withdrew and
spent the remainder of the day in consider
ing the subject.
They will this morning report a bill pro-
viding for the establishment of three asylums
for incurable insane, at a cost not to exceed
the 5000, 600 originally intended. These are
10 be in various portions of the State, at a
distance not less than fifty miles
from Indianapolis, and their ex-
act locations are to be determined
upon by a commission to be appointed by
the Governor, consisting of His Excellency
lex officiol two Democrats and two Republi-
cans. A minority report from the commit
Tee will favor this measure with a provision
that Evansville be liked as the location for
one OF the asylums.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
In the House, yesterday, the constitutional
amendments, agreed to and adopted last
session, were called up and reintroduced by
various gentlemen, for the purpose of getting
a vote on them and securing their sub mis-
sion, so far as the House was able, to the peo-
pile of the State. 1t will be remembered that
the House has already decided that the
amendments are legally pending, and c0nse-
quently their consideration by this Assem-
bly, was made imperative. The preliminary
steps toward this were taken yesterday.
On Monday afternoon Mr.. Huston brought
up the prohibition amendment, and it was
read a second time yesterday and engrossed.
Immediately after, Mr.. Hanson proposed the
suffrage amendment, Mr.. Shlvely the amend
ment fixing the term of certain State officers
at four wears, and Mr.. Best the similar propo-
sition regarding certain count officers.
These amendments in form and substance
are the same as those of last session. An in
%effectual motion, So to SO, was made to sus-
pend the rules and nave them engrossed af-
ter a second reading, and they will conse-
quently take their regular course on the cal
endar.
THE STATE-HOUsE INQUIRY.
The Senate committee, appointed to inves-
tigate the affairs of the new State house, will
probably report tomorrow. The majority
sof the committee will hold that the Legisla-
ture should not take any action whatever
regarding the affairs of the State-house. A
minority will report in favor of allowing the
commissioner to finish the building, if the
latter can make definite provisions and
plans whereby the limit of expenditure fixed
by law will not be exceeded.
The House mint will also report
within a day or two. They are keeping their
opinions to themselves. but it is understood
that three. and probably four, of them will
report in favor of enlarging the power of tine
commissioner SO that they may make such
changes as to be able to complete the build
ing within the $1,000. 900 limit, the work 10
be done by the present contractors. This is
in substance the same as the bill RECON-
mended by the commissioners, and there is
no doubt that there is a strong feeling in the
House in its favor, and il is constantly grow
Jug. Mr.. Mccormack will probably make a
minority report, which is expected to be in
favor OF reletting the contract.
NOTES.
The little town of Tailholt' should send
in q petition for the new insane asylum.
Ex-Senators Traylor. Leeper and Burrell
were visitors at the Legislature yesterday.
Senator Yancey's bill to prevent stock
from running at large was Yesterday finally
defeated in the Senate by a vote of 81 to %.
Mr.. Wilson, of Kosciusko. Yesterday intro
llpp6 q bill nrnVidinU for tho location nf tla
new insane asylum on the States property
west of the city.
The Congressional apportionment bill in
troduced by Mr.. Mock, Monday, is credited
with being the Joint production OF Senator
VOORHEES,, Ex-senator Mcdonald and J. H..
Rice.
Mr.. McClelland, of Lawrence. Yesterday in
troduced Il bill to license the sale of %spiritu-
Gus and other kinds of liquor at $500 per an
num-, and of beer and wine at $3.50. The bill
also makes setting up the drinks" a INSIDE
meanor.
In the House. yesterday afternoon, the bill
providing for the permanent endowment of
the State University was defeated on its final
passage by a vote of A TO AZ. This is a great
disappointment to the friends and alumni of
the institution.
Senator Johnston's political bill. to reor-
ganize the Soldiers Orphans Home, raising
the salary of trustees, legislating out Of office
pne Republican etc, yesterday passed the
House under the gag rule, enforced by the
Democrats, by a vote Of Sc to 81.
Senator Fletcher Yesterday made his maid
en- speech in the Senate, and it was a very
rreditable effort, as he discussed, earnestly
md forrihly, the propositions pertaining to
the proposed insane asylums. He said he
;atored the establishment OF several institu-
lions, and not one large one with more in
mates than one superintendent could posi-
bly, attend TO. He said, further, that notwirh.
standing the excellent management of the
Hospital for the Insane, he had no doubt
there were persons incarcerated there who
were perfectly sane, so large and unwieldy
was the institution.