The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-08-13


the institution with which am connected as
ant and profitable 20 officers and inmates, aud he
Is ever q welcome visitor.
THE SOLDIERS ORPHANS HOME.
We viii. doubtless, hear much from Republican
orators and papers during the canvass aoout the
Democrats having laid their bligh,ing hands upoa
he soldiers Orphans Home At Knghtstown.
Mr.. Calkins referred 10 it in his speech accepting
the nomination for Governor. For the benefit of
MY Calkins, VINO has been occupied IN dischaFg.
ing his duties in Congress. propose to give MIS-
tory of this blight on the Home and show who
During the session of the Legislature of 1879
Charles s. Hubbard, the Re publican Representative
from the strong Republican county OF Henry in
tIoduced a bill to organize an Asylum for Feeble
Minded Children AT the soldiers Orphans Home,
and abolish the Office of Trustees OF the Soldiers
Of the Society OF Friends and is well known
throughout the state a Christian gentleman
who Is very much interested in all charitable and
benevolent work. This bill was bis pet measure
and on the 9th OF Mach. 1872 he advoc Ated the
passage OF his bill In speech which find reported
on page ~ BREWER Legislative Reports. He said:
such an institution AS the one contemplated by
this bill is much needed. There are over 1000
OF this unfortunate class in our State VINO, II not
provided for by institution OF this kind, are
destined 10 remain as they long have been, not only
public charge and bulden 20 society,
but burden that hangs with crushing weight
upon the heart of every parent whose misfortune
IL is 10 have an idiouc or feeole-minded child.
There are fifty such institutions in the world,
eleven OF which are in the United States IL is
proposed TO locate this institution at the Soldiers
buildings are new and cOmmodious, with about
fiity-six acres OF ground attached"
The bill passed the House Dy a vote of 81 yeas to
20 nays. Republicans and Democrats voted for it.
The law is found on page &c. acts 1879, aud il
abolished the Office Of Trustee Of the Soldiers
/ am tired of this cant about turning the Sol
diers' Orphans Home INTO an Asylum for Feeble
minded Children III the Republican speakers and
papers must attack someone for il let them turn
their batteries on Charles ). Hubbard, the good
Quaker. and although be mas but one arm ana his
religion forblds war, think he will ably defend
himself. He has already spiked the guns OF Mr..
Calkins by the speech which have quoted from.
THE REFORM SCHOOL FOR BOYS.
Next TO the benevolent institutions the Reform
school Tor boys at Plainteld. occupies the most
prominent position OF the state Institutions It
established in 1858 for the reformation OF juve-
nile offenders, and until 1888 was known as the
House OF Refuge. The Legislature OF 1888 changed
the name and amended the law limiting the adj.
mission of boys TO those who are criminal offend.
e1s. There are at present in the INSTITUTION over
400 boys. will not now institute comparisons
with former administrations. lhave already given
you one comparison. In 1851 became a membe
the same economy should De practiced in the man
agement of the Institution as prudent business
man would use in MS private Affairs In the ap-
succession saved 10000 OF the appropriation and
returned the money to the State Treasury, making
$4,000 saved. The expenditure for maintena4 &c
is 900 per year. half OF which is returned by the
counties from which the )ys come 20 the State
Treasury. The institution speaks for Itself.
TIE NEW STATE HOUSE.
One of the most important matters to the tax.
payers was the action OF the last Legislature in re-
gard to the new Stste House. The contractors
claimed that they could not finish the building
for the contract price, ana the State House Com.
misSOneTs proposed a bill allowing them to relet
TIE contract TO one of the contractors aud Mr..
Howard, one OF the bOndsmen. Had this bill
Iasscd il would have released the contractors
from their bond, and also allowed them 10 have
drawn some seventy thousand dollars, being the
10 per cent. on the work done which had been re-
tanned. There was a determined fight made
against the bill in the House. An amendment
abandoned their contract they should Stll be held
on their bond ard the contract should then be re-
let the highest bidder provided the cost OF the
building should not exceed s.. ,OOO. This
amendment received the support of nearly all the
Democratic members, aud was opposed by nearly
took the pos ton that there was no necessity for
passing any bill, ana claimed that if the bill was
passed il would put two or three hundred thou
sand dollars into the pockets of the contractors.
They believed then, and time has proven that
their bondsmen would finish the building
for the original contract price. a motion
was finally made TO postpone indefinitely the Dill
and amendment The ayes and nays were called
on this motion and thirty-fve Republican mem
beIs voted no. Dir. Adams, OF your county, was
one of this number. Gee House Journal, page
Fleece. Giants and Marsh. Two Republicans,
kirkpatrick ana Heller, did not not vote either
way. This accounts for all the forty-0ne Repu0-
lican members in The House Some of these gen
temen who voted no are candidates for re-
ciecuOn, ana thelr constituents Will call
upon them 10 explain their votes on this State
house bill. The taxpayers OF the State are under
great obligations to the Democratic legislature
for defeating The BILL and at the same time defeat
ing the Republican leaders who favored its pas
sage. The State house is being rapidly con-
additional cost TO the taxpayers. Thanks TO the
much abused Democratic Legislature.
THE LEGISLATURE DENOUNCED By THE REPUBLICAN
The Republican state Convention denounced
the last Legislature. did Mr. Cakins in his OPEN
ing speech at Richmond. l submit 70 the tax
payers of the State ii the defeat OF the Statehouse
job. and th5s saving SOO.OOO, IS matter to call
down upon the Legislature denuuciation. Is IL
Just 10 Genounee II because IL AMENDED the oe-
cedents estate law OF 1851, and cut out its expen-
Is il to be denounced because it amended the
road law of 1872 Perhaps the Republican State
Convention and Mr. CalkiDs dehOance the Legis-
laiure because it repealed the dog law struck down
graveyard Insurance and fixed n penalty for not
paying over fines, fOrleitureS docket ices, etc. by
county and township officers. or do they de-
nounce 10 because IL passed act 10 prevent tax
ing and collecting constructive fees by county and
township officers, and because an act was passed
menis, the same as county taxes? fhave not time
10 refer TO all the wholesome laws passed by the
Legislature, and must, therefore refer Mr. Caikins
TO the acts Of 1889.
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE LAW.
Our Republican friends don't like the Legisla-
ture because il passed the Metropolitan Police bill.
The Republican State Convention denounced It.
and Mr.. Calkins is echoing the platform in his
speeches. But the platform and Mr.. Calkins do
County Republican Convention, when 1t n0mi-
mated n county ticket, smothered resolution ask
ing for its repeal. and the Republicans OF Marion
County care not openly advocate repeal, either In
platform, speeches or papers The taxpayers and
property holders of Indianspo irrespective of
party in favor of the Metropolitan police, and
do not wish return OF partisan police force.
PRISONS AND CONVICT LABOR.
1 have already given you the cost of our State
Prisons and also the amount earned by them
Speaking for myself, must say am not satisfied
with the law governing our State Prisons. The
contract system should be abolished and the pris-
oneTs employed in such way as not 10 bring their
labor in competition with the mechanics and
labOreIs OF our State.
Then again. nearly one-half OF the convicts are
under the age OF twenty-five. Many OF these young
men could be saved from further life OF crime in
my opinion, and reforms could be made by the
adjustment Of the contract system.
The management OF the Reform School. ever since
have been connected with il, has always turned
deaf ear to all propositions 70 farm the boys out,
ana so long as the present management controls,
il never will be done: but hope the next Legisa-
ture will pass law prohibiting the contract sys-
TEN in our reformatorieS ana provide for its
gradual abolition in the prisons
GOVERNOR PORTERs SPEECH.
Governor Porter, in his speech before the state
Convention, boosted that when next winter he
rendered the people an account Of his stewardship
II - a 49, - nnr an