The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-10

ployment OF engineers OF q different character.
The lew does not define Who shall De judge Of
the fitness OF the engineer when such objections
are charged 10 exist IL Is evident that the state
inspector should be made the Judge In every such
A requirement that mine ''bosses'' shall visit
the miners az their several places OF work at
least every tive Gays Is urged by very forcible
reasons.
other recommendation not less impressive are
made. which ! have not time here TO repeat. l
commend all suggestions OF the Inspector. who Is
a practical miner of long experience, TO your
most careful consideration.
SUFFERERS FROM TIE FLOODS
The last legislature: By an set approved Febru;
for the relief of the sufferers on the Ohio, Wa
bash and White Rivers in this State from the then
recent and then prevailing floods IN those streams.
The Governor. Lieutenant Governor, S~ncretary OF
state and Auditor OF State we're constituted a
board TO oisburse the fund. 1t was required that
main after sdording the relief con
lemplaiec should be covered into the
Treasury, While the officers appointed were
enss.ed IA distributing the sum thus %appropri-
steG, The Legislature, by an act approved February
y, 1883, appropriated q further SUN of ESQ 900, ito
needs OF persons residing along the sane rivers
who were destitute or suffering by reason of the
overflow OF those streams: but IL was provided by
this last-nsmed act that none OF the money apprO-
priaied by IL should be used or expended except
10 furnish or purchase food clothing. medicine,
bedding ana fuel With which to relieve present
necessities, and any part of the sum remaining
unexpended on the LIST day of April. 1853, was re.
quired 70 oe covered back into the Treasury. The
pristi0n were directed ito dispense and directtne
application Of the second. The board was en-
powered 20 distribute the sum Appropriated
son. TIE Governor was appointed Pfesi-
dent of the board, and was required, as
far as the eXisenoies OF the case would allow, to
make a record of the expenditures, and 20 take
vouchers frUm the persons TO whom the money
was paid for distribution or application. But II
diartgaIded If found in any degree 10 embarrass
the prompt and immediate application Of the
fund 10 the relief OF the persons 70 be benefited.
OF the sum appropriated S36, 269 20 were dis
bursed for relief, and e6S, TS1.S0 were covered back
INTO the Treasury.
The Limitation in the manner of relief In the
last act was SO specific that the needs specified in
IL were regarded as bsTing been fully provided
for very soon after the act was passed by expendi-
lures under the first appropriation and By private
relief: A small part, therefore, only OF the APP
preparation was expended The first appropriation
being broader in the relief allowed, a considerable
part of it was applied toward the repair Of houses
OF sufferers whose means were extremely
limited, and ~ the supply in some extreme
care was taken by he board in selecting persons
10 whom means were sent to be disbursed 10 SUI
ferers, or to provide supplies for them, and per
sons OF sound reputation for integrity were se-
lecied. But mountaineering diligent efforts 10
secure receipts through these persons, from the
parties to whom relief was directly furnished. It
was found practicable in only q few instances 20
obtain them. The haste, confusion, and difficult
ties under which the application OF reliet was
TO take receipts. l can not, without too much ex-
tending this message. give a more particular ac-
count az the disbursement OF the sums expended,
and shall. therefore furnish 3 more defatIed ar
c0unt of II in a separate communication. In be-
bali OF the board l ask now, while the transaction
Houses, shall be directed to examine in the man
ner in which the duties Of the board were dis
charged.
sEwEE FOR nIE STATE EEFognAToR, INSTITUTION
FOR woAES AND Girls.
When the last Legislature assembled a suit was
pending. institutedsDy the United states, 10 enjoin
die paksing.Cf a sewage from the reformatOry in
stitution for women and girls through the bed of
8 small stream which flowed from the groun Is CT
the reformatyIy along the southern border OF the
grounds OF the United States Arsenal. As no
other means existed for disposing OF the sewage,
and the granting of an injunction was known 70
be imminent unless prompt and efficient measures
were adopted Tor putting an end 10 the alleged
nuisance, the Les stature passed an act placing az
the disposal OF the Governor $4,000, and directing
him TO cause 10 be constructed. with the least pos
sible delsy. a good, substantial unde ground
brick sewer, from @ point at or near
toe reformatory, and to connect With
the eve belonging to the city
jersey street. ana 1t was provided that II the city
should extend its sewer on Washington street to
tory should terminate at the eastern end OF such
extension, and should then be connected there
with, and that the Governor should pay TO the
city, TO aid in the extension of its said sewer, an
amount equal 10 the cost OF the construction OF
toe R~eformaiory sewer, had the latter been con-
structed for an equal distance on Washington
street. Pursuant 10 the provisions of the act ] APP
pointed a competent civil engineer TO superintend
the work and ayertssed for bids for its construction.
An award Was made 10 the lowest bidders, whe pro-
ceeded With diligence TO construct the sewer from
the point of beginning, at the RefOrmatory. along
ihe route prescribe by Law TO Noble street, TO which
street, during the progress of the work, the
city's sewer on Washington street had been ex-
tended. Had the reason been an ordinary one
the sum appropriated would have been more than
sumcient 70 pay for the work; but the excessive
rains which had prevailed before the work was
begun. aud which prevailed during its progress,
caused the water to filter through the sandy bot
tom OF the orch, so that pumps had TO be used
from the beginning TO the end OF the work. to en-
able the sewer 10 be made st oil, and the lower
surface OF the sewer had 20 be laid on osk plsnks
nearly its whole length. The consequence Is that
the expense of constructing the sewer has exceeded
ne appropriation IN the sam OF sS.iSf 50. The
contractors have been paid In full, hut there is due
to the city of Indianapolis the sum last mentioned.
SO soon as ] discovered that the appropriation
vas likely 10 be exceeded, / should have stopped
the work promptly until the Legislature could
have been consulted. but for the extreme ext.
eency of the case, the fact that the Legislature had
directed that ] should cause the sewer to be con.
structed with the least possible delay, and the
would be involved in a loss much above the ex
cess Of the cost Of the work over the appropria-
ton. The Legislature of 1881 had indeed appro-
pristed $4,000 for the same purpose, but the work
1 recommend that an appropriation be made in
favor OF the city OF indianapolis for the amount
The exemption or q homestead OF reasonable
value from the demands OF creditors has dot been
found in practice in the States where such ex-
erppJions exist 70 interfere inj1riously with trade.
The maintenance of the home, with its endearing
associations and its promotion OF private virtue,
iayoTs the habits which promote honor aud thrift
IN commercial transactions. The family estab-
lished in its own Homestead IS one OF the pest
supports OF the state. IN u isrge ma jority OF the
states homesteads OF reasonable value are ex-
smpted from execution. / believe they should 90
exempted in Indiana. and / the pass
sge OF a fair homestead bill.
SAYINGS BANKS.
I invite your attention most earnestly to the
importance OF legislation for the establishment
on a sound foundation OF savings banks. The
laws OF some OF the older States In which such in
stitutions have long existed end IN which few in
stances OF losses TO depositors have occurred
might be consulted by you With great advantage.
and the recent disastrous experience of iDstitu.
tons III conducted will no doubt furnish 10 YOU
instructive lessons TO enable you 10 correct evils
afsinst which the best laws have failed heretofore