The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-29
THE HOUSE.
An Investigation of the Soldiers Orphans
Home Is Ordered.

Home Is Ordered.
The session was opened with prayer by Mr..
Staley, a representative from the county of
Clinton.
The special order being Mr.. Moodys resolu-
tion introduced Tuesday, providing for an in
vestigation of certain charges against trustees,
officers and employees of the Soldiers Orphans
Home, the question, on Mr.. Cory's substitute
that the investigation be of John NJ. Goar only
came up for consideration.
Mr.. Sayre: / am not aware that any charges
have been preferred by any person against John
M. Goar, although the substitu tie seems to speak
of it as though charges had been preferred
against him.
Mr.. Cory: The letter written by Mr. Goar to
the House acknowledged that charges had been
made against him.
Mr.. Sayre-That communication does not
come from an irresponsible man, but it comes
from one of the trustees of the asylum an officer
of the State of Indiana, chosen by the Demo
cratic General Assembly of 1883, and in this
General Assembly L believe there are thirty
eight persons of Democratic faith who voted for
him for that Office Therefore think it is not
proper for the members of this House to ignore
his communication. There are questions pre-
sented in that communication that this House
dare not and cannot ignore. One is that the
superintendent Of that institution and members
OF his family have been guilty of the grossest
wrongs and cruelties against the orphans of the
soldiers of Indiana. He also charges that a
for present purposes and for political
advantage to say they will condone
outrages OF the kind charged in this communica-
tion 1t is also charged that an honored mem
Der of this House proposed to him that if he
would resign his Office, he would be given
embarrassing report and a certificate of char
acter 1t is but fair that we have a thorough
investigation. so that Mr.. Williams will be
VIII Tod 70
that the communication of Mr.. Goar should te
made the subject of the investigation. The let
Ter comes from the proper authority and makes
astounding charges. hope the substitute will
not be adopted, and that this amendment will be
adopted, so that we can say to the people of
Indiana that we are in favor Of making com
plete exposure, concealing nothing in regard to
the affairs of thesasylun.
Mr.. Cory have said and presume that no
member on this floor will deny that the charges
against him are acknowledged by John M Goar.
He acknowledged that the Grand Army of the
Republic had had these charges under consider
alton, and that he had appeared before them and
given them partial defense. Why it was par
tial we do not know He also says that no
action has been taken by the Grand Army. No
one but John M Goar is charged. John NJ
Goar, criminally charged, throws out insinua-
tons here against honest honorable men, and
my Republican friends would have us investi-
gate these honorable men, who are smirched, or
attempted to be smrched, by this criminal, or
man who is crininally charged. I don't know
John NJ Goar, but | do know
that these criminal charges stand against him
l am in favor of investigating the man so
charged, but am not in favor, for the sake of
pleasing some Republican members, of letting
John NJ Goar alone and investigate Daniel W.
Voorhees, and the gentleman who stands at the
head OF the committee on benevolent institu-
tons.
Mr. Gooding-I am not disposed to talk about
Democrats and Republicans There are charges
made by one who occupies an official position. I
know the parties personally. l don't. know
whether there is any guilt or not. But the
charges are here. They are here in proper form
and this Legislature can't afford to ignore them
There ought to be the most thorough sitting and
investigation of all the parties charged There
is but course for this Legislature to take
and that is to appoint a committee and give the
whole matter an investigation. If none are
guilty and all are innocent will be most glad.
Mr.. Adams-An officer of our State has
come into our assembly and voluntarily
said to this General Assembly that inn
proprieties are being INDUCED in one of our
institutions He says an investigation of
this institution and the officers will disclose the
most brutal practices. Are you to take it for
granted that a trustee is coming into this House
and General Assembly as a scoundrel and liar,
and that yon will investigate only him2 1t
would be shame and disgrace not to investigate
all of them. never saw Mr.. Goar, any of
the officers of this institution but it is due to all
am in favor of fair and just investigation of
all.
Mr. Taylor-This subject is very grave one
The references to political matters that have
been injected into this discussion, / think, are
entirely uncalled for. We have been told by an
officer of this State, and one who holds high
position of trust, that there have been gross cru
elites practiced in this institution. We should
purge ourselves of these men who infest these
public positions. We can't do Justice to our
selves unless we do so. 1t is due to all Of us
that the fullest the fairest an the freest invest
igation shall take place, and let no guilty man
escape. If there is dirt there throw it out, and
cast it where it belongs. / care nothing for Mr.
Goar or Mr. White if they are innocent, let us
give them fair investigation and discharge
them.
Mr.. McMulien-It seems to me that everybody
in this House is in favor of an investigation.
Mr.. Goar is an officer of the State of Indiana
elected by the General Assembly, and he makes
charges; that is sufficient for an investigation
The purport of the original resolution was to
embrace every officer connected with that insti
tuition. | move that the substitute lie on the
table. The motion was agreed to. On motion
of Mr. McMullen. the amendment was laid on
the table-yeas CO. nays 81. The resolution was
adopted.
RELIEF OF LOSERS OF TRUST FUNDS.
Mr.. Pendeton's bill III. r. 56l for the relief
of ten trustees of Marion county, who lost pub
lie moneys by the failure of banks, coming up
in regular order, it was read the second time.
Mr. Reeves moved that it be indefinitely post
poned.
Mr. Smith of T;nnaeanaa-T homo that a hin