The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-27
THE PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
THE SENATE.
Disctssion of the Proposition to Abandon
Work on the INSANE Hospitals.

Dischssion of the Proposition to Abandon
Work on the INSANE Hospitals.
Mr.. Hiligass stated that the Lieutenant-gov-
ernor would not be in for some time, and moved
that the senator from Perry (dr. Nay take the
chair which was agreed to.
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Jeffery, of the Baptist
Church.
Petitions and memorials were presented by
Messrs. Bailey and Brown.
Mr.. Faulkner offered resolution for the -ap-
pointment of George A. Russ as page Mr.
Bailey moved to amend by adding the name Of
George Fitzpatrick.
Mr.. Mcintosh moved to lay the amendment on
the table. 1--WE have been discharging pages,'
he said, '.and now this is proposition to hire
others" The motion was rejected by yeas, 81
nays, g. noquorum voting.
Mr.. Willard demanded a call of the Senate,
which being ordered only thirty three senator's
answered to their names.
Mr.. Foulke made Intellectual motion
Affirmative and negative not counted-to send
for abSenteeS.
Mr.. Willard moved that the Senate adjourn
until 205. The yeas and nays being demanded
by i've senators, the motion was rejected by yeas
6, nays24.
On motion of Mr.. HilEgass call Of the Sen
ate was had, and but thirty senators
Mr.. Willard made an Intellectual motion to ad-
Journ. Half an hour or more was occupied in
calling the roll and voting upon motions to adj
Journ, until finally the Senate adjourned until
| afternoon without having transacted any bust
ness.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
President pro tenn. Magee called the Senate to
order
The President pro tenn. announced the special
ordef-the new insane asylum equipment bill
ND I10I r.. T.
SMITH to the chair. The amendments reported
by the committee on public buildings being
read, MIR. Magee repeated the history of legisla-
ton which resulted in the passage of the bill
at the last session providing for the erection of
three new insane asylums, designed to take care
OF about 200 persons, and expected to be ready
for occupancy between the months of September
and December, 1856 According to the census of
1851 there We're 1892 insane persons in the
State, 420are now at the main hospital near
indianapolis, and the others are not subject to
any hospital treatment From 1850 to 1880 the
population increased two to one, while the insane
ratio increased SIX to one. Indiana has less
ratio at hospital treatment than any State in the
Union, and spends less money for the care and
treatment of the insane than any other State
in the Union 1t has been a uni
| form rule that at insane asylums the
cost is about J$1, 600 per patient 1t
will costin this State something less than 5000
for each patient to be taken care of. Indiana is
a wealthy State and able to make this e. pendi-
.ture. Tle State debt does not exceed the,debt
of Marion county very much, and her valuation
is l0O per cent. more than that of this county.
We-went before the people last year and not
single newspaper or citizen raised his voice in
condemnation Of the General Assembly for max
ing the appropriation for this purpose If this
BILLS opposed on the ground that we ought not
to expend the money under the present condi-
ton OF business affairs, that objection can be
met with the statement chat we have more
taXaoies than ever, as the next assessment will
/ show, and the increased revenue at the present
rate of taxation will complete these buildings for
the care of the most pitable and sorrowful con-
dition of human helplessness. If the compile
ton of these buildings is postponed one, two,
three or four years all the work that has beer
done will be lost. The brick, lumber
and tile on the grounds are perishable
property. The contractors have entered on
their work and it is not to be
considered fora moment that this General AS
sembly will break the faith of former General
Assemblies One reason why these buildings
were located IN different parts of the State was
that if fire should overtake one, there would be
another asylum which could afford protection.
Only the other day an insane asylum at Kanka-
kee, Ill, was destroyed by fire. These build
ings ought to be completed as rapidly as posi-
ble II the insane increase as rapidly in the
future as they have in the past twenty years we
will have to build one or two more.
Mir. Fowler moved to amend the bill so as to
appropriate a sufficient sum to complete, hut one
of the three insane asylums the present board
of commissioners to determine which one. He
said the Senate would not be called
upon to act on "a more important bill
than this. 1t proposes to appropriate
very large sum of money and before we vote
this vast sum of money out of the treasury we
should know what is absolutely required. No
senator would go further to provide for the I'M
fortunate, the INDECENT or the feeble minded, or
that other class oflpeople on whom God has laid
the heavy hand of affiiction--the insane than
he; but without absolute necessity to .appro
pirate so large sum of money, it ought not to
be done.
Before Mr.. Fowler concluded, Mr.. Willard
moved that the Senate take a.recess for twenty
minutes, to hear Senator Voorhees, address the
House of Representatives. The motion was
| agreed to.
| When the senators returned Mr.. Fowler con-
cluded his speech.
| Mr.. Brown moved to refer the bill to the COM
mite on finance. Mr.. Willard favored the mo-
! tion Senators .Hnligass, ,Magee, .Youche and
Kahn opposed the motion, which was rejected
| by yeas IL, nays 30.
The Senate adjourned