The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-28
John NJ. Gear, a Trustee of the Soldiers Or
phans' Home, Maks Charges of Outrage
GUS Abuse at that Institution.
He Demands that There Shall Be an In
vestigatiOn Into the Management.
The Senate Decides to Ignore Jefferson Davis
An Appropriation of $4,000 for the Press
ing Needs Of the insane Asylum.

The Indiana Senate has paid its respects-in
the regative-to Mr. Jefferson Davis. The COM
mittee on federal relations yesterday morning
recommended the adoption of the resolution re-
auesting Congress to pass bill pensioning all
Mexican soldiers; but an amendment was sub
united by the committee, excepting Jefferson
Davis" An additional amendment was offered
by Senator Willard Dem. j. which read: But
nothing herein contained shall exclude the said
Jefferson Davis from the benefits of said act,
provided that he shall and so long as he does,
vote the Republican ticket" The discussion of
the resolution related wholly to the doubtful
auestiono of whether or not a special exception in
the case of jefferson Davis would have the effect
todefeat the object of the BILL and it was finally
decided to refer the matter back to the commit
tee On federal relations, with instructions to re-
port a resolution emitting any mention of the
name of jefferson Davis
THE NEW INSANE HOSPITALS.
The Senate, by an overwhelming majority
has decided that work upon the new insane hos
pital buildings shall not be abandoned. The
whole Of the afternoon session yesterday was
occupied with the continued discussion of Sen
800 for completion of the work of construction
during the next two years The proposition OF
Senator Fowler to reduce the appropriation one
half and complete only one of the buildings was
supported by Willard, Weir and Thompson, but
there were only nine members who voted for 1t.
When tho appropriation bill came up ON
final reading for engrossment there
were only seven who voted in
opposition to it. During the discussion
Senator Thompson, of this county, said that he
felt it his duty to vote against the appropriation
because he had been elected by constituency
that desired a reduction Of public expenditures.
However, when the roll was called for the en-
grossment of the bill he did not vote either for
or against it. 1t was feared that the destruction
of the Insane hospital by fire, would, on account
of the need of an appropriation to rebuild the
buildings that were burned, give effective force
to the objections of Fowler to the amount which
the bin proposed to appropriate, and therefore a
motion to postpone action upon the matter for
one week was strongly opposed. 1t is believed
that the bill will pass the House, although there
will probably be a very free discussion OF 1t
when it comes up for consideration.
oUTRae EoUs ABUSE OF THE SOLDIERS ORPHANS.
- For .samesal davs.J John M. Goar, .one of the
trustees of tbe Soldiers Orphans Homo and the
Asylum for Predetermined Children, has been
lingering about the legislative halls anxiously
waiting for something to turn up" which would
indicate with some degree of certainty what
would be the probable course of the Legislature
In regard to the abuses in the management of
the Soldiers Orphans Home, in which he is inn
picated Last summer he was publicly charged
With having taken an orphan girl from the insti-
tuition of which he is trustee, and debaucned
her. The accusation passed without refutation,
and Goar continued in the exercise of
a1nu nR fh0 op1
of trustees of the institution. 1t has
been expected, however that the Legislature
would make some inquiry into the matter, and
that Goar would be deposed if found guilty. He
has been in the city nearly the whole of the
time since the Legislature convened, but his case
passed unnoticed until yesterday. There was
something of a sensation in the House when the
following communication was presented to it
yesterday at noon, by Speaker Jewett:
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 81, 1885.
"Hon Charles IT, Jewett, Speaker of the House,
''Dear Sr--On the 23d inst. addressed the
following communication:
"'Hon, Samuel Williams, Chairman House Commit
tee Benevolent Institutions:
:" Dear Sr-Referring to the conversation between
rs to-day, and your suggestion that resign my Office
IF trustee of the Soldiers Orphans Home and Asy-
fum for Predetermined Children. aad that if l would
do so your committee would report and have adopted
aresoiution of compliments to myself, have this to
say: am either unfit to hold she Office, the charges
10 which you aude are false. IL they are true, the
allow me to resign my trust with complimentary
resolution testifyng that have well and faithfully
performed my duties. If l am under serious charges
before your committee you assert it is their duty
to make the most searching inquiry to their truth
This duty you to your oaths to the whole people
of the State to the soldiers orphans and to myself
and family.
g Knowing that you have received your inspiration
from Superintendent White, deem it proper to in
form you that form months past l have demanded his
dismissal upon what deemed more than sufficient
reasons-reasons which present to your COM
mittee whenever they are prepared to go into this
matter. desired to open these questions last fall in
connection with the charges against myself, and
would the issue then had not intimate and
personal friend Of Senator Voorhees, asked that
the step be nottaken in the midst of the canvass But
did demand an Investigation in my own case by the
post of the Grand Army of which I was a member
and though the post did not in the mattel went
before that body and presented my denial and part
of my defense.
al think much good can come from such an inves-
figation Frst-it will determine whether am guilty
or not. Second-it will disclose the most brutal and
immoral practices upon the soldiers orphans and the
unfortunate Predetermined children of which Mr..
White has had full knowledge and in certain cases
has been party to- and also the immoral practices OF
his two sons-debaucheries and cruelties which the
people of Indiana are entitled TO know all about.
ask however, that may be notified in regard to the
action, or intended action of the committee, that
may be present to not only present my own case but
also such evidence have to offer regarding the
general conduct of the two institutions. have nc
conceanents in this matter and there should be
nor do ask anything but justice at the hands of your
committee Very respectfully JOHN M. GoAR
Since the presentation of this letter / have
remained here at considerable expense and great
inconvenience to my business, but as yet the
committee on benevolent institutions has not
acted, and ! now appeal to the House to take
some definite action upon the letter which sent
to the chairman of the committee / cannot
afferd to dance attendance upon the chairman OF
the committee simply because he desires me to
resign an Office rather than make an investiga
ton which he assumes would result In harm "a
appropriation. therefore ask you to present
this communication to the House, as l have nc
other means of officially communicating with
that body For the reasons which are given
above | ask the appointment of special com
mittee to investigate all the matters set forth in
the communication to Mr. Williams. Very
Respectfully, JOHN NJ. GoAR."
Representative Williams, the chairman of the
committee on benevolent institutions, was asked
by Journal reporter. Immediately after tine