The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-05-13
Speech Of Mr.. Washburn.
On Rewarding Convicts and Starving the
Benevolent and Educational In
stitutions.

On Rewarding Convicts and Starving the
Benevolent and Educational In
stitutions.
When the Senate, amendments to the
House appropriation bill were under con-
sideration, Mr. Washbum asked for
division of the question, and demanded a
separate vote on the item appropriating
$4,000 "for rewards for convicts," and
spoke as follows
Mr.. SPEAKER I'm the five minutes
allotted me under rules just adopted |
desire to give my reasons for opposing this
amendment Every objection that was
urged against the item OF $4,000 for
rewards for convicts," which was recon.
mended by the House finance committee,
and which was stricken out by this body,
one week ago, applies with equal force to
the restored item Of $25,OOO, which the
Senate now asks us to concur in. With
my time limited by the rule | can only
note few objections that will occur TO
every observant person; and u | speak
plainly II will be because / feel keenly
the injustice Of this appropriation. pro-
test against this reward" because 1t is
unjust to the honest workingmen OF Ohio,
whose property is taxed to pay the amount.
| protest against 1t because 1t is unjust TO
the benevolent institutions that are beg.
ging at the doors of this chamber Tor
money to enable them to properly care for
the unfortunate wards of the state within
their walls. protest against II because
| il is unjust to the three educational insti-
tutions under the fostering care Of the
Ohio Legislature, whose appeal for help is
rejected by the recommendation of the com.
mittee. protest against il in the hame of
every honest taxpayer in the State, whose
burdens are already as great as they ought
to BEAR in providing for the legitimate ex-
penses of the government. | protest
against II because It discriminates against
intelligence, honesty, and virtue, and IN
favor OF ignorance, vice and crime.
| ask in all sincerity, Mr.. Speaker, and
| insist that some member who defends
this appropriation answer the, question:
Why are our educational and benevolent
institutions neglected on the plea Of an
empty treasury, when there is sufficient
funds on hand TO "rewardn the robbers of
our homes-the thieves and burglars who
have by their crimes forfeited every civil
right except that TO liveY Why deny the
ones who seek TO elevate their race, and
reward those who live only TO demoralize
and destroy? These convicts have no
claim upon the people for extra pay; and
when, TO meet the wasteiul extravaganza
Of this Democratic administration, this
Legislature has been compelled 10 increase
the State levy, call upon the representa-
| t;,,as Of tho nanp1a raUar1laga nf marty IN
unite in either voting this amendment
down entirely, or reducing the amount to a
Just and reasonable sum. On hisquestion |
represent no party. speak for the people
Of Ohio, Of all parties, who look to their
representatives, upon this floor TO protect
them against all such wrongs as this
amendment imposes. appeal TO the ma.
| jority il this house to aid in sustaining
the reputation Of their own party In an
honest desire TO benefit the whole people.
Now is the time, and here the opportunity
to show the sincerity Of their professions.
The Democratic party came into power
on the cry of reform. Ii has reformed the
penitentiary by Transforming II into an
institution that costs the people five theus-
and dollars month more than 1t earns.
1t shows It's sympathy for the criminal
class by increasing their rewards" from
five thousand TO thirty thousand dollars, in
the very lace Of this gigantic monthly de-
fciency. Ii has complied with every de.
mand OF those who traffic In liquor, so far
as il has the power. II has removed the
annual tax of two millions of dcllars upon
the traffic. and placed II upon the already
over.burdened taxpayers Of the State. II
attempted TO secure protection Tor the
traffic by low graded constitutional IL
cense. II has money in plenty Tor the
criminals, and those who traffic in liquor,
but 1t has cut down the appropriations Tor
all our benevolent and educational institu.
tions to the starvation point. Is this the
'reform" that the people expected when
they entrusted the Democratic party with
powerY
Mr.. Speaker, / know that the law Of last
winter, enacted in the spirit Of reform"
authorizes this expenditure for rewards,
but that does not make II any more Just.
/ denounced 1t then and / denounce il
now. Besides, II is not mandatory. II Is
discretionary for the prison managers TO
set apart for the prisoners onefiith Of their
total earnings. They should never have
done II. They know that only one-seventh
of the prisoners have families to be bene-
fted by these rewards They ought TO
know that the money thus placed TO their
credit, and which they will be entitled TO
draw when they leave the prison, will be
used by large number to provide them.
selves with tools by means OF which they
will resume their avocation of robbery,
burglary and plunder. Heretofore five
thousand dollars has been the extent of the
appropriations for this purpose, and II is
enough. Limit the appropriation to this
sum and 1t will be approved; bur for my
self, and speaking as think do for the
great body Of taxpayers Of Ohio, ] cannot
vote Tor this item in the bill and justify
the act before those who would have a
just right to ask me why did so great q
wrong.
[Ailer further discussion the item was
reduced TO $4,000, the member from Lo-
rain withdrew his demand for separate
vote, and then the item as amended was
unanimously concurred in.