The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-24
AFTERNOON SESSION.
VIEW INSANE AsYLU,


Mr.. GOODING. from the minority OF the
Committee on Ways aud Means, submitted
q report on the New Insane Asylum bill s.
Co, rec mmending its amendment so that
the one located IN Vanderberg County shall
be completed and equipped, sppropriating
SlJf 0OO therefor in addition 10 the Unex-
peoted balance under tie act of March :
1888 One-helf Of said moneys to be paid in
TIE. fiscal ear ending October 81 1885; also
spproprisiing $4,000 for maintenance to
March ], 1887. and prohibiting any further
contracts or expenditures Or payments OF
money for the erection or completion OF a
Hospital for the Insane located in either the
counties of Cass or Wayne, but good care aud
protection shall be given TO the property
pertaining thereto. The report concludes "a
follows:
The undersigned begs leave to briefly submit for
the consideration OF the House OF Representative
some OF the reasons why the sstd BILL without the
amendments proposed by him, should not De en-
acteo into laH' and why II anended as proposed
in his minority report the bill amended should
pass ana become 8 law.
IL seems now 10 be very generally conceded that
the act OF Msrch :, 1885, authorizing the erection
of three additional hospitals for the insane was
very uDwise legislation and without ans real ne
cessity therefor and in utter disregard Of public
economy. 1t is not necessary AZ this time and
here 10 inQuiTeint0 the means used or motives by
cient to know that it is the law without the Gov.
errors approval IL is not now or here important
or material 10 comment on the action of the Gov
eTnoI nor of the Board OF COmmiss Oners as TO the
exereise OF the wide latitude OF discretionary
power given them by law. That in some way
they were overreacbed and misled as
ton. The number Of insane was most
likely greatly exaggerated, and the Beard
thereby misled Be this SIS il may this Legislature
is compelled TO accept the situation, and 10 de
termine what action is best TO be taken under all
the existing circumstances. IL Is believed that
lot more tnan SEQ insane persons of this State,
who should be IN an insane hospital, are not now
provided with home therein. and that the com
pletOn and finishing OF the Hospital for the In
sane loCa ted al or Evansville. together with
the hospital near Indianapolis aud now in use
viii afford ample accommodations for al the in
sane of the State VINO should be inmates OF such
an INSTITUTION. mat al Sucn shOn1d be carefully
sud generously provided Tor with suitable accom-
4 odauOns in an Hospital for the Insane is not
cOnuOyerted OF questioned nor IS there intent OF
purpose to refuse any necessary or proper apprO-
priations therefor, but 10 is not believed tGai
there is at this time, or that there viii be Tor
mshy years 10 come. any necessity or require
ments for the contemplated Insane HOSPITAL in
Cas- snd Wayne Counties
II To foregoing is cor ect then IL would seem
10 be unwise legislation 10 make further apprO-
pristioDs for the completion and furnishing OF
the hospitals al L0gSnsp0rt and Richmond. IL is
now apparent that the erection, completion aud
furnishing of these two hospitals, with necessary
ats chmeBis will cost the State about one million
dollars before they are a. all ready for use, ana
annually thereafter the necessary appropriations
for the two hospitals, II inmates can be found by
searching the STATE With lighted candle includ
sum OF $4,000. II is now evident that this Leg
| islsiuTe will make appropriations IN excess oil
| the revenue OF the STATE in sum o. one million
| dollars or more.
bin has already been passed by this House
providing for the sale of state lands IN the sum oil
$500 CO., 10 is conceded that 10 is mex pedient 10
increase the rate OF taxstOn leaving IRON four 10
six hundred thousand dollars OF Indebtedness IN
provided for at The adjournment OF this lie gisla-
lure. thereby greatly impairing the states
credit and future increase of taxation
or the people already staggering under
the weight OF taxation. The adoption OF the
sme dments proposed and the enactment OF the
bill as amended viii IN the course OF a few years
save millions of dollars 10 the taxpayers, and be
no loss or detlimeut to the unfortunate insane,
who have the sympathy aud good will OF a Il.
None VIII be damaged but the contractors
whose sctual damages will be very small when
compared with the actual costs OF the State OF
continuing the work. The people OF the State
can well afford TO pay al the actual damages IL
preference 70 paying the annual drain on the
Treasury. The land purchased and the material
furnished can be sold for other uses 81 no very
great loss In no event would the entire dam
eyes exceed SlfUCG0. To 60 OF with the erection,
completion and equipping OF the two hospitals
will cost appropriations not yet made OF near
sleeQoes Is 1t iS heleYe1 exclusive Of the costs