The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-21

THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
Concluded From Third Page.

the murder OF Blount, was in progress.
The senator from Delaware. who had
on the previous day sneeringly referred TO
the miners memorial as dime-novel litera
ture, then presented a substitute for Mr..
Bryd's resolution, which was couched in
the most lurid language. The substance
OF it was that the superintendent and EN-
ployes had been charged with being dere-
lict in their duties 1t finally provided
that the committee OF investigation should
consist OF two members from the majority
and two from the minority, to be appoint
ed by the president of the senate, and
that similar committee be appointed ON
the part of the house.
Mr.. BOYD moved to make the matter
the special order of business for Monday,
Jan. 26.
Mr.. Magee said that ever since he had
been a member of the general assembly
there had been a desire TO investigate the
benevolent institutions. In the present
case the only direct charge that had been
made was hat an attendant had beaten a
patient to death. That occurred before
the election, and the indianapolis Journal
and other republican papers throughout
the state had made political capital out of
the matter. The superintendent of
the institution had been exonerated
by the coroner and board of charities and
there was no charge against him. He did
not believe that it was just to cast rehec-
tion upon the good name of an honorable
man by subjecting him to an investigation
after it had been clearly shown that he
was blameless The crime OF the attend
ant did not involve the management.
When it came to his knowledge that there
were good grounds for an investigation he
L.
to the resolution of the gentleman from
De aware as being in line with the editor
ials in republican newspapers during the
last campaign.
Mr.. Yaryan intimated that if driven to
il he might say things which he did not
desire to speak OF.
"Do you try people in Wayne county
on suspicion, Mr.. 1aryan?" asked Mr..
Magee.
"Well, no." replied that gentleman,
"but a great many reports derogatory TO
the management OF the hospital have
been circulated"
II know that if you tried your county
commissioners on suspicion" said Mr..
Magee, they would not be sitting in their
seats today"
Mr.. Magee reiterated that the senate
had no right to send out q committee to
charge had been IN ade.
Mr.. Byrd made a strong speech in be-
half OF his resolution, saving that fair
and impartial investigation would set at
rest all rumors and suspicious, and in no
way injure an honest man, and he firmly
believed that Superintendent Wells was
an honest man.
''Iet the committee on benevolent IN
situations visit the hospital" said Mr..
Magee, land if they find good grounds for
an investigation il will then be time to ap-
point n special committee"
Mr.. Ewing said that be had been inti-
mately acquainted with MIR. Wells for
several years and that he was gentleman
of integrity. The fairy stories in the re-
publican papers were not sufficient to
even raise the presumption that anything
was wrong in the management. The
superintendent himself, however, was
anxious for an investigation.
Mr.. Boyd's motion to postpone further
consideration of the matter until one
week from Monday was lost. The ques-
ton then came up on Mr.. Stockings
substitute, and ii was defeated by strict
party vote Mr.. BOYD offered an amend
ment that two members of the committee
be named by the majority and two by the
minority, and the same wac rejected by a
vote of rs to Is, Messrs. Magee. Aiken and
Howard voting with the republicans. Mr..
Boyd then demanded the previous ques-
ton, and his resolution was unanimously
adopted. Tie senate then adjourned.