The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-05-23
OUR BUSY LAWMAKERS.
Work Done by the Legislators
at Harrisburg.
THE PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE.

The Resolution Providing for a Commis-
sion to Investigate Insane Hospitals,
Penitentiaries and Workhouses, A greed
to-Considerable Discussion Both For
and Agairst the Resolution.
HARR1sBURa, May 23.-There was not
a large attendance of members yesterday
afternoon when the house was called to
order and started off on next to the last
weeks work OF this session.
The principal matter before the house
during the afternoon session was the reso-
luton calling for a commission to be
chosen from the legislature by the gov
ernor to investigate the several insane hos
pitfalls, prisons and warehouses in this
commonwealth and to report upon the con
ditions therein las they may be found to
exist to the next legislature. The resolu-
ton provoked a great deal of discussion,
the issue both for and against being ably
represented.
Mr.. Wherry, of Cumberland, who was
opposed to the adoption of such a resolu-
tion, was the first speaker and explained
at considerable length what his opposition
was based upon and closed by asking the
members of the house to vote it down as
he believed there was no necessity for its
passage, as, in his opinion, the affairs of
the charitable and penal institutions Of the
state were being honorably administered,
and that the expense Of suck a commi ssion
as that named in the resol utiOn would be
something from which the state would re-
ceive no benefit either directly or indi-
rectly.
Mr.. Cochrane, of Armstrong, followed
Mr.. Wherry and waswhat might be termed
one of the chief defenders of the resolution
He spoke for nearly half an hour, during
which he explained his reasons for support
ing the resolu on and cited in support of
his argument several cases which had come
under his personal observation, where per
sons who had been confined in the state
asylums and had died there had been ill
treated and that their bodies when sent to
their friends for burial bore many cuts and
bruises, and showed other evidences of VIC
lence. One case in particular he men
toned where the remains of a man, who
died in one of the asylums, had half a
dozen cuts about the face and head; bruises
all over the body and four ribs broken from
the backbone This, he said, was sufficient
grounds for him to support the resolution
and he hoped that the house would agree
to it,
There were several other speeches deliv-
cred, after which a vote was taken and the
resolution was agreed to by a reasonably
fair majority.
Mr.. Ritter, of Philadelphia asked unani-
nous consent to offer resolution providing
for the appointment of a committee of ten
members of the house and five senators to
attenu the dedication services of the Penn
sylvania Worlds Fair building and APP
propriating S3 500 therefor The PROPOSE
tion was showed under by a storm of
noes"
The balance of the afternoon session was
devoted to the second reading Of bills, none
of which were of particular Importance.
Nothing of special interest transpired at
the evening session.
There was no session of the senate.
1t is now talked of extending the session
to June 10, two weeks later than the day
set for final adjournment.