The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-10
Pettis Dry GoodsCo
WILL NOT CALL ONE
Governor Matthews Talks with the
Committee OF Unemployed Men.
Declines to Convene an Extra Session
of the Legislature for Their
Benefit-FOOd Market.

Governor Matthews was the recipient of
a visit from the unemployed yesterday At
O'Clock he received a committee from the
laboring class in the executive parlors, and
for an hour listened to the takers The
committee was composed of Messrs d. F.
Kennedy, Richard George, Z. b. Cummings
e. A. Johnson, William Harrison and z
Palmer The gentlemen were appointed at
the labor meeting held on Monday night
The purpose of the visit to the executive
department was to solicit the aid of the
Governor in provi1ing some means of re-
lief for the unemployed. E. e. Cummings
as spokesman Of the body, stated the plans
of his committee. He thought that the most
speedy and fruitful means OF aiding unem-
ployed labor would be for the Governor to
call an extra session of the Legislature
The city officials had assured the commit
Tee or their willingness TO provide work for
the masses but at the same time had
shown that the city could not get money
with which 10 carry on public improve
ments. Further. they had claimed that
money could not be borrowed, as Indian
apolis had already reached the constitu-
ttonal limit in the execution of city bonds
IL was the opinion OF the committee that
an extra session of the Legislature would
nave the power 10 repeal the law covering
this obstacle.
Governor Matthews stated that he had
given the matter but little thought but he
was confident that the plan of calling the
Legislature together was untenable II
would entail a heavy expense to the State
and, after all, could result in no immediate
benefit to the laboring men. He explained
that the Legislature had no power TO re-
peal a clause Of the statutes and the ONLY
remedy possible would be the passage of
an amendment to the Objectionable clause
This, he said, would require at least three
Years time, and consequently would fail to
help the situation The Governor expressed
his sympathy for the people represented by
the committee and assured them that he
would devote some future thought and time
10 the serious matter 10 which his atten-
ttOn had been called. He felt that the dis
treSS was purely local and that the city of
problem without the aid of the legislature
Governor Matthews further pointed out the
fact 10 his callers that the city of Indian
apollS had not yet reached the constitu-
had understood there could yet be borrowed
SlOUO. He did not recommend this stem
but simply reminded the committee that
their best medium for relief would be
through the channels of the city govern
ment.
Ii was also asked by the committee if IL
would be possible for an extra session of
the Legislature to appropriate amount
for the relief of the poor and distressed
Governor Matthews did not think the Leg
stature would have the right to do so uf-
I'll every local resource had been exhaust
ed The committee retired from the pres
ence OF the Governor satisfied with their
interview. The chairman announced that
into the exact financial condition of In
dianapOliS