Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1894-12-21

Judiciary and Cities ana Towns. AS Chair
man of the Committee on Prisons in 1881 he
made an investigation of the Southern
Prison located at Jacksonville. and made a
report to the Senate of the condition. mis-
management. and corrupt practices then eX-
listing in the State prison which compelled
the resignation of the warden and directors
Gall Democrats and resulted in the selec-
ton of an entirely new management.
AlsOprepared and introduced a bill for the
complete reorganization of the prison Sys-
tenn of the State by taking the appointment
of directors away from the Legislature, and
putting il in the hands of the Governor
with power of removal. The bill, like all
other bills of that session, failed to become
a law by reason of the wellremembered
dead lock" of that session. \ similar bill,
however. was passed by the Democratic
Legislature of 1893. and is now a law.
In 1889 was made Chairman of the Com
mittee on the Judicary-the most import
ant and hardest worked committee of the
Senate. and to which are referred all i'm
pOrtant measures. To this committee was
referred the several bills of that session
looking to the securing of new election law
for Indiana. As Chairman he prepared
and reported a substitute bill, which
was passed. and is now known
as the Australian ballot law. Took an
active part on the floor of the Senate in
securing the passage of the School Book
Law. and introduced and passed through
the Senate a stringent bill against all trusts
and combines, but which failed 10 pass the
Lower House. He was author of the street
improvement law. generally Known as the
"Barrett law" under which all street I'M
prOvementS in the cities and towns of In
diana have been made for the past six
years, and which gave an impetus to street
improvements i'll every part OF the State,
SO that the principal streets of the cities may
be said to be lifted out of the mud.
After the close Of the session of 1880. the
indianapolis Sentinel paid him the follow
ING compliment:
among the Democratic leaders Of the
Fifty-siXth General Assembly none have
taken higher rank or welded greater nilu-
ence than Senator Barrett of Allen County.
He is a young man of extraordinary ability
and untiring industry, and possesses all the
qualities for bold and successful leader
ship His knowledge of the various depart
ments of the State government and of the
necessities and wants of the people is broad
and comprehensive. He is a dilligent stu
dent, an interchangeable worker. ready de
batter. and an excellent parliamentarian.
lie is well versed in the science of govern
ment. and his ideas of public duty are OF
the highest. He was one of the most con-
spicuous figures in the session just
ended, and to him, as much as to
and other member of either chamber,
IS due the successful issue of the fight for
election reform. and the rout of the school
book trust. Few men better equipped for
legislative duties have ever sat in an In
diana General Assembly.
Senator Barrett is Chairman of the Allen
County Democratic Central Committee at
the present time.
His legal ability was recognized by the
Commissioners of Allen County in their
selection of him as County Attorney.