The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-03
MRS. BUCHANAN.s BILL.
Wants Police Matrons in All Cities OF
More Than Ten Thousand.


Police Matron Buchanan made an earnest
effort two years ago to have bill passed
by the Legislature providing for the ap
pointment of police matrons in all cities
having ten thousand or more inhabitants
The effort failed, but she will renew it this
year. In this movement she has the in
dorsement OF the leading women of the
State Who are interested in the condition
of fallen womanhood. She has prepared
a petition to each house, which has been
signed by Mayor Denny, Prosecuting At
torney Wiltsie, Police Judge Stubbs Su-
perintendent of Police Powell, Edgar A.
Brown judge of the Circuit Court; John
l.. McMaster, Lawson NJ. Harvey judges
of the Superior Court; John w. Healing,
p. c. Trusler, S. N. Gold, township trustee;
Sterling r. Holt, county treasurer; Err
nest Bicknell, secretary of the State Board
of Charities; III. H. Hanna president of
the Charity Organization Society; Thomas
l.. Sullivan, ex-Mayor; Frank H. Black
ledge, attorney for the Bureau of Justice;
John M. Butler, VIM. H. Dye, Rev NJ l..
Haines, pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church, A. NJ. Fletcher. John H. Holiday,
eliza A. Blaker and many others. She is
still seeking signatures, desiring to have
the n eo, pet go to the legislature as
strongly Endorsed as possible. She has
given wide study to the problems involved
Nine States. she says, have adopted such
municipal corporations to appoint police
natrons if it is thought advisable The
text of the bill which Mrs. Buchanan homes
to see adopted is follows:
An act to authorize cities containing
population of ten thousand more to
create the office of police matron, and to
provide for compensation of same
Section l.. BE it enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Indiana that in
cities containing a population of ten thou
sand or more, the board of police commits
sioners or, if there be no police commits
sloners, then the Mayor or such other au-
thority as may have the appointment of
police officers shall appoint a police matron
with such assistants as may be necessary,
whose duty it shall be to receive, take
charge of, search and properly care for
at the jail or station house all female pris-
oners and all children under the age of
fourteen years who shall be arrested ana
detained in custody in such city.
Sec, Such police matron, when so APP
force of such city, and shall have all the
authority now delegated to police officer
ulations as shall be prescribed for the gov
eminent of the police force of such city,
and may be removed by the appointing
power for good cause shown.
Sec. 3. Such police matron shall have
proper accommodations for herself and for
all prisoners under her control. She shall
be jailer in charge of the female depart
ment of the station house or Jail when
such prisoners are confined in a jaiD, with
all the powers and duties of a member of
the police force, and shall have authority
to summon any policeman other per-
son to her aid when aid is required. Such
police matron shall be paid a salary equal
to the salary of a regular patrolman, and
her assistant or assistants shall be paid
such salary or salaries the appointing
power may deem sufficient.
"Sec. 4. The police matron or her assist
ant shall be in attendance in all courts
when women are to be tried, and shall have
charge of all such women, whether crimi-
nal or insane, and of all girls while such
persons are awaiting trial or transfer to or
from any place of detention.
Sec. 5. Such police matron shall not be
under thirty-five years of age fully quail
fed of good moral character, and, before
appointment, must be recommended in
writing by not less than twenty women and
FIVE men, all of whom must be persons of
good standing and character in such city,
and all OF whom shall have been residents
of such city for at least five years next
previous to such appointment.
sSec. g. An emergency is hereby declared
To exist for the immediate taking effect of
this act, and the same shall be in force
from and after its passage"
Hon. j. II. Watson to Speak.
Hon. James +. Watson will address the
Republican Commercial Travellers Club
next Saturday night at the rooms in the
When Block. 1t expected that Hon.
J. Frank Han,ey, of the Ninth district.
would make the first address. but he will
be detained. and Mr.. Watson has consented