The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-28
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
Senate Committee of the Whole
Considers a Measure.
To Change the Management OF
State Charitable Institutions.
Everything Placed Under the ooh''o'
of Board of Fonr-LeglsiaViVe
Notes.

Much of the time of the senate has
been taken up during the past two days
,.a,,.iderine Senator Eouseholder's
charity bill as committee of the whole.
The third reading of the bin was com
uIeted late yesterday afternoon. the
measure is now under discussion by the
committee.
The bill constitutes an entirely new
law in relation to charities and correc-
tfons in this state, and is comprehensive
in it's provisions. 1t has been under
preparation by Senator Householder for
the past two years. The majority of
the senators irrespective of party favor
the bill in general, and il will undoubt-
eddy pass that body.
Under the provisions of the bill all
state charitable and reformatory instl-
tutions will be under the direction and
control of four persons to be known as
the state Board of Charities and Cor
rections," to be appointed by the COVER
nor and confirmed by the senate, and
not more than two of whom shall be
from the same political party. The
term OF office of these trustees will be
four years.
The board is empowered with author
ity to make all appointments of super
intendents, officers, teachers and en-
DtOYeS OF all state institutions, anu tiAe
duties will consist in investigating and
supervising all charitable and correc-
tional institutions in the state. Local
charita BILE and correctional institutions,
such as poor houses, jailS and city pris-
ons are included under this provision
in regard to investigation.
The institutions now known as state
insane asVlums are designated in the
bill-as state hospitals, the one at To-
peka to be known as the Topeka hOspl-
tai and the one at Osawatomie as the
Osawa tonne hOspital.At the suggestion
of number of prominent physicians OF
this city. q provision has been added to
the original bill requiring the appoint
ment Of q board of four reputable To-
peka physicians as an advising staff to
confer with the superintendent of the
Topeka hospital in reference to the care
and treatment of the insane. The mem
bers of this board are to receive no
compensation for the services SO rem
dered.
One section of the bill authorizes the
mem berS of the board of trustees TO at
tend the annual conferences of charities
and corrections, and to tax up the act
ual necessary expenses of the trip as
part of the expenses of the Office. This
section was responsible for considerable
discussion in the senate yesterday aft
ernoOn.
When amendments in general were
called for after the reading of the bill,
Senator Helmick, (Pop.,) offered an
amendment to strike out this particu-
lar section In favor of his amendment
he said:
7 suppose that the words attend an
nual conferences mean that the MEM
bers of this board shall meet at wa
tering place or summer resort every
year, have 4 good time and go home In
other words enjoy a little pleasure triD
at the expense of the state. I'm not in
favor Of the state bearing this kind of
expense, and believe that this section
should be stricken OUT
For the gentleman from Chautaudua
0f nj
a needless expense to the state hurt the
feelings of the senator from Cherokee
and he rose to reply. He said:
Il fear that the senator does not
comprehend the entire force of this sec
ton. L undertake to say that no mem
Der of such a board could fit himself to
carry on the work in these institutions
entrusted to his care in any better Way
than by attending these national con-
ferences. These are conferences where
boards of all the states in the Union
meet, not at some watering place or
summer resort, but at some centrally
located business point The confer
ences are held once a year, and the
members of the different boards meet
and compare notes, so as to better
qualify themselves to carry on this i'm
portant work"
Senator Lamb Rep.) spoke against
the amendment. He said:
IF the state of Kansas means to
adopt this law, we should not start ont
by tying the feet of this board. The
law will be largely an experiment and
should be started under the most ia
vorable circumstances. / don't care
what the politics of the board may be.
/ want the members accorded the same
privileges as are accorded by other
states to the members of their boards
L want 1t to go out that Kansas is a
member of the Union, and if these con-
ferences are productive of good, 1 want
the board of this state to attend"
Senator Farrely CDem) favored the
amendment and stated that his stand
was taken on the theory of economy
He said he thought the board could
serve the interests of the state better
by staying at home and examining the
reports of other states than by attend
ing the national conferences
In reply to Senator F'arrely, Senator
Householder stated that he would
gladly join hands with the senator from
NeoshO along the lines of true economy.
but not on economy which would injure
the proficiency of the state institu-
tions." He said that the expenses of
the board should not exceed $500, and
that he would be willing to SO amend
the section.
If the section is changed so as 70
state that the expenses shall not ex-
coed $500, said Senator Helmick I will
withdraw my motion to strike it out"
The section was SO amended and the
matter settled.