The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-27
4 HOME FOR THE WOMEN
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WOULD
TAKE THEM FROM POOR FARM.
state board of Charities Officers Dis
cuss Plans for Betterment
of the Asylum.

Amos w. Butler. secretary of the Board of
State Charities, and John r. Elder a MEM
Der of the board, visited the County Com
missioners yesterday afternoon and dis
cussed plans for the betterment Of condi-
tons at the Poor Farm. The topic was in
troduced by Secretary Butler, who said that
the Board of State Charities had been
aroused by the newspaper reports of al
legged irregularities at the County Asylum.
Mr.. Butler said that he and Mr.. Elder had
not come to the Board of Commissioners
convinced that all these rumors were true,
but they had come to ask that some kind
of an investigation be made and to offer the
services of the Board of Charities in max
ing the Poor Farm a model institution"
Commissioner Greer gave Secretary Butler
an outline of the plans which the board has
In view for improving the conditions at the
Poor arm. Mr.. Greer said he had these
plans in mind for the last six months, and
had discussed them with the other members
of the board. The most important change
contemplated was the removal Of all the
women at the institution to another place.
In discussing this phase of the Poor Farm
question after the conference MIR. Greer
said:
II have for long time been in favor of
the only way in which it can be done, as
see it, is to build a separate home for the
women. This will, of course, entail an adj
ditional expense to the county, but L be-
lieve it is necessary. II we take the women
away from the Poor Farm that will leave
more room for the men, and we can then
have a separate place for the insane in
mates. The insane women would, of course,
be removed TO the new home, and the de-
mented men could occupy the quarters
where the women now live. The county has
an institution that could be remodeied into
home for the unfortunate women who
nave TO 80 to the Poor Farm. This is the
Old Children's Guardians Home, on Pros
pect street. We would rather sell this prop
erty, however, and use the proceeds from
the sale In erecting an entirely new building
somewhere else.
Il have also another plan for the better
ment OF the Poor Farm" continued Mr..
Greer, and that is in relation to the meat
used there and also at The woTkhouse. We
have had a good deal of trouble in getting
the right kind of meat, and now / am in
favor OF the county preparing its own meat.
My plan is to establish Il slaughter house at
the Poor Farm, raise all our own hogs at
the farm, and as many cattle as possible
We could do our own killing, and thereby
furnish plenty of good meat for the Poor
Farm and the worIhouse. L am confident it
would pay US to do this, and the board is
seriously discussing the plan"
Secretary Butler explained to the Board
of Commissioners that it is the intention of
the Board of State Charities to get a bill
through the Legislature this winter provid-
ing for the State to take care of all its in
durable insane. Should the efforts of the
Board of Charities be successful it will
greatly relieve the crowded conditions of
the poor asylums of the State'
Mr.. Greer promised the visitors that the
commissioners would investigate all reports
concerning irregularities at the Poor Farm
1t is the intention of the commissioners to
visit the institution as soon as the new
superintendent takes charge. Every depart
ment of the place will then be gone through,
and wherever renovation is necessary the
board will not be backward about doing it,