The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-30
POOR FARM COFFEE
Bit of HumOr in State Charities Board
Report.

The committee on county institutions of
the State Board of Charities yesterday filed
a report of it's investigation of the Marion
County Poor Asylum with the Governor.
The full particulars of the findings of the
committee were presented in the Journal of
yesterday and the full report of the COM
mittee furnishes nothing new except a few
minor details, some of which have humor-
Gus side to them. Regarding the anticipated
charge that the disorders at the institution
were the result of too much politics the re-
port says:
I'VE find that for some time previous to
Jan. /, 1856, the prevailing politics of the
board had been Democratic and the officers
at that time MessrS Harding and Greer be-
came majority Of the Board Of Commits
slonerS OF this county and they removed
every person formerly employed and chose
new officers and employees, choosing none
but Republicans, and being more anxious
TO see that they were Republicans than that
they could perform their duties. We
heard rumors OF cruelties practtced upon the
insane, but upon investigation we became
convinced that while it is likely that some
things have been done that should not have
occurred, the same were not of sufficiently
grave character as to merit serious consid-
Grafton or condemnation"
Touching on the food question the report
says: When we went to the farm we
found brawny German cooking dinner for
the inmates. He was smoking large pipe
putting the smoke into the victuals as they
steamed and boiled on the range. =
The coffee had been boiling for an hour at
: o'clock and he thought 1t would be done
by noon"
After explaining that the superintendent
ordered all the supplies and sent the
memoranda to the commissioners the re-
port says: While we find chat the political
and personal friends of the commissioners
generally sold the goods we do not find that
the commissioners made any profit by so
doing. But we do find that the prices paid
than they should have paid, and, therefore
the county has been largely the loser by
this plan of action. IT is but proper to say
that the commissioners are coming to a
needs from that formerly had by them, and
they informed us that they have under con-
sideration provisions for a separate building
for the female inmates and for a place for
the insane men nearer the ground on the
WomenS side or the present structure, which
may be torn down to the top Of the second
story. They also contemplate making pro-
visions for Strengthening animals and curing
meat for the use OF the asylum. They have
given the present superintendent full power
to administer the institution and authority
over the employees. The latter are subject
to discharge by him and he may employ
successors for those who are not satisfac-
tory In conclusion the report says: after
due consideration we are of the opinion that
the superintendent of such an institution
should be man who has executive ability
and fitness for administering such an
asylum as this. He should be selected be-
cause OF competence rather than for political
reasons; he should not be employed for any
definite time, but should hold his office as
long as his services are satisfactory; he
should be given full authority to conduct the
institution and be held responsible therefor
himself having the appointment and dis
charge of all employees"