The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-22
THEY ARE TOO HIGH
GOVERNOR DISCUSSES THE. PROPOSED
APPROPRIATIONS.
N-
Opposes Amounts for Some New Cell
houses, National Guard and Wom-
ems RefOrmatOry.
WAYS AND MEANS REPORT
STATE WILL NEED OVER FOUR MIL
LIONS IN NEXT TWO YEARS.
Greatest Amount the First Year-Ap-
preparations for Specific
Purposes.
WAYS AND MEANS REPORT
STATE WILL NEED OVER FOUR MIL
LIONS IN NEXT TWO YEARS.

NOFeInOf mount, Wnen informed OF the
passage of the township reform bill by the
House, yesterday afternoon, expressed
much qualification and when asked If he in
tended to approve it seemed to be genuinely
surprised that any one should ask such a
question.
Certainly 1 shall sign the BILL" said the
Governor. Il nave most earnestly hoped for
reform measures to be passed concerning
both township and county government and
feel very much satisfaction at the action Of
the House,
The Governor went on to explain that he
mad favored another reform measure-one
10 require judges to make publication of
their allowances. In this connection the
Governor expressed some Impotence with
the action of the House in passing the bin
concerning the Superior Court in Lake and
Porter counties over his veto. 1.-THE effect
OF this BILL said he, SIS to completely set
aside the opinion of a large number of tax
payers. This bill will enable the Judge to
order such buildings as he may think neces-
sary TO put up, in spite Of the fact that one
Thousand taxpayers and many Of the trus-
tees OF the counties oppose the expenditure.
Such a law is inconsistent with the spirit of
REFORM thai is seeking to manifest ITSELF
me Governor has some very decided
views on the public appropriations for the
new year. He said yesterday that he fayors
the proper care of the insane. the feeble
minded and the inmates Of the penal and
correctional institutions, but is obposed to
the large specific appropriations that are
asked for at this time. He will oppose the
appropriation of $1,000 for the soldiers,
monument, $4,000 for a new women's pris-
on 100000 for the creation of a new Ma
tional Guard and $1,000 % for a new dollhouse
at the Indiana Reformatory at Jefferson
vile. In the last few days Miss Laura Ream
and Mrs. Walker, directors Of the wornen's
prison, have assured the Governor that the
women and girls are now completely sepa-
rated and that they would prefer TO have
conditions continue as they are, rather than
nave a new building put up on the present
crowded site, saying that the women and
girls could then talk through the bars of
Tue FENCES and would not be so thoroughly
lsolated as at present. The Governor was
assured thaJ conditions could very well con-
Ilnue as they are at present for two years
longer, the ladies' hoping that at the end of
mat time an entirely separate site could be
secuIed ana new buildings put uD. Conse-
quently, the women and girls being sena-
rated and not thrown together as some of
the members insist. who, as the
governor says, have, perhaps. never vis-
TIED the institution" he believes that there
is not a pressing need for the large expendi-
ture asked in this direction. With regard
~ the soldlerS monument, the Governor
says the $685. 900 already contracted must he
paid, of course, but he believes that with
pressing needs of insane, fe~eble-minded and
prisoners in the correctional institfltions 70
pe met, the monument can wait" So with
the Indiana National Guard. The Governor
says thaI $4,000 would undoubtedly equip
d new National Guard in excellent shape.
prOVldlng for two full regiments and three
batteries, but, in his estimation, under the
present eXegencies. $4,000 will be sufficient
70 equip g National Guard that will fully
meet all the requirements of the State. He
does not think it necessary to have a ma
htia for show" purposes.
In regard to the Indiana Reformatory at
Jefersonville, the Governor has ascertained
that there are considerably over one hum
dred prisoners eligible to be transferred to
the Indiana State Prison. at Michigan City.
with this transfer made, he asserts that
mere would at once be available one hun
dred additional cells in the Reformatory.
Ihen he would have the old dollhouse com
pleteIy renovated, provided with new hunks
ana suitable sanitary conditions. Here
then, the Governor believes. could be an
other saving. With the various specific APP
proprlatlons that are asked. like the SOL
dlers monument, women's prison. new cell
house, new National Guard. etc. about 81 :
10000 is asked, in addition 10 the mainte-
nance. which would bring the total appro-
priations up to 81, 800, goo. This. the Governor
foresees, would make an Increased tax lew
necessary, TO which he is utterly opposed.
The Governor calculates that $4,000 can be
saved on the monument item, $4,000 on the
National Guard, $4,000 on the women's pris-
on. 100000 on the Reformatory, and enough
in various. other specific items to cut the
appropriations about half in two. making
them $650,000, in round figures, instead of
I,3W,OO, as asked. In this connection the
Governor recalls that the specific appropria-
lions two years ago were only about S275. 900.
compared with the very large sums that
have nov been asked. The Governor be-
heves that, first and foremost. the feeble
minded, incurable insane and the inmates of
the Reformatory must be cared for ade-
quately and humanely, and that after this
is done, other specific expenditures that
there is necessity for anything to wait he
believes that it should be in directions that
viii not work harm to the States wards. If
the various bills providing the specific items
named come before the Governor, in view
of his utterances. it would not be at all sur
prlSlng II he were to veto them, not. as he
says, because he is opposed to the spirit
that animateS them, but because he believes
that when the State is pressed the most inn
portant thing to be considered is the well
fare of the helpless and unfortunate wards
the other things afterward. AS far as the
Governor is concerned, he expressed him
self as favoring the sale of the State Insti-
tute for the Deaf and Dumb, on East
Washington street, and the Institute for the
Blind, on North Pennsylvania street. With
the money realized from these sources. he
believes a large tract could be secured at a
sufficiently remote distance from the city.
on which modern buildings for the two
could be located, as well as a women's
prison.