The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-27
FOR STATE INSTITUTIONS.
Report of the Committee Appointed
to visit Them and Note Their Needs.

Report of the Committee Appointed
to visit Them and Note Their Needs.
The report of the committee consisting
of Francis T. Roots and Strather Herod, of
the House, and Senator Fremont GoodWine,
who have made exhaustive examinations as
to the needs of all the state institutions,
submitted to the House yesterday
morning. This is the first trial of the plan
of a committee to investigate all institu-
tons, instead of the junketing trips of the
committees as formerly in vogue. The re-
port is most complete, and many of the es-
sential features have been printed. The
committee reviews the methods of proceed
ure, and says:
THE committee wishes to be thoroughly
understood in regard to their recommended
tutionS, to the effect that whenever it diff
fers with the superintendent of the various
institutions as to the amount asked for,
that difference does not arise on account
Of the superintendent asking for very
much more than they need but largely on
account OF nearly all of the state inStitu-
lions needing such large appropriations
that, in order to grant relief to each, the
committee has found it necessary TO recon-
mend less than the sums which have been
requested by the various superintendent;
and, if the Legislature shall find it advisable
to grant the appropriations recommended
by these various superintendents the COM
mittee will not be found in opposition to
such action.
1T will be seen that the Legislature of
1897 appropriated to the state institutions
the sums in the following amounts:
For NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 81 27S ,355. 70
For SPECIFIC APPROPRIATIONS. 2SS iSY2S
Amount asked for by the state institu-
tions
Maintenance 437 ,238. 27
Specific appropriations ............. 1OS4 e07. 80
ANN rio ID
committee:
For maintenance. ..................$1 41O 4SS q
For repairs. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 55,05000
For specific appropriations. 5S,S5S. SO
1T will be observed that to provide sub
stantially for all the penal and benevolent
institutions of the State it will only re-
quire, by way of specific appropriation
$2g0,72l more than the last Legislature of
1897 appropriated
WILL BE A GREAT STEP.
IF these appropriations as recommended
by the committee made as mentioned in
this report, a great step will have been
taken in providing for increased capacity in
the penal and benevolent institutions of the
State as follows, to wit The Indiana Re-
formatory will have an increase of 300 cells,
or net increase of 124 cells: and on ac-
count of the 800 new cells being so much
larger 6x7 feeD than the old ones (31hx7
feeD they will accommodate two in cell,
thus providing for 600 inmates. Deducting the
176 inmates in Cell House c and 208 who are
now sleeping in the Corridors it will be thus
seen this will give additional room for PIG
inmates as compared with the present
capacity. 1t must be understood this is based
upon putting two in cell in the new cell
house containing 800 cells. For the feeble
minded it will provide capacity for 200 addi-
tional; the Central Hospital for the Insane
Indianapolis, 20 additional; Eastern Hos
pital 11S; Northern Hospital, 100; Southern
Hospital. 1872, or a total increased capacity
for the insane in the State of $50. This does
not include the additional number which
would be accommodated if the Legislature
should provide a hospital for the insane
criminals If such a provision is made the
increased capacity for the insane includ-
ing these criminals, would accommodate COO
unfortunates, most Of whom are either in
poorhOuses or jails.
THE committee wishes to go on record in
supporting the Governor in his recommends
ton that some provision be made for the
criminal insane, that either hospital
should be built in connection with one of
the penal institutions or one of the hospitals
for the insane, 10 cost not to exceed $50, 900
and TO accommodate fifty. These improve
ments can be made without increasing taxa
ton single dollar. by the Withholding of
the funds, in part, in paying the states in
debtedness. This Indebtedness of the state
is being paid at he astonishing rate of ST.
100000 a year. If, instead of paying the debt
of the State SO rapidly, about one-haf of
this amount &10O0,000 could be used as rec
cmmended by the committee il can be
easily seen that the Institutions of the State
would be substantially increased without in
creasing taxation one penny.
The recommendations begin with the In
stitution for the Education of the Blind. 1t
is recommended that the total appropriation
for this institution be the same as two years
ago, $50 500 The institution asked for S3l SOD
For the Institution for the Education OF
the Deaf and Dumb the commission recon-
mends appropriation of $50 600 5000 more
than the Legislature of two years ago APP
propriated. The institution asked for an IN
crease Of 81 800 for the two years, and wished
$l4 $50 for repairs. The appropriation recon-
mended is as follows in detail:
For maintenance ........................S6 $50 600
Specific appropriation for superintend-
ent IS dwelling .-...-...-.-.. .-...-..--... 0fs30
For furnishing superintendent dwell
ing ............ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. 500
For additional schoOlrooms. ............. 500
For water closets and lavatories in
schoolrooms .......... ................. 500
II is recommended that $50, 800 be appro-
priated for the maintenance of the Reform
School for Girls and Woman's Prison, 81 $50
less than the institution received from the
| Legislature of two years ago. This Is the
sum asked by the institution, which turned
hack nearly $1,000 OF the last apprOpriation