The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-06
LOCAL COUNCIL SPEAKS
SEVERE CRITICISM OF THE CONDI-
TION OF THE COUNTY ASYLUM.
County Council Blamed for Not Max
ing an Appropriatfon-Mrs. Sew
all and Miss Voss Talk.

The attendance at the regular monthly
meeting of the Local Council of Women
yesterday afternoon at the Propylaem
was one Of the largest in its history. The
II esident, Mrs. Nettie Ransford, presided
end there were two interesting talks on
two phases of the Paris exposition, one
by Miss Tarquinia L. Voss, who was an
honorary member of the board OF COM
nlssioners from Indiana, appointed by the
Governor, and Mrs. May Wright Sewall,
who, as president of the international
Council of Women, attended the executive
session of that body which convened in
Paris in the early months of the EXPOSE
ton.
Miss Voss spoke chiefly of the exposi-
ton and the part Indiana men and women
anc in fact American men and women took
in the exposition. the social features. etc.
Mrs. Sewall spoke on ''Internationalism
and the work and advancement OF the
women of different countries. Mrs. Sewall
sale that Americans are apt TO overest-
mate themselves. but in comparison with
women OF other countries they were not as
advanced as they themselves believe. Mrs.
Scwall also gave an interesting account or
the Tuesday conferences held during the
exposition in Paris and the speakers. The
general theme at these meetings was IN
ternationalism," and the speakers were
pledged before going on the platform to
only treat the given subject.
One of the special features of the meet
ing was the reading of a report by Mrs.
Mary Moodya chairman of the committee
OH visitation of municipal and state insti-
tutions on the Marion County Asylum for
the Poor. This report is interesting at this
time, inasmuch as there has been some dis
pute in regard TO the report of the County
Board of Charities, in which the blame
for some of the conditions at the poor
farm are put upon the county commits
sioners. The report in part was as follows:
Inmates are admitted TO the county poor
farm by order of the township trustee.
The building is old, worn and beyond re-
rsir sufficient to enable it to meet demands
ana has practically no ventilation. New
plumbing Is needed throughout the build
ing. The County Council refused an APP
Preparation to the county commissioners
to remedy this need. Visitors 10
the institution are greeted with
the disagreeaoie door or disinreetaanfisTrh he
laundry and ironing rooms, as they now
stand, are unit to work in and anything
but credit 10 the county, but the ap-
preparation asked for 10 Mt them properly
has been refused. The inmates OF the asy-
lum, brought up under all sorts of condi-
lions and traditions, at the asylum from
necessity, are prolific in complaints, but
lack of employment is not one of them.
Among the many formidable tasks, when
the building is not arranged so as to make
classification of the inmates possible. is
that of trying to keep peace and harmony.
Those who have been and are honest and
industrious clash with the shiftless and dis
honest those who have seen better days
are envious Of the content of those who
are now seeing their best Many of the in
mates are quite aged.
1.-The present administration is one OF
kindness, but more supervision OF the tndi-
vidual is needed than the present number
of officers now employed can give. A new
building should provide for classification
OF the inmates, complete separation or the
sexes, with the exception OF the husband
and wife who reach old age at the asylum
| together 1t is the urgent wish that a new
| building TO reflect credit on Marion county
| be substituted in place of the old one. With
a County Board OF Charities urging re-
| forms and a County Council refusing TO
| grant appropriations, the County Commits
| sionerS have a rare opportunity to disttn-
guish themselves.
Several resolutions were introduced at
| the meeting. Mrs. Philip Rappaport intro
duced one asking the local council to In
| dorse Senator Lambert's bill, with view
| of securing its passage, providing for free
books in the public schools. The resolution
was approved by the local council and the
legislative committee instructed TO
send the resolution TO the Senate commit
tee having the bill in charge and use its
| influence to have the bill passed. Another
| resolution Endorsed by the local council
was the suffrage movement, which was
| brought before the present Legislature yes
terday in the form Of an amendment to the
| Constitution.