The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-19
Papers of Wide Interest Read by Dr.
George Edwin Hunt and Prof.
Amos w. Butler.
FREE BATHS ARE ADVOCATED
RESOLUTION BASED ON THE PAPER
READ BY DIR. HUNT.
A Discussion of State Charity Institu-
tions Report on Municipal
Afairs-Evening Smoker.

The State Board OF Commerce began its
annual meeting yesterday in the assembly
room of the Commercial Club. 1t is ex-
pected that the business of the session will
be finished by noon to-day. About twenty
members of the board were present. and
last evening a smoker was given for them
at the Commercial Club.
Papers on widely varied subjects were
read, and three resolutions were adopted.
One, introduced by William Fortune met
opposition. 1t is that public franchises, be-
fore they are awarded, should be approved
by a majority of the voters of the commu-
nifty The objection was expressed by E.
B. Martindale, who said that there are now
too many elections and that it has not been
satisfactorily shown that the elections re-
suit In the movements best for the public
good.
The other two resolutions were adopted
unanimously. One of these the effect
of a discussion Of the weakness Of the
Interstate-commerce Commission, by Edgar
II. Evans. This resolution urged the In
diana representatives in Congress to for
ward the bill in the House and the bill in
the Senate intended to give the commission
more power. A committee representing the
manufacturers associations Of the country
is asking the boards of trade and similar
organizations to take this step.
The third resolution advocates free baths
in the cities of the State. 1t seemed that
more interest was taken in this matter
than in any other feature of the days bus
mess. George Edwin Hunt, secretary of the
Commercial Club, read a paper on THE
Economic Influence of a Physically-Clea
Citizen" The paper is printed almost In
full below.
Mr.. Evans said that as soon as the rail-
roads discovered that the interstate-com-
merce law was weak they began to violate
its spirit as fiagrantly as they could with
out violating its letter. Indiana suffered
particularly. he said. because its industries
were varied and none of them was of suf-
ficient comparative strength TO demand the
same concessions from the railroads that
were granted to the industries of other
States. The Indian meat packer had abb
solutely no chance against the big pack
of Chicago. for instance. for the latter
obtained shipping rates, especially to New
York, much lower than his small compet-
itor The Indiana miller and grain dealer
suffered similarly. The result was the for
nation of colossal monopolies
INDIANA'S COAL.
Prof. Henry G.. Cox, of the Manual Train
ing High School, analysed 1.-The cost of
coal as a form of power compared with
natural gas" He said that because of the
fact that Indiana coal can be so cheapIy
delivered in the gas belt, there need be no
fear that this State cannot hold the fac
tories located in it during the natural gas
term. The cost of power in this city, he
said, was lower than in any of the cities
of the States surrounding Indiana. H. c.
Martin. editor of Rough Notes, explained
the value of Indiana's reserve deposit law
1t had stimulated Indiana insurance COM
panies he said. by giving them a solid
credit in other States. Since 1899, when the
law was passed. five Indiana life insurance
incorporated and all were prosperous Ar
thur A Mccain gave some new thoughts
on primary laws" DR.. j. y. Hurry dis
cussed the question why Not Enforce the
Pure Food and Drug Law?" and advocated
strict observance of IL.
Amos w Butler. secretary of the State
Board OF Charities and Correction. ex-
plained the working of the most improved
plan for keeping the accounts OF State in
stitutions. His paper will be found below.
Augustus L. Mason, reporting for the COM
rnittee on municipal affairs, said that as
Indiana was becoming more and more OF a
manufacturing State. there ought to be a
movement 10 establish trade schools by
private endowment. rhe graduates OF such
schools. he said. were an invitation to