The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-26

Eeformatory In December; that his state
ment Is based on information obtained dur
ing that Investigation. and he had not ielt
the committee would be acting ~ltnin It's
instructions I'm giving out any part OF the
result OF Investigation OF the various lnssl-
tutions I'm advance OF its official report 10
the Governor and General Assembly.
Senator GOdwine Is not "A green Eahu.
pleased 10 call the legislative cofnmittee.
lie is sur ly familiar with the law authoI-
ling the appointment OF such commit
tee and prescribing its powers and duties
In order that all may understand the mat
ter VOL as he does / viii state Ihai Dy
the act OF 1850 the Governor IS autnoFlzeu
and directed, forty-fiYe days before the
meeting OF the Legislature, 10 appoint d
nonpartisan committee 10 recommend aP-
proprfafions to the General Assembly Inc
law expressly states what this commlttee
is to do. IL Is 10 visit the state instltu-
tons during the forty-five days previous
10 the assembly of the Legislature ana IN
vestigare carefully their needs and neces-
stiles and report - the Legislature the
amount OF appropriations which they oeeIn
absolutely necessary TO meet the wants OF
Now the senator would have US believe
that I'm reporting 10 the Legislature the
amount OF appropriations which his COM
rnittee deems absolutely necessary TO meet
the wants OF the RefOrmatory ne VIII ser
forth reasons for passing the Goodwine
bill. Our credulity should not be so heaviiy
taxed.
"The senator declares that the most seri-
Gus charge against the board is In connec-
ton with the change I'm the contracts Tor
contract labor and that in his opinion "
there were no other criticisms against the
board this Is sufficient TO justify the intro
duction and passage or the GoodWlne DILL
What has already been said fully disposeS
o. this most serious charge. and there
would seem 20 be no necessity Tor DISCUSS
ing IL. Or the balance OF the statement, any
further In Justice, however, 10 our prede-
ecssors. the able and honorable gentlemen
who six years ago did procure changes IN
the contracts, we feel constrained TO say
that the senator Is mistaken in his state
ment OF the changes that were made and
in his mathematics.
AGAIN MISTAKEN.
in like manner the senator is mistaken
In thinking that he saw a prisoner In one
of the solitary cells who had been hung up
with his hands through the bars of his
cell door. He doubtless saw prisoner
whose hands were hand-cuffed to the door
of his cell. but the prisoner was not hung
up 1 cannot attempt now to enter into
any statement in detail OF the discipline
enforced at the Reformatory, nor of the
punishment inflicted. 1t would take too
long and would serve no good purpose.
Everybody knows the Goodwine bill was
not introduced and is not 10 be passed be-
cause punishments at the Reformatory
have been too severe. The aim or the
board has been to make them as light as
possible and the system In force has been
no secret Ii has been open at all times
TO the inspection and criticism of the Board
or State Charities.
THE senator declares that the manner In
which supplies are bought for the institu-
ton is in violation or the policy OF the
State and contrary TO business principles,
for which no excuse or defense has ever
been offered to the investigating committee
which visited the Reformatory.' The sup
plies are all bought strictly in accordance
with the law, and we challenge the produc-
ton OF any proof TO the contrary. No ex-
cuse nor defense has ever been offered SIM
ply because there was no occasion for any,
and so far as l know no committee has
visited the Reformatory with any authority
20 inquire into such matters nor to whom
any explanation of the method of buying
supplies was due.
Amy complaint about the payment of
1880 to the contractor who built the new
cell house Is simply absurd. When the
cell house was completed the contractor
presented a prep0sterous claim for extras.
There was no question that there was still
something due the contractor. The board
finally decided the balance due was $l2.500,
and offered TO pay that amount In full
settlement. The contractor refused IL. The
board saw no reason for Withholding what
was admitted to be due and permitted the
appropriation to lapse.
NOBODY has ever suggested that the
amount paid was too large or that the con-
tractor not justly entitled to 1t. A
claim has been filed against the State by
the contractor In the Superior Court OF
by him to be due and II Is being defended
by the attorney general. 1t Is not possible
that Senator Goodwine seriously believes
his bill should pass because the board paid
an honest debt to the party justly entitled
to receive it,