The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-27
A Menace to Other Institutions.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
The people here are deeply stirred over
the attempt, as they view 1t, to under
mine the present law governing the benev-
olent and penal institutions of the State.
The disguised attempt to accomplish this
under the plea of being unable to prop
erly conduct. thorough investigation Of
Reformatory methods as practiced at JEFF
fersonville is, to say the least, equivocal.
The charge that inefficiency. favoritism
and corrupt methods have prevailed at
Jacksonville is on a par and in line with
the statements that have been made re-
garding other institutions of the State. A
recent appointee as trustee had been so
marked and impressed with the idea that
collusion and corruption prevailed in the
management of the institution to which
he was appointed that, after careful in
vestigation and inquiry, he was amazed
to find how grossly he had been imposed
upon and misinformed. l cannot believe
that four men bearing the good esteem
and having records for honor and probity
such as attach to the trustees at Jeffer-
sonville would prostitute themselves In the
ripper bill. The individuals composing
the State Board of Charities are certainly
worthy Of being believed; they have had
opportunity to carefully investigate every
Vile; they commend the action Of the
board in selecting Warden Hert's success
sor, and also commend the management
of the institution. The people of the State
will never consent to put back the manage
ment of the benevolent and other institu-
tons of the State to the spoismen and
placeseekers who formerly controlled In
the matter OF administration.
In the matter charged against the Re-
formatory trustees, who shall we believe,
the members of the State Board Of Char
guardians of the States institutions, or
the far-fetched and ingenious charges Of
Senator Goodwine? On their very face the
charges bear the imprint of absurdity and
unfalrness. The charge that the Jeffer-
sonville board had been lacking in cour-
tesy to the Governor may or may not be
true. Suppose it had failed in this respect;
this should not be cause for such radical
action as contemplated I'm the ripper
bill. The action taken by the Senate is
menace to the management of every
State institution, and is a stab at nonpar-
tisan control. Having served the State
as trustee for a number of years of one
of its institutions ! can testify from
knowledge to the high character Of the
mens who have filled the office of trustee,
and also to the care exercised by them in
the discharge Of their duties under the
nonpartisan law. Notwithstanding SEN
ator Goodwine's published statement / be-
lieve that the trustees of the Jefferson
Vile Reformatory are the equals in char
acter OF the other gentlemen serving the
State in like capacity. They certainly
have a right to be considered honest men
until proven to the contrary.
The election OF superintendent at the
institution which I served, which occurred
annually, was effected without even a
thought OF consulting either Governor
Mathews or Governor Mount, and no dis
courtesy was for a moment thought of by
either of the executives nor yet by the trus-
tees. The Governor appoints the trustees
and 1T is the prerogative of the trustees
to select the superintendent. / hope the
bill may be killed in the lower house.
f. G. HILL.
Ind Jon