The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-25


The apparent determination OF the
senate committee on the affairs OF the
city of Indianapolis to make a favor
able report on the bill to authorize
the expenditure of $150,O00 in the pur-
chase of ground and the erection OF a
governors house in this city in spite
of the wishes of Governor Marshall
has aroused a good deal of comment.
Governor Marshall says the average
governor could not maintain such a
house on his salary of $4,000 a year
and that if the state wishes to build
a governors house it should not cost
more than $4,000 to 100000.
Oppose Governors Mansion.
But Senator Cox, who introduced
the bill in the senate, and WHO is
chairman of the committee that has
it in charge, says the committee will
report in favor of the bill. It is ex-
pected that the democrats will line up
against 1t and kill it unless the sum
to be spent is reduced to much low
er figure. Some division OF opinion
has arisen also as to the makeup OF
the commission that would be ap-
pointed to carry out the provisions OF
the bill. AS provided in the bill the
commission shall consist of the secre-
tary of state, treasurer of state and
auditor of state, toge Their with two
private citizens. 1t may be that this
will be changed so that the lieutenant
governor, secretary of state and three
citizens appointed by them would
make up the commission. 1t is fear
ed, however that a commission made
up mostly of republicans would not
be satisfactory to the democrats and
that a commission made up mostly of
democrats would be turned down by
the republicans. But Senator Cox
will probably agree to almost any
plan for the make up of the commits
sion in order that the bill may pass.
For Reformatory Farm.
One of the interesting bills of the
last few days is one introduced in the
senate Friday providing for the pur-
chase of 500 acres of land near the
Jeffersonville reformatory, to be oper
ated as farm in connection with that
institution. The purpose, as it is ex-
planned, is to provide place where
several hundred inmates of the refor-
matOry may work and produce veget-
ables and farm crops for the use Of
the other state institutions. This, it
is explained, would take that number
of inmates off of contract labor duties
and would reduce the amount of pris-
on made goods that now go on the
market in competition with outside
free labor
Some such plan has been under con-
sideration for some time by the pris-
on authorities of the state, and this
is said to be merely starter in the
direction of the establishment of such
farm
Fight Convict Labor.
Many of the manufacturers of the
state. especially clothing, shirt and
over/l manufacturers. have frequent
ly Protested against the employment
of convicts in the manufacture Of
goods that compete with free labor,
and the Indiana State Federation of
Labor has always fought contract con-
vict labor, because it reduces the de-
tent. Manufacturers. and the labor
organizations are said to be behind
this bill. 1t is proposed in the bill to
appropriate $4,000 for the purchase
of the land and the erection of such
buildings as would at least temporar-
lily suffice for the purpose. 1t would
then be left to future legislatures to
complete the plant.
One of the ideas advanced i'll con-
nection with such an institution is
that such a farm would afford a place
for the confinement of prisoners who
cannot be reformed. Life prisoners
also could be sent there from Michi-
gan City prison, and it is believed
that it would also afford place
where criminal insane could be kept,
thus relieving the county jails of this
class of prisoners. 1t is figured that
the farm would produce vegetables
and crops sufficient to supply nearly
all of the other state institutions. The
plan contemplates ultimately a farm
of 1000 acres.
Sunday Base Ball Fight.
The Sunday base ball bill is likely
| to have run for its money before
| it gets through the legislature. The
members are being swamped with let
| tiers in opposition to it and the minis
tiers not vnly from this city but from
other towns are talking with the mem
bers urging them to vote against it.
But the most serious opposition to the
bill has cropped out in the last few
days in the shape of an effort to have
| the legislature enact law creating a
Saturday half holiday for working
people in the months of June, July
| August and September.
| The strong argument of the sup
porters of the Sunday base ball bill
is that it will afford the working PEG
! pie a chance to see base ball games
on Sunday who cannot go on any 9th
er day in the week. 1t is to meet this
argument that the ministers are back
ing the Saturday half holiday PROPOSE
ton. And it seems to be taking
with some of the members, for there
is a good deal of talk about it.
Let the Towns Decide.
Senator Shafer a of Grant county